This is a reference page
describing my vision of a properly designed and sized fleet. This will provide context for readers as they
read individual blog posts and enable them to see where the various concepts
fit into the overall scheme.
Fleet Composition
Type Qty
Supercarrier 15
Small Carrier 12
Battleship 6
Independent Cruiser 8
AAW Escort 60
Destroyer 80
Destroyer (ASW) Escort 60
ASW Corvette 40
UAV Carrier 6
ASW Carrier 6
Total Combat
Fleet 293
Large Deck Amphibious 9
Assault Support Ship 8
Attack Transport 6
Total
Amphibious Fleet 23
Attack Submarine 60
Ballistic Missile Sub 12
Guided Missile Sub 10
Total Submarine
Fleet 82
Here are the characteristics
of the individual ships.
Supercarrier
– This is a traditional Nimitz class carrier with a full 90+ aircraft air wing. This is not a Ford class.
Catapults 4
Radar TRS-3D/4D
Displacement 100,000 t
Length
1090 ft
Air Wing
90+
Small Carrier – This is a small carrier only on a relative basis. It is intended to be a cheaper carrier more
than a smaller carrier and, in fact, carries a nearly full size combat air
wing. One of the main functional
differences, which contributes greatly to the reduced size and cost, is the
presence of only 2 catapults which would be in the waist positions. This frees up the entire bow for aircraft
parking on deck and frees up volume below the flight deck by removing the
catapult mechanism. This ship is in the
Midway size range.
Catapults 2
Radar TRS-3D/4D
Displacement 55,000 t
Length
900 ft
Air Wing
48
Battleship
– The battleship has a traditional heavy 16” gun fit and massive armor for
protection from missiles and torpedoes.
The main use is land attack including infantry gun support and long
distance Tomahawk and short and intermediate range conventional ballistic
missile (SRBM/IRBM) strike with a secondary role of anti-ship. Naval and air base destruction would be prime
missions.
·
3x 16” triple
mount
·
4x 6” dual mount
·
2x 5” single
mount
·
12x Phalanx CIWS
·
8x SeaRAM
·
64x Mk 41 VLS
(ESSM, Tomahawk, LRASM)
·
32x SRBM/IRBM
·
TRS-3D/4D radar
·
SPQ-9B
·
EO/IR 360 deg
Independent Cruiser – The cruiser is designed for operations separate from a carrier group,
hence, the “independent” description.
The cruiser would form the basis of a surface group able to operate
without significant air cover. Radar,
IR, and visual stealth measures would be maximized. Main missions would be anti-surface and land
attack with an emphasis on more peripheral areas of operation.
·
6x 8” guns in 3x
dual mount
·
4x 5” guns
single mount
·
4x Phalanx CIWS
·
4x SeaRAM
·
96x Mk41 VLS
(ESSM, Standard, Tomahawk, LRASM)
·
Aegis/AMDR
·
TRS-3D/4D
·
SPQ-9B
·
EO/IR 360 deg
AAW Escort
– Provides AAW escort for carrier, amphibious, and surface action groups. Does not operate alone. Strictly AAW – no flight deck, no hangar, no
ASW, no ASuW. This is a floating AAW
platform. It would have maximum stealth
features to enhance its survivability since an AAW platform that is easily sunk
is of no use.
·
1x 5” gun
·
4x Phalanx CIWS
·
4x SeaRAM
·
96x Mk 41 VLS
(Standard, ESSM)
·
Aegis/AMDR
·
TRS-3D/4D
·
SPQ-9B
Destroyer
– Provides the main anti-surface (ASuW) capability plus ASW with helos, flight
deck, and hangar as well as medium range (ESSM) AAW.
·
2x 5” gun
·
2x Phalanx CIWS
·
2x SeaRAM
·
32x Mk 41 VLS
(ESSM, VL-ASROC, LRASM)
·
4x 21” torpedo
·
2x RBU-ish ASW
rocket depth charges
·
2x MH-60R ASW
helo
·
TRS-4D radar
·
Hull
·
Towed array
Destroyer Escort (ASW Escort) – Provides open ocean ASW escort to carrier, amphibious, surface
action groups, and logistics convoys.
·
1x 76 mm Super
Rapid STRALES/DART
·
2x Mk32 Triple
Torpedo Launchers
·
2x RBU-ish ASW
rocket depth charges
·
ASROC trainable
box launcher
·
VDS
·
Hull
·
SQR-20
Multi-function towed array
·
Wide aperture
lightweight fiber optic sonar array, consisting of three flat panels mounted
low along either side of the hull (Virginia
ASW Corvette
– Provides ASW for shallow water, choke point, harbor defense, and convoy
escort. This is not a battle carrier or
surface group escort.
·
1x 76 mm Super
Rapid STRALES/DART
·
2x Mk32 Triple
Torpedo Launchers
·
2x RBU
·
VDS
·
Hull
·
SQR-20 Multi-function
towed array
UAV Carrier
– Dedicated UAV carrier intended to operate with surface groups to provide
situational awareness. Operates relatively
small UAVs via mini-catapults and deck/net recovery. Likely based on a converted commercial cargo
design.
·
100x small UAV
ASW Carrier
– This is a small ASW helo carrier that forms the core of an ASW hunter-killer
group. The ship is based on a small
commercial cargo vessel.
·
10x MH-60R ASW
helo
Large Deck Amphibious – This is an LHA/LHD big deck helo carrier with well
deck but no MV-22 or F-35B/Harrier.
·
12x AH-1 Super
Cobra attack helo
·
18x CH-53K
Stallion transport helo
Assault Support Ship – This ship stands close in to provide ground troops
with very close range fire support and counter-rocket/artillery/mortar
protection.
·
5x 5”/62 gun
·
1x C-RAM
·
Counter fire
radar
Attack Transport – Virtually identical to WWII APA attack transports. These would be largely constructed if/as
needed during a war but a small group would be maintained during peacetime for
proficiency exercises and operational/tactical experimentation. Troops and cargo would be delivered by over-the-side
landing craft (modern Higgins boats).
·
24x Landing
craft
Attack Submarine – Identical to current SSNs except there would be no provision for
cruise missiles.
Ballistic Missile Sub – Identical to current Ohio
Guided Missile Sub – Identical to current Ohio
·
154x cruise
missiles
Supercarrier Air Wing
· 60 VF
· 14 VA
·
4 AEW
· 10 EW
· 10 ASW (fixed
wing)
· 10 Tanker
Small Carrier Air Wing
·
44 VF
·
4 AEW
____________________________________________________
Operations
- In combat, ships will operate in two main groupings: carrier groups and surface groups. Here are the notional compositions of the
groups.
Carrier Group
Supercarrier 3
Small Carrier 1
AAW Escort 10
Destroyer 10
ASW Escort 12
Cruiser Surface Group
Independent Cruiser 2-4
AAW Escort 4
ASW Destroyer Escort 6-8
UAV Carrier 1
Battleship
Surface Group
Battleship 2-4
AAW Escort 4
ASW Destroyer Escort 6-8
UAV Carrier 1
