PC/WI:USN builds Medium Carriers instead of "Nimitz" class

WILDGEESE

Gone Fishin'
Inspired by this link.

https://en.wkipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_Carrier_(Medium)

With a post 1970 pod, get the US Navy to built 24 Medium carriers instead of the "Nimitz" class to replace their existing carrier fleet.

I'm thinking of having a ship that's around 150 ft longer, so to be able to operate the F-14 Tomcat and be non-nuclear powered to cut the cost of production and running.

The air-wing would as follows.

36 x F/A 14 Tomcats (multi role variant, to act as force multiplier)
12 x S-3 Vikings
4/6 x E-3 Hawkeye's

Would this work?

Would the Navy go for this?

Would the RN be interested in this design to replace the "Invincible" class at the end of the '80's

Regards filers
 

Delta Force

Banned
Inspired by this link.

https://en.wkipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_Carrier_(Medium)

With a post 1970 pod, get the US Navy to built 24 Medium carriers instead of the "Nimitz" class to replace their existing carrier fleet.

I'm thinking of having a ship that's around 150 ft longer, so to be able to operate the F-14 Tomcat and be non-nuclear powered to cut the cost of production and running.

The air-wing would as follows.

36 x F/A 14 Tomcats (multi role variant, to act as force multiplier)
12 x S-3 Vikings
4/6 x E-3 Hawkeye's

Would this work?

Would the Navy go for this?

Would the RN be interested in this design to replace the "Invincible" class at the end of the '80's

Regards filers

Originally posted here here:

The Aircraft Carrier (Medium) was intended as a cheap conventionally powered complement to the nuclear powered supercarriers. The early concepts for what would become the Aircraft Carrier (Medium) started as replacement designs for the Midway at $550 million each, but the final design was closer to $1.5 billion, compared to $2.4 million for a Nimitz. Since the hull cost was only $100 million less than a repeat of the John F. Kennedy class, the Navy successfully argued for one to be included in the 1980 budget, and President Reagan decided to order a Nimitz instead of that. However, total operating costs from a smaller airgroup, crew requirements, etc. would have resulted in lower life cycle costs for the smaller design.

Also, the Aircraft Carrier (Medium) is something that proponents of naval expansion could get behind if it was presented in terms of maximizing the number of carrier groups and hulls in the water. For the cost of a single Nimitz, the Navy could likely acquire an Aircraft Carrier (Medium) and modernize several older guided missile cruisers and destroyers. Since the older cruisers and destroyers would be busy escorting the new fleet carriers, the Navy would need new escorts for the Nimitz, and they could acquire new California class cruisers, Strike Cruisers, or perhaps an improved Ticonderoga class (perhaps with nuclear propulsion).
 

Delta Force

Banned
The total cost of the Nimitz program at 10 carriers would have been $24 billion, which could acquire 16 Aircraft Carrier (Medium) ships at $1.5 billion each or 15 conventionally powered supercarriers.

They would be joined by 1 existing nuclear powered supercarrier of the Enterprise class, 7 existing conventionally powered aircraft carriers (4 of the Forrestal class, 2 Kitty Hawk class, 1 John F. Kennedy class) and 3 existing fleet aircraft carriers of the Midway class. There would also be some of the 24 Essex class aircraft carriers available (roughly equivalent to a modern light aircraft carrier) and the amphibious assault transports and carriers of the Iwo Jima and Tarawa class, also roughly equivalent to a light aircraft carrier.

All those ships will need escorts. Finding enough destroyers shouldn't be an issue, but acquiring enough air defense ships probably will.
 
Inspired by this link.

https://en.wkipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_Carrier_(Medium)

With a post 1970 pod, get the US Navy to built 24 Medium carriers instead of the "Nimitz" class to replace their existing carrier fleet.

I'm thinking of having a ship that's around 150 ft longer, so to be able to operate the F-14 Tomcat and be non-nuclear powered to cut the cost of production and running.

The air-wing would as follows.

36 x F/A 14 Tomcats (multi role variant, to act as force multiplier)
12 x S-3 Vikings
4/6 x E-3 Hawkeye's

Would this work?

Would the Navy go for this?

Would the RN be interested in this design to replace the "Invincible" class at the end of the '80's

Regards filers

As others have mentioned additional escorts would be needed and I would envisage the Oliver Hazard Perry class FFGs becoming the 'principle' escort ship instead of simply being a cheaper 'less capable' hull to compliment the 'More capable' Spruance class DDGs

So instead of 51 OHP class FFGs and 31 Spruance DDGs - 100 'stretched' OHP class FFGs are built instead of both OTL classes giving them increased range and maybe increased Missile magazine size?
 
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