This thread dedicated to carriers that focus primarily upon rotary and SVTOL/VTOL operations.
imho, the most capable..
Kiev/Gorshkov (aka Baku) class with a decent amount of VTOL (although semi useless) and helicopters, but with the fire power of a destroyer
too bad it’s had a history of maintenece issues and is rather ageing.
and my favorite, the Garibaldi
I always felt that it’s bigger island and more hanger space was preferable. it seems to be better armed and armored than the Principe de Asturias.
By: Spectral - 25th January 2005 at 22:01
Well, the dutch Enforcer series of LPDs, already pretty popular ( in service in the Netherlands, Spain and UK, and in future in Portugal), have an option for an LPH. It looks quite nice.
Check out at :
By: mpa - 25th January 2005 at 18:25
The old “Jeanne d’Arc” in operation near the indonesian coast and the new “Mistral” helo carrier.
By: Blackcat - 23rd January 2005 at 17:23
BTW Gorshkov is getting transformed into this
By: US Agent - 22nd January 2005 at 05:36
USS Kearsarge (LHD-3)
A landing craft air cushion (LCAC) returns to the ship operating off the coast of Vieques Island, Puerto Rico, 18 February 1999
By: US Agent - 22nd January 2005 at 05:33
USS Bataan (LHD-5)
Atlantic Ocean, 17 July 1999
By: quietkev - 21st January 2005 at 02:30
I would consider the US Navys LHD’s , and LHA’s extremly capable ships , I know that re in the Amphib vein but they cary alot of helos and depending on their fit at the time a reasonable amount of Harriers’s. Plus there are alot of them in service with the Navy.
By: SteveO - 20th January 2005 at 14:54
HMS Invincible and HMS Ocean
http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/rn/content.php3?page=670&gmode=quick&cat=69
In my opinion STOVL/Helo carriers are the most useful ships a navy can operate.
By: Arabella-Cox - 20th January 2005 at 04:54
You are not alone though. I see that these vessels are often refered to as VTOL carriers. It is probably the lack of a skijump.
By: F-18 Hamburger - 20th January 2005 at 02:22
On a technical note I actually believe the Yak-38s took off horizontally on the Kiev class and Baku (later Admiral Gorshkov) making them STOVL carriers, not VTOL.
yes yes, you are right, my mistake. Totally forgot about that 😮
By: Arabella-Cox - 20th January 2005 at 00:43
Yes, Giuseppe Garibaldi is a good looking ship, but my favourite has to be Cavour.
On a technical note I actually believe the Yak-38s took off horizontally on the Kiev class and Baku (later Admiral Gorshkov) making them STOVL carriers, not VTOL.
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January 19, 2005 at 9:09 pm