I think the only way post WW2 the Germans become militaryily powerful would be something to do with west Germany during the cold war, that place was effectively a military base.
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Kind of a silly question, but...what's that on the USA's head?
I think the only way post WW2 the Germans become militaryily powerful would be something to do with west Germany during the cold war, that place was effectively a military base.
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post WW2 Germany limited it self to a tactical role within NATO and while it;s forces were large and well equipped they were primarily to provide a defence against attack from the WarPac nations and their Soviet paymasters.
the UK and France maintained their expeditionary warfare capabilities because of their overseas holdings and/or relationships ,plus in the UK case it's role (with the Dutch)in any NATO 'winter war' in Norway etc...
The post war West German Navy didn't have carriers as the marineflieger could operate from coastal airbases and provide coverage of the Baltic from those ...
Aircraft Carriers are an expression of long distance expeditionary warfare -look at recent North African/ Arab excursions by NATO /European forces, and modern Strike aircraft were flying into Libya etc from Italy /France / UK despite the Sharkey Ward's wailing and gnashing teeth over the retirement of the RAF and FAA harrier fleet -despite the support from tornado and typhoon and the AAC apaches operating from HMS Ocean
I wouldn't think West Germany needs carriers in the 70s and 80s or would be allowed to acquire them, but something like Jean de Arc or Vittorio Veneto would be a different story. NATO and WP nations wouldn't be threatened by a helicopter cruiser or two but they could provide West Germany with the ability to do more than just limited Baltic and North Sea escort missions. When these ships need to be replaced in the 90s then a proper through deck design would be high on the list and Germany's recent history of running large ships would set the precedent.
Harrier vs F15/F14 /Phantom/Tornado/ MIG25 is an interesting one as it requires the (lumbering) aggressor and/or it's missles to maintain a lock against an aircraft that can stop dead, plummet like a stone and then fly off at high subsonic/ transonic speeds
I feel obliged to point out that for most of the Cold War, West Germany was the most powerful European member of NATO; with ground forces far larger, better trained and better equipped than either Britain or France. The West German Air Force was also well equipped and trained and they had tactical nuclear missiles in their possession (technically the United States maintained ownership of the warheads.)
...FA2 SHAR had Blue Vixen radar that was the equal of APG66/67 and had BVR hence SHAR carrying 2 AMRAAM. ...
the problem is a 'helicopter cruiser' is actually just a scanty disguise for a pocket carrier - e.g. Invincible class 'Harrier Carrier' and after 1982 the Harrier carrier came of age ( also you've got USMC, Spain, Italy,Thailand and India flying Harrier family aircraft)
Unless you are going alone against a nation equipped with the then state of the art kit like F16s the Harrier is a pretty awesome opponent especially if VIFFing is used to full capability (which the F35 has traded for top speed but interestingly the P1154 would have been capable of both Viffing and supersonic dash )
Harrier vs F15/F14 /Phantom/Tornado/ MIG25 is an interesting one as it requires the (lumbering) aggressor and/or it's missles to maintain a lock against an aircraft that can stop dead, plummet like a stone and then fly off at high subsonic/ transonic speeds
West Germany was an early partner in Harrier development although they didn;t buy production versions... that said a Significant RAFG tasking was dispersed operations of Harriers (also spawned the pyrene Mk8 and the TACR2 to support this mode of operations)
I wouldn't think West Germany needs carriers in the 70s and 80s or would be allowed to acquire them, but something like Jean de Arc or Vittorio Veneto would be a different story. NATO and WP nations wouldn't be threatened by a helicopter cruiser or two but they could provide West Germany with the ability to do more than just limited Baltic and North Sea escort missions. When these ships need to be replaced in the 90s then a proper through deck design would be high on the list and Germany's recent history of running large ships would set the precedent.