| plutarch 64 | 01 Jan 2016 5:34 a.m. PST |
Another completed unit, and my last one for 2015:
More here for anyone interested (and Happy New Year, of course): tinmountain.blogspot.com.au |
| Murvihill | 01 Jan 2016 6:31 a.m. PST |
Assuming that during the 10-ish years they were in reserve the planes that were assigned to them would be mothballed too, what was the last airwing of the CVA and CVS Essex carriers? The idea is to bring them in as reinforcements during a Cold War gone hot campaign. |
| CVA31bhr | 01 Jan 2016 7:20 a.m. PST |
Once in mothballs, the Essex/Hancock classes were pretty much clapped out and bringing one back into service would have been a measure of total desperation. Shangri-La suffered numerous breakdowns during her last cruise to Wespac due to being worn out. But you could use Lexington, which was classed as an AVT but was capable of operating as a combatant if things got really bad.
The air wing on a Hancock would have been two VFs with Crusaders (still with the Reserves til the early 80s), two VAs with A-4s or A-7s. The medium attack role was filled by Skyraiders, but they were gone by 68-69 time frame, and a few helos, a couple KA-3s and some E-1s for AEW. Intrepid carried CVW-10, a modifed attack wing, with A-4s, A-1s, and a det of F-8s on her 3 cruises to Wespac. The CVSs operated with a couple of VS with S-2s, some E-1s and then some SH-3s. L D J |
| wminsing | 01 Jan 2016 12:35 p.m. PST |
IMHO it's far more likely that they would be reactivated as some sort of anti-submarine asset and operate primarily helo air groups. -Will |
| Allen57 | 01 Jan 2016 1:22 p.m. PST |
Not sure what your years are but USS Oriskany was active until 1976 when she was decommissioned. In her later life, approx. 1969-76, she embarked two squadrons of F8s, two of Corsair II, and a det of RF8 aircraft. Don't know if she was the last of the Essexs carriers. |
 deadhead  | 01 Jan 2016 1:28 p.m. PST |
Now if the Portuguese infantry could have called in Naval Air, that would have been quite summat. I think something has gone wrong here with cross posting. Essex carriers off Yankee Station (Or Dixie come to that) is a long way from the Iberian Peninsula. Wot? No F4 Phantom IIs? |
| Murvihill | 01 Jan 2016 5:29 p.m. PST |
Good info here, how many planes in the squadrons? Agreed it would be a matter of desperation, but if your choice is nothing or a worn out Essex, which would you choose? |
| plutarch 64 | 02 Jan 2016 4:51 a.m. PST |
Definitely an odd one this, and I have seen it on a few other posts. Even stranger how the title has altered "Portuguese" to "Porto", while the rest remains intelligible. I had always assumed that Wellington retired to Portugal to be closer to his supply lines over winter, but perhaps it was about the air support from the Royal Navy all along. He probably stood a better chance of getting it back then than he would nowadays (until HMS Queen Elizabeth is launched, at least). |
| Lion in the Stars | 04 Jan 2016 9:07 p.m. PST |
I think something has gone wrong here with cross posting. The Bug(tm) *is* getting worse of late. Essex carriers off Yankee Station (Or Dixie come to that) is a long way from the Iberian Peninsula. Wot? No F4 Phantom IIs? Phantoms were too big and heavy for the Essex-class carriers to handle. |
| deadhead | 05 Jan 2016 3:15 a.m. PST |
I have actually found it very interesting, but I'll bet Plutarch is cursing, as are his Portuguese! |
