Phillip,

The America class were designed for purpose. The deletion of the well deck was to allow the use of that space plus additional spaces through the vessel for air-optimised useage. SRL techniques should not be confused with CATOBAR approaches. You are looking at over-the-deck speeds of 30knts or so. Shorter through decks should present no problem for SRL as you are hardly going to get a bolter at 30knts!.

Kilo,

I think you will find that is more your misunderstanding about Marine air, and what it does, than anything else. No-one has suggested Marine air will replace carrier airwings. The point of Marine air is to be there to support the Marines ashore. The job of the carrier airwing is to secure the amphib assembly area in the first place – if the threat environment warrants it. F-35B’s from the MATF could assist the carrier airwing of course, but, principally shooting in the amphibs is a job for the CAW.

One the assembly area has been secured by the carrier fleet then the Marine forces, including air, go inshore. THAT is where F-35B comes into play. With the threat level attrited and with F-35B covering the assembly area and beachhead FROM the assembly area the CSG is now free to manoever without being fully tied to a geographic location. An opponent attempting to smash a beachhead may try and concentrate forces and present a strategic target-of-opportunity to a CAW able to manoever and exploit.

Likewise if the scenario is sub-warfighting it could be that attaching an LHA with 18 or so F-35B’s to a couple of LPD’s and an LHD etc provides sufficient combat power to obviate the need for a CVN. How much of a force multiplier is that?.

Please read the post I was commenting on. There ias NO misunderstanding on my part.

No, the Amphibious Forces are not safer. Which, is why they need support from the F-35B’s. As the Carriers have to keep a safe distance and Land Based Forces maybe to far away. (i.e. Likely)

So, by your logic, a handful (not more than 12 per big ship, probably more like 8) of less capable fighters will be able to do what one or two complete CV wings will be unable to do. I see.

So….when Nimrod goes, the UK will have no air launched antiship missile from fixed wing a/c?

Four F-15 Eagle pilots from the 3rd Wing walk to their respective jets at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, on Wednesday, July 5, for the fini flight of Maj. Andrea Misener (far left). To her right are Capt. Jammie Jamieson, Maj. Carey Jones and Capt. Samantha Weeks.

They are hot! I wonder if they….you know…….”groom” themselves.

In my mind, it would be the other way round. If I had one nuke, Id target the gators not the carriers……..unless the carriers have wheels…..

Completely agree! I’d go for the gators befor I hit the CVs. Gators go….threat of invasion is gone.

So if the US was truely serious about cutting cost, the “A” and “B” models could be axed and everyone could use the “C”.

If the “B” is axed……let the Marines buy Grippens. Good STOL performance…….and if we fund “Sea Grippen” (cost…..about 4 or 5 F-35s) presto….carrier compatibility! 😀