http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=7888931&c=AME&s=SEA
Can you refuel nuclear reactors ealier than planned?
Maybe america should sell the GW cheaply to france,they save money on crew+aircrew/planes,refuel/refit her out for mid decade to replace CdeG when she is due for a major refit,use the airgroup of rafaels from CdeG,perhaps britain could borrow from america more hornets for aircrew/deck crew training from her ready for our own F35/CVF late in the decade,maybe a few cheap 2nd hand hawkeyes for a anglo/franco group?
france 20 rafeal + helios
britain 10 hornets + helios
joint 4 hawkeyes
late in the decade sell the CdeG to brazil as an incentive to buy the rafael for their future aiforce/navy requirement.
By: benroethig - 10th October 2011 at 15:57
With the massive complement required to run a Nimitz, it would be cheaper for the French to pay full price for a QEC/CVF and run that for say 20 years, than get a Nimitz free and do the same, i.e. I doubt that the French Navy could afford to run a Nimitz.
ETA – too slow
Not only that, but the French use much different reactor technology than we or the RN use. French use lower grade fuel with a more rapid refueling cycle.
By: ppp - 10th October 2011 at 15:22
Sell it to China, period. They will have CVNs sooner or later, anyway, that means no huge harm done… now it’s the right time, they will easily pay four times its worth just to get it. 😉
They’ll get them quicker if they have one to copy 😉
By: MSphere - 10th October 2011 at 14:32
Sell it to China, period. They will have CVNs sooner or later, anyway, that means no huge harm done… now it’s the right time, they will easily pay four times its worth just to get it. 😉
By: Bager1968 - 10th October 2011 at 02:10
Fantastic Carrier and a same to retire her early.
…..
I dont know but can she even dock at Toulon- probably can but I dont know Toulon to well. She almost certainly would have to have all updates and refurbs done in America – again another issue.
The two largest docks are both 422m x 40.66m (1,384′ 6″ x 133′ 4″).
The south-west dock at Toulon was enlarged in the 1960s with NATO funds specifically to be able to dock USN super-carriers (Forrestal/Kitty Hawk), but the Nimitz-class ships have a waterline beam of 134′ vs the 130′ of the earlier CVs.
However, the Joubert Dry dock at St Nazaire is 350m long and 50m wide (1,148′ 3″ x 164′). A Nimitz-class carrier is 1,040′ at the waterline and 1,092′ overall.
Vauban docks at Toulon:
By: ppp - 9th October 2011 at 19:07
im sure tiawan would take it!
But they are already on an aircraft carrier.
By: redreidy - 9th October 2011 at 15:01
im sure tiawan would take it!
By: Gordon Dundas - 9th October 2011 at 13:18
As the man said simple math kills this idea deader then a doorknob,I tend to almost a loony pro carrier fanboy but even I know when idea is just plain bug house crazy .
By: Obi Wan Russell - 9th October 2011 at 11:29
I think it is more likeley if the refit is cancelled, the ship will be mothballed for five to ten years (generating the required savings during that time) then when things improve she can be returned to service with her RCOH reinstated, generating an extra carrier for the USN at much shorter notice and much less cost than buying a new ship (four years instead of six-ish). France would not buy her, because they would rather have two ships to ensure one available at all times than simply repeat the current situation of one ship available half the time. GW would cost the French as much to run as two CdGs for example, but only deliver half the availability. Simple maths kils the deal.
By: serge - 9th October 2011 at 09:24
thanks for the input guys,its just such a waste to decommission her earlier,its such a hugh crew to run the ship,maybe india could afford to run her & the airwing,friendly power in that region,such a upgrade from dear old Hermes!
yes brazil does seem to be taking their time over their decision on the future fighter requirement.
Im sure america could get a huge amount of dollar for GW & her aircraft if they sold her to china-he he ;):diablo:
By: Distiller - 9th October 2011 at 08:52
Retiring CVN-73 early is nuts. I’d rather axe 1st Armored than lose a carrier.
By: Prom - 8th October 2011 at 20:45
With the massive complement required to run a Nimitz, it would be cheaper for the French to pay full price for a QEC/CVF and run that for say 20 years, than get a Nimitz free and do the same, i.e. I doubt that the French Navy could afford to run a Nimitz.
ETA – too slow
By: Stan hyd - 8th October 2011 at 20:40
Fantastic Carrier and a same to retire her early.
I dont think France would ever do it, its always going to be about jobs and skills being kept in the country and buying an American carrier wont help this.
I do like the idea of Brazil taking CdG but they arent ready for a Nuclear Carrier and hell how long has it taken them to buy 30 jets imagine how long the carrier purchase could take.
Also issues over crewing are against going to be a big issue see below number diffs.
CdG
Ship’s company: 1,350
Air wing: 600
GW
Ship’s company: 3,200
Air wing: 2,480
I dont know but can she even dock at Toulon- probably can but I dont know Toulon to well. She almost certainly would have to have all updates and refurbs done in America – again another issue.
Lastly – all systems are so different, she woul dneed some major changes.
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October 8, 2011 at 7:36 pm