| Revision as of 06:21, 11 June 2015 editUY Scuti (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Page movers, New page reviewers, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers32,881 edits Having 70,000 tons and not accepting carriers of 70,000 tons is 'definitely' misleading, at least for the readers.← Previous edit |
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{{for|the television program|Supercarrier (TV series)}} |
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#REDIRECT ] |
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{{Redirect category shell| |
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'''Supercarrier''' is an unofficial descriptive term for the largest type of ], normally the size of {{sclass-|Nimitz|aircraft carrier|5}} class carriers. In 1990s, the carriers which where above 70,000 ]s (64,000 ]s) were termed as supercarriers.<ref>David Miller and Lindsay Peacock, ''Carriers: The Men and the Machines'' (London and New York: Salamander, 1991), p. 7: "There are four main types of carrier in service today. Largest of these are the super-carriers displacing over 70,000 tons; the U.S. Navy currently has fourteen, the Soviet Navy one."</ref> Supercarriers are the largest ]s ever built, larger than the largest ] class laid down by any country. The ] has ten supercarriers {{As of|2015|lc=y}}.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/12/01/uss-enterprise-carrier-taken-out-active-service/?test=latestnews |title=USS Enterprise carrier taken out of active service |work=Fox News |agency=Associated Press |last=1 December 2012 |accessdate=17 May 2015}}</ref> |
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{{R from merge|Aircraft carrier}} |
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{{R from related word}} |
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A few countries operate medium-sized ]s of around 40,000 tons, such as the ] aircraft carrier {{ship|French aircraft carrier|Charles de Gaulle|R91|2}}. The size and configuration of ''Charles de Gaulle'' corresponds closely with the 45,000-ton {{sclass-|Midway|aircraft carrier|4}} the United States built at the end of World War II as a successor class to the much more numerous 27,000-ton {{sclass-|Essex|aircraft carrier|4}}. Outside the US, there are more ]s closer to 30,000 tons, such as Italy's {{ship|Italian aircraft carrier|Cavour|C 550|2}}. In 2009 the United Kingdom cut the first steel for construction of two {{sclass-|Queen Elizabeth|aircraft carrier|1}}s, with the first ship to be delivered in early 2016 and expected to become fully operational by 2020.<ref name=HMSQE>{{cite web|url= http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/features/equipped-for-the-future |title=Equipped for the Future|publisher=Royal Navy|accessdate=29 May 2015}}</ref> Their displacement is expected to be 70,600 metric tons, which will make them the third largest supercarrier class in service, after the United States' {{sclass-|Gerald R. Ford|aircraft carrier|5}} (first expected in 2016) and Nimitz classes. |
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{{R mentioned in hatnote}} |
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==History== |
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The first ship to be described by '']'' as a supercarrier was {{HMS |Ark Royal|91|6}} in 1938,<ref>{{cite news | title=Reich's Cruise Ships Held Potential Plane Carriers | work = The New York Times | date = 1 May 1938 | page = 32 | url = http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9F03E0DF123CEF3ABC4953DFB3668383629EDE |accessdate=17 May 2015}} {{subscription required}}</ref> with a length of {{convert|685|ft|m}} and a displacement of 22,000 tons, designed to carry 72 aircraft.<ref>{{cite news|title=The Ark Royal Launched. Most Up-To-Date Carrier. Aircraft In The Fleet |work=] |date=14 April 1937 |pages=11}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book| last= Rossiter | first= Mike | title = Ark Royal: the life, death and rediscovery of the legendary Second World War aircraft carrier |origyear=2006 |edition=2nd |year=2007 |publisher=Corgi Books |location=London | isbn = 978-0-552-15369-0 |oclc= 81453068 | pages = 48–51}}</ref> In 1943 the superlative was transferred to the 45,000-ton {{Sclass-|Midway|aircraft carrier|0}} carriers as a step-up from the 27,000-ton {{sclass-|Essex|aircraft carrier|4}}.<ref>{{cite news|first=John G. |last=Norris |title=World's Largest Warships: Three 45,000-Ton Carriers For Bombers Ordered by Navy |work=] |date=23 October 1943 |pages=1}}</ref> The {{ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Shinano||2|up=yes}}, launched in 1944, was the first aircraft carrier with a standard displacement of over 65,000 metric tons. |
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The post-war standard for supercarriers was set by the proposed {{USS|United States|CVA-58|6}} and {{USS|Forrestal|CV-59|6}}.<ref>{{cite news|title=Va. Firm Gets Giant Carrier Building Job. 65,000-Ton Warship Will Be Largest in Postwar Program |work=] |date=8 August 1948 |pages=3}}</ref> ''Forrestal'' displaced 60,000 tons standard and 78,000 tons in deep load<ref>{{Cite book| last= Donald | first = David |first2=Daniel J |last2=March |title= Carrier Aviation Air Power Directory |year= 2001 |publisher= AIRtime Publishing |location = Norwalk, CT |isbn= 1-880588-43-9 |page =77 }}</ref> and is considered the first operational supercarrier in the present-day sense, as used by the US press.<ref>{{Cite book | format = PDF | last = MacDonald | first = Scot | title = Evolution of Aircraft Carriers | publisher = US Government Printing Office | date = 1964-02-01 | location = Washington, DC |url = |doi = |isbn = |id= | page = 69 | chapter= 14 | chapterurl= http://www.history.navy.mil/download/car-14.pdf | quote = The versatility of the current US carrier fleet is largely due to the operation of what the press has labeled 'super-carriers,' heavy duty aircraft carriers of the size, power, and potency of the Forrestals and the nuclear-powered Enterprise.}}</ref> The similar-sized ''United States'' would have been in service earlier, had it been completed; its cancellation triggered the "]". |
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The ]'s 85,000-ton nuclear carrier {{ship|Soviet aircraft carrier|Ulyanovsk||2}}, closely comparable in size to earlier American supercarriers, was 40% complete when it and a follow-on vessel were canceled in 1991 during post-] funding cuts. |
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{{As of|2014}} the United Kingdom has two 70,000-ton ''Queen Elizabeth''-class carriers being built,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://royalnavyinfo.com/future-vessels/queen-elizabeth-class-aircraft-carriers/ |title=Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carrier |publisher=Royalnavyinfo.com |accessdate=17 May 2015}}</ref> and France had until 2013 been considering building ] based on the same design. These ships are referred to as supercarriers by British ]s<ref>{{cite hansard |url=http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200203/cmordbk1/30908w01.htm |title=House of Commons Written Questions for Answer on Monday 8 September 2003 |publisher=Parliament of the United Kingdom |date=8 September 2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite hansard |url=http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200607/ldhansrd/text/70315-0009.htm |title=House of Lords |publisher=Parliament of the United Kingdom |date=15 March 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite hansard |url=http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm080617/text/80617w0014.htm |title=House of Commons Written Answers for 17 June 2008 |date=17 June 2008 |publisher=Parliament of the United Kingdom}}</ref><ref>{{cite hansard| url=http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmselect/cmscotaf/943/7071703.htm |title=Select Committee on Scottish Affairs Minutes of Evidence, Examination of Witnesses (Questions 1–19), 17 July 2007 |date=17 July 2007 |publisher=Parliament of the United Kingdom}}</ref> and the ].<ref name="supercarrier">{{Cite news| title = Hoon to confirm ‘supercarrier’| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1401764.stm| work = ]|date= 22 June 2001| accessdate =17 May 2015}}</ref><ref name="Go ahead">{{Cite news| title = Go-ahead given for work to start on supercarriers| url = http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/hands-off-our-base/Goahead-given-for-work-to.4099975.jp| work = ]|date=20 May 2008| accessdate =17 May 2015}}</ref><ref name="VT">{{Cite news| title = VT at forefront of £3.9bn supercarrier project| url = http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/hands-off-our-base/VT-at-forefront-of-39bn.4100855.jp| work = ]| date=20 May 2008| accessdate = 17 May 2015}}</ref><ref name="Janes">{{Cite news| title = Navy (France), Navy Assessment | url = http://www.janes.com/articles/Janes-Sentinel-Security-Assessment-Western-Europe/Navy-France.html | publisher = '' Jane’s Sentinel Security Assessment—Western Europe ''|date=3 December 2008 | accessdate = 28 December 2008}} {{dead link|date=May 2015}}</ref><ref name="Delayed">{{Cite news| title = Navy aircraft carriers delayed| url = http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/3969255.Navy_aircraft_carriers_delayed/| work = ] |last=Burton |first=Nigel |date=11 December 2008 | accessdate =17 May 2015}}</ref><ref name="Job concerns">{{Cite news| title = Job concerns as MoD proposes carrier delay| url = http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2008/12/12/newsstory12371214t0.asp| work = ] |date=12 December 2008| accessdate =23 December 2008}} {{dead link|date=May 2015}}</ref><ref name = "Airfix">{{Cite news| title = The £4billion Airfix Kit: Behind-the-scenes at Britain's biggest warships| url = http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1100714/The-4billion-Airfix-Kit-Behind-scenes-Britains-biggest-warships.html| work = ]|date= 30 December 2008 | accessdate = 17 May 2015 | location=London | first=Damon | last=Syson}}</ref> The two ''Queen Elizabeth''-class carriers will provide the ] with capabilities much closer to ] carriers than the {{sclass-|Invincible|aircraft carrier|0}} vessels retired in 2014. Giving evidence to the ] ] in 2004, the ] ] explained that interoperability with the United States Navy was as much a deciding factor of the size of the carriers as the firepower of the carrier's airwing: |
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{{quote|I have talked with the CNO (]) in ]. He is very keen for us to get these because he sees us slotting in with his carrier groups. He really wants us to have these, but he wants us to have the same sort of clout as one of their carriers.<ref>{{cite hansard |url=http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200405/cmselect/cmdfence/45/4112404.htm |title=House of Commons Minutes of Evidence Examination of Witnesses (Questions 540 - 559) |publisher=Parliament of the United Kingdom |date=24 November 2004}}</ref>}} |
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Future plans for supercarriers in the United States involve the construction of the U.S. Navy's next generation of carriers, the {{sclass-|Gerald R. Ford|aircraft carrier|4}}, which will have a 100,000-ton displacement. |
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==Alternatives== |
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The United States maintains ten of these ships, with each typically operating 45 ] aircraft for traditional fighter, attack and ] roles with twelve ] helicopters, four ] ] aircraft and two ] ] aircraft.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Alvarez |first1=Beto |last2=Robbins |first2=Gary |date=4 July 2014 |title=The Fleet |journal=] |volume= |issue= |pages=10-11 |publisher= }}</ref> Given carriers' vulnerability in combat and to peacetime ] attacks, the use of more and smaller carriers rather than large vessels has been suggested over the years, such as ]'s ], and carriers the size of {{USS|America|LHA-6|6}} carrying ] aircraft and ].<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/story.asp?STORY_ID=2164 |title=Fortress at Sea? The Carrier Invulnerability Myth |work=Proceedings |publisher=U.S. Naval Institute |date=January 2010 |volume=136 |issue=1 |last=Patch |first=John |accessdate=17 May 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,106292,00.html |title=Lawmaker Calls for Study on Small Carriers |publisher=military.com}}</ref><ref name="hendrix201105">{{cite journal | url=http://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2011-05/twilight-uperfluous-carrier | title=Twilight of the $UPERfluous Carrier |last1=Hendrix |first1=Henry J. |last2=Williams |first2=J. Noel | journal=Proceedings |date=May 2011 | volume=137 | issue=05 |publisher=U.S. Naval Institute |accessdate=17 May 2015}}</ref> However, supercarrier advocates consider them to be more cost-effective than a larger number of smaller carriers.<ref>{{cite book|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=LC5HAAAAYAAJ |title=Warbirds of the sea: a history of aircraft carriers & carrier-based aircraft |first=Walter A. |last=Musciano |pages=553 |publisher=Schiffer |date=1997 |isbn=0-88740-583-5}}</ref> An American carrier strike group costs $25 million per week for routine operations, rising to $40 million during combat operations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defensenews.com/article/20130905/DEFREG02/309050007 |title=US Navy: Cost Of Syria Strikes Would Not Be 'Extraordinary' |work=DefenseNews |publisher=Gannett |date=5 September 2013 |agency=Agence France-Presse |accessdate=17 May 2015}}</ref> |
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The ] (MOB) is an extension of the supercarrier concept, a modular floating military base as large as 10 aircraft carriers. If realized, it could be moved anywhere throughout the world's oceans, obviating the need to seek permission from allied nations for use of land bases. The concept was studied in the 1990s by the U.S. government but was abandoned in 2001 as cost prohibitive. |
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==Classes== |
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* {{Flagicon|USA}} {{sclass-|Forrestal|aircraft carrier|4}} (1955): Four unit class, all decommissioned |
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* {{Flagicon|USA}} {{sclass-|Kitty Hawk|aircraft carrier|4}} (1961): Four unit class, all decommissioned |
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* {{Flagicon|USA}} ] (1961): Six unit class, five cancelled, one decommissioned |
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* {{Flagicon|USA}} {{sclass-|Nimitz|aircraft carrier|4}} (1975): 10 unit class, all active |
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* {{Flagicon|USA}} {{sclass-|Gerald R. Ford|aircraft carrier|4}} (2016): 10 unit class, two under construction, one ordered, 7 planned |
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* {{Flagicon|UK}} {{sclass-|Queen Elizabeth|aircraft carrier|4}} (2016): Two unit class, all under construction |
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===Cancelled=== |
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* {{Flagicon|USA}} ] (1950s): Five planned, one laid down, all cancelled |
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* {{Flagicon|UK}} ] (1960s): Two planned, both cancelled |
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* {{Flagicon|USSR}} ] (1970s): Cancelled |
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* {{Flagicon|USSR}} ] (1990s): Two planned, one partially completed, all cancelled |
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* {{Flagicon|FRA}} ] (2010s): One planned, cancelled |
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==Supercarriers in service== |
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{|class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%;" |
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! Country |
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! Name (]) |
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! Length |
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! ] (]) |
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! Class |
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! Propulsion |
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! Type |
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! Commission |
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|- |
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| {{flag|US}} |
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| {{USS|Nimitz|CVN-68|3}} |
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| <span style="display:none">333</span> {{convert|333|m|ft|abbr=on}} |
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| <span style="display:none">100020</span> 100,020 mt |
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| {{sclass-|Nimitz|aircraft carrier|5}} |
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| Nuclear |
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| ] |
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| <span style="display:none">1975-05-03</span> 3 May 1975 |
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|- |
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| {{flag|US}} |
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| {{USS|Dwight D. Eisenhower|CVN-69|3}} |
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| <span style="display:none">333</span> {{convert|333|m|ft|abbr=on}} |
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| <span style="display:none">103200</span> 103,200 mt |
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| {{sclass-|Nimitz|aircraft carrier|5}} |
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| Nuclear |
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| ] |
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| <span style="display:none">1977-10-18</span> 18 October 1977 |
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|- |
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| {{flag|US}} |
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| {{USS|Carl Vinson|CVN-70|3}} |
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| <span style="display:none">333</span> {{convert|333|m|ft|abbr=on}} |
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| <span style="display:none">102900</span> 102,900 mt |
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| {{sclass-|Nimitz|aircraft carrier|5}} |
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| Nuclear |
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| ] |
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| <span style="display:none">1982-03-13</span> 13 March 1982 |
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|- |
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| {{flag|US}} |
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| {{USS|Theodore Roosevelt|CVN-71|3}} |
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| <span style="display:none">333</span> {{convert|333|m|ft|abbr=on}} |
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| <span style="display:none">106300</span> 106,300 mt |
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| {{sclass-|Nimitz|aircraft carrier|5}} |
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| Nuclear |
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| ] |
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| <span style="display:none">1986-10-25</span> 25 October 1986 |
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|- |
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| {{flag|US}} |
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| {{USS|Abraham Lincoln|CVN-72|3}} |
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| <span style="display:none">333</span> {{convert|333|m|ft|abbr=on}} |
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| <span style="display:none">105783</span> 105,783 mt |
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| {{sclass-|Nimitz|aircraft carrier|5}} |
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| Nuclear |
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| ] |
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| <span style="display:none">1989-11-11</span> 11 November 1989 |
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|- |
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| {{flag|US}} |
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| {{USS|George Washington|CVN-73|3}} |
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| <span style="display:none">333</span> {{convert|333|m|ft|abbr=on}} |
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| <span style="display:none">105900</span> 105,900 mt |
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| {{sclass-|Nimitz|aircraft carrier|5}} |
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| Nuclear |
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| ] |
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| <span style="display:none">1992-07-04</span> 4 July 1992 |
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|- |
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| {{flag|US}} |
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| {{USS|John C. Stennis|CVN-74|3}} |
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| <span style="display:none">333</span> {{convert|333|m|ft|abbr=on}} |
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| <span style="display:none">105000</span> 105,000 mt |
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| {{sclass-|Nimitz|aircraft carrier|5}} |
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| Nuclear |
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| ] |
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| <span style="display:none">1995-12-09</span> 9 December 1995 |
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|- |
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| {{flag|US}} |
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| {{USS|Harry S. Truman|CVN-75|3}} |
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| <span style="display:none">333</span> {{convert|333|m|ft|abbr=on}} |
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| <span style="display:none">105600</span> 105,600 mt |
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| {{sclass-|Nimitz|aircraft carrier|5}} |
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| Nuclear |
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| ] |
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| <span style="display:none">1998-07-25</span> 25 July 1998 |
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|- |
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| {{flag|US}} |
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| {{USS|Ronald Reagan|CVN-76|3}} |
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| <span style="display:none">333</span> {{convert|333|m|ft|abbr=on}} |
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| <span style="display:none">103000</span> 103,000 mt |
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| {{sclass-|Nimitz|aircraft carrier|5}} |
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| Nuclear |
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| ] |
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| <span style="display:none">2003-07-12</span> 12 July 2003 |
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|- |
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| {{flag|US}} |
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| {{USS|George H.W. Bush|CVN-77|3}} |
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| <span style="display:none">333</span> {{convert|333|m|ft|abbr=on}} |
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| <span style="display:none">104000</span> 104,000 mt |
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| {{sclass-|Nimitz|aircraft carrier|5}} |
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| Nuclear |
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| ] |
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| <span style="display:none">2009-01-10</span> 10 January 2009 |
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==Supercarriers under construction== |
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{|class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%;" |
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! Country |
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! Name (]) |
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! Length |
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! ] |
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! Class |
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! Propulsion |
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! Type |
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! Commission date |
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! Status |
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|- |
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| {{flag|UK}} |
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| {{HMS|Queen Elizabeth|R08|3}}<ref name="UK">], p. 206</ref> |
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| <span style="display:none">280</span> {{Convert|280|m|abbr=on}} |
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| <span style="display:none">070600</span>70,600 mt<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/queen-elizabeth-class-aircraft-carrier-guide/ |title=Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carrier: A Guide |publisher=UK Defence Journal |last=Allison |first=George |date=2 April 2014 |accessdate=19 February 2015}}</ref> |
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| {{sclass-|Queen Elizabeth|aircraft carrier|5}} |
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| Conventional |
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| ] |
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| 2016 (expected)<ref name=HMSQE/> |
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| Being fitted out |
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|- |
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| {{flag|UK}} |
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| {{HMS|Prince of Wales|R09|3}}<ref name="UK"/> |
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| <span style="display:none">280</span> {{Convert|280|m|abbr=on}} |
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| <span style="display:none">070600</span>70,600 mt |
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| {{sclass-|Queen Elizabeth|aircraft carrier|5}} |
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| Conventional |
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| ] |
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| 2018 (expected) |
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| Under construction |
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|- |
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| {{flag|US}} |
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| {{USS|Gerald R. Ford|CVN-78|3}}<ref name="USA">{{cite web |url=http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/weapons/RS20643.pdf |title=Navy Ford (CVN-78) Class Aircraft Carrier Program: Background and Issues for Congress |first=Ronald |last=O'Rourke |date=24 March 2015 |publisher=] |format=pdf |accessdate=17 May 2015}}</ref> |
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| <span style="display:none">337</span> {{convert|337|m|ft|abbr=on}} |
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| <span style="display:none">102000</span> 102,000 mt |
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| {{sclass-|Gerald R. Ford|aircraft carrier|5}} |
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| ] |
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| ] |
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| 2016 (expected) |
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| Under construction |
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|- |
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| {{flag|US}} |
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| {{USS|John F. Kennedy|CVN-79|3}}<ref>{{cite press release |url= http://www.defense.gov//releases/release.aspx?releaseid=14523 |title=Navy names next aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy |date=29 May 2011 |publisher=] |accessdate=29 May 2011 |number=449-11}}</ref> |
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| <span style="display:none">337</span> {{convert|337|m|ft|abbr=on}} |
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| <span style="display:none">102000</span> 102,000 mt |
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| {{sclass-|Gerald R. Ford|aircraft carrier|5}} |
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| ] |
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| ] |
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| 2020 (expected) |
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| Under construction |
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==See also== |
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* ] |
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* {{ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Shinano}} |
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* ] |
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==References== |
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{{Reflist|30em}} |
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==External links== |
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{{Commons category|Aircraft carriers}} |
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* —comprehensive and detailed listings of all the world's aircraft carriers and ]s from 1913 to 2001, with photo gallery. |
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* |
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{{Warship types of the 19th & 20th centuries}} |
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] |
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] |
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