Shadow Master
Banned
This thread is a breakout thread for @tomo pauk thread HERE.
Like the other breakout thread, this thread is more about finding ways to make the carriers air groups better, by public policy, by requiring far more aircraft being built per USN Carrier, so having a healthier US aircraft industry, more planes/pilots/aircrew.
So here goes...
The Carrier Air Group standardization act of Jan 1st, 1937.
The US Congress today enacted legislation requiring the following conditions must be applied to the CAG of all operational USN carriers.
1. For every operational carrier in the USN, a standardized CAG is authorized, and required, to be formed up in time to begin operations when the carrier comes into commission.
2. Such a CAG will consist of current, proven aircraft types, in three complete Carrier Air Wings, as well as at least one additional partial wing of experimental aircraft of more advanced design.
3. Each individual CAW will have, separately, more aircraft and aircrew than the specific carrier can embark at any given time, such that:
4. If a particular aircraft carrier could embark 72 aircraft as it’s normal complement, and say these aircraft types were broken down into 24 of each of our current types of, fighters, dive bombers, and torpedo bombers, then at minimum such a CAW would need 24 aircraft of each type, each with its own aircrew just to be able to sail with a balanced force. As different missions may dictate a different mix, with more or less emphasis on a given type, extra aircraft need to be assigned to a CAW, so that such varying mixtures of types can be accomplished without the need to go outside the CAG, so that all aircrew will have carried out joint missions, and be known to each other from having extensive training together, thus keeping up the level of expertise of the CAG and CAW as a whole, instead of needing to bring in a new cadet, fresh from flight training, and teach them everything that flight school didn’t.
5. In order that our carriers have the needed extra pilots and planes, the normal complement of each CAW should consist of 250% of the individual aircraft types, such that in the above example, a single CAW would require 60 of each type, for a total of 180 aircraft. This is done to ensure that differing mixtures are readily available for whatever mission type is undergoing, and that despite any maintenance issues that may arise, there will always be enough aircraft to fill out the shipboard embarkation slots.
6. Further, because of the nature of military aviation in general, and carrier aviation in particular, each USN aircraft carrier is required by law to have three complete CAW in time of war, or lead up to war, such that losses can be instantly be made good by the simple expedient of swapping out a depleted CAW for a fresh one, thus ensuring a full complement of fully trained and experienced aircrew that have trained extensively, together, is always available for our carriers, and additionally, that the legal requirement to have three separate, full and oversized CAW will ensure that our brave pilots can expect to rotate between operation sorties with the carrier, R&R, and training up of replacement pilots to make up losses due to combat, mishaps, and retirement.
7. This legal requirement therefore make a notional carrier, with an embarked CAW of some 72 aircraft, need 540 total aircraft in times of war, and this does not count the ancillary aircraft types nor the advanced/experimental CAW mentioned in #2 above.
Ok, so this is kind of bordering on a wank, but looking at this as a measure to overcome the imponderables of an as yet future war, and all the uncertainties that this will have for a civilian Politician, attempting to create a force structure that will err on the side of caution and prepare the USN to be able to meet and overcome any difficulties that might arise, years down the road…
Again, any thoughts relating to this idea, post here, and for actual aircraft suggestions, please post them in TP's thread.
Like the other breakout thread, this thread is more about finding ways to make the carriers air groups better, by public policy, by requiring far more aircraft being built per USN Carrier, so having a healthier US aircraft industry, more planes/pilots/aircrew.
So here goes...
The Carrier Air Group standardization act of Jan 1st, 1937.
The US Congress today enacted legislation requiring the following conditions must be applied to the CAG of all operational USN carriers.
1. For every operational carrier in the USN, a standardized CAG is authorized, and required, to be formed up in time to begin operations when the carrier comes into commission.
2. Such a CAG will consist of current, proven aircraft types, in three complete Carrier Air Wings, as well as at least one additional partial wing of experimental aircraft of more advanced design.
3. Each individual CAW will have, separately, more aircraft and aircrew than the specific carrier can embark at any given time, such that:
4. If a particular aircraft carrier could embark 72 aircraft as it’s normal complement, and say these aircraft types were broken down into 24 of each of our current types of, fighters, dive bombers, and torpedo bombers, then at minimum such a CAW would need 24 aircraft of each type, each with its own aircrew just to be able to sail with a balanced force. As different missions may dictate a different mix, with more or less emphasis on a given type, extra aircraft need to be assigned to a CAW, so that such varying mixtures of types can be accomplished without the need to go outside the CAG, so that all aircrew will have carried out joint missions, and be known to each other from having extensive training together, thus keeping up the level of expertise of the CAG and CAW as a whole, instead of needing to bring in a new cadet, fresh from flight training, and teach them everything that flight school didn’t.
5. In order that our carriers have the needed extra pilots and planes, the normal complement of each CAW should consist of 250% of the individual aircraft types, such that in the above example, a single CAW would require 60 of each type, for a total of 180 aircraft. This is done to ensure that differing mixtures are readily available for whatever mission type is undergoing, and that despite any maintenance issues that may arise, there will always be enough aircraft to fill out the shipboard embarkation slots.
6. Further, because of the nature of military aviation in general, and carrier aviation in particular, each USN aircraft carrier is required by law to have three complete CAW in time of war, or lead up to war, such that losses can be instantly be made good by the simple expedient of swapping out a depleted CAW for a fresh one, thus ensuring a full complement of fully trained and experienced aircrew that have trained extensively, together, is always available for our carriers, and additionally, that the legal requirement to have three separate, full and oversized CAW will ensure that our brave pilots can expect to rotate between operation sorties with the carrier, R&R, and training up of replacement pilots to make up losses due to combat, mishaps, and retirement.
7. This legal requirement therefore make a notional carrier, with an embarked CAW of some 72 aircraft, need 540 total aircraft in times of war, and this does not count the ancillary aircraft types nor the advanced/experimental CAW mentioned in #2 above.
Ok, so this is kind of bordering on a wank, but looking at this as a measure to overcome the imponderables of an as yet future war, and all the uncertainties that this will have for a civilian Politician, attempting to create a force structure that will err on the side of caution and prepare the USN to be able to meet and overcome any difficulties that might arise, years down the road…
Again, any thoughts relating to this idea, post here, and for actual aircraft suggestions, please post them in TP's thread.