Air wing for an American CVL (post Cold War)

Basically this. With Harriers, you can operate pretty much anywhere. Throw down some steel planks or mats, chopper in a few fuel bladders and ammo and you've got a forward operating base set up in a couple hours. No need for long airfields like you'd have to have with Skyhawks or Corsairs.

Or specially treated concrete like you need with F-35Bs.

Why did the Marines not replace the A-4 with the A-7 when the Navy did? Holding out for Harriers? Or did they prefer the short-runway ability of the Skyhawk?
 
IIRC, The Marines were experimenting with the early model Harriers at the time, and projecting using them to replace the A-4. There was also concern about the engine intake being a giant fod vacuum on forward airfields for the A-7.
 
IIRC, The Marines were experimenting with the early model Harriers at the time, and projecting using them to replace the A-4. There was also concern about the engine intake being a giant fod vacuum on forward airfields for the A-7.

I still stand by the A-10 being an appropriate replacement for A-4s in the VMA and not A-6s in the VMFA(AW), but I don't want to delay your perpetually-delayed TL any more than it already has been.
 
The Marines replaced A-4s with AV-8s instead of A-7s. I'm not sure if the A-4 could operate off a LHD, though I severely doubt it. I think the Marines just wanted the short takeoff capability for rough runways and forward basing.

I was thinking of the A-4/A-7 operating from your CVLs.

OTL, and possibly ATL, one reason for replacing the A-4 with AV-8s would be to operate from the Tarawa's. I don't know if the Iwo Jima's could operate the AV-8; I don't think they could. With the AV-8, those squadrons could operate from either the Tarawa's or the big CVs. A-4 and A-7 squadrons couldn't do the same. I think operating both AV-8s and helicopters from an amph carrier would be easier than operating A-4s/A-7s and helicopters.

Operating from forward bases is another good reason.
 

SsgtC

Banned
Or specially treated concrete like you need with F-35Bs.

Why did the Marines not replace the A-4 with the A-7 when the Navy did? Holding out for Harriers? Or did they prefer the short-runway ability of the Skyhawk?

Partly that. And partly budget. Even at the height of the Cold War, the USMC was the r redheaded stepchild of the armed forces. They got the smallest budgets and had to stretch them as far as possible. That's why you see the Corps operating older equipment for longer periods of time. The Corps only upgrades when the benefits are obvious and massive. Or when their equipment is utterly worn out and cannot be jury rigged to work any longer.
 
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