"Carriers, the new gunboat?" Topic

This posting is a bit dated (Nov. 2012), but thought it was worthwhile to add anyway, since I didn't realize they were working up four additional carriers in China:

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On a related note, Russia also claims they will be once again a superpower at sea, with the addition of their new, planned "air-capable cruisers" (e.g. aircraft carriers, for those of you unfamiliar with this term, or "thru-deck cruisers", in order to get around the bean counters):

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Russia is also planning to have four "carriers" as well – one for each of its fleets.

"The new aircraft carrier will combine the properties of a command and control vessel and that of a powerful defensive ship. It is also planned to fit up this cruiser with the most advanced equipment that has no analogues in the world.

The main purpose of such a ship is to deliver strikes at targets in the air, on water, on land and even in space. The latter task will be achieved if the ship works in a tandem with a group of orbital facilities.

At present, Russia has only one heavy air-capable cruiser, called "Admiral Kuznetsov", which is drawing its duty in Russia's northern waters. There are plans to modernize it by 2020, but Russian navy commanders have long been saying that Russia needs more heavy cruisers as well".

"The displacement of the new aircraft carrier will be more than 50,000 tons, which is bigger than that of "Admiral Kuznetsov" but smaller than that of its modern US analogues. It will be able to take about 80 airplanes on its deck".

Most interesting to me is the comment that they will "works in a tandem with a group of orbital facilities", and that they will be able to deliver strikes even in space.

Presumably, they mean they will use satellites, and perhaps the space station for tracking, GPS, etc., but they also seem to imply that the carrier will be able to take out enemy satellites at will, from their new vessel.

Interesting developments for these two countries, while the USA's ability to operate carriers around the globe is diminished.

Actually, the 'air-capable cruiser' is a dodge around a treaty with Turkey, to allow ships from the Black Sea out into the Med.

80 "airplanes" on 50,000 tons?

Probably not.

It would be an interesting exercise (and the Heavenly Father knows someone, other than the professionals, have most likely done it) to work out the volume of hangar space, fuel, and other stores on a U.S. carrier. One could then derive an average-volume-per-aircraft as an aid to determining just how many aircraft it would be feasible to embark and operate on 50,000 tons. It wouldn't be terribly precise, but should be good enough for the back of the envelope.

For that matter, I should have a look at Phil Barker's "Subs and SAMs" developmental rules. There may be some work of the sort underlying it.

80 "airplanes" on 50,000 tons?

Works if they're 'small' birds. Midway-class were 45ktons, so you could probably get 55 aircraft if they're no bigger than F4s or A6s, and more if they're smaller. Run F8 Crusaders or A7 Corsairs (or equivalent size) and I bet you could have 80 birds. Probably have to store some on the flight deck, though, I can't imagine the hangar deck big enough.

Russians are looking at running MiG-29K off their carriers.

These will replace the larger and older Su-33 Flankers.

MiG-29 is still a largeish plane.