Carriers

The USS Franklin D. Roosevelt, F.D.R or ‘Rosie’ as she was affectionately known, was a Midway class carrier, the next step up from the war-winning Essex class.

Equipped with a full-length flight deck and facilities for carrying, arming, deploying, and recovering aircraft, the aircraft carrier is a true seagoing air base. Typically, it is the capital ship of a fleet, as it allows a naval force to project air power worldwide without depending on local bases for staging aircraft operations.

Carriers have evolved since their inception in the early twentieth century from wooden vessels used to deploy balloons to nuclear-powered warships that carry numerous fighters, strike aircraft, helicopters, and other types of aircraft. While heavier aircraft such as fixed-wing gunships and bombers have been launched from aircraft carriers, it is currently not possible to land them.

But how many aircraft can an aircraft carrier carry?

‘The USS Franklin D. Roosevelt was able, when commissioned in October 1945, to carry 137 planes,’ says Ben Pyper, an aviation expert on Quora. ‘The F.D.R or ‘Rosie’ as she was affectionately known, was a Midway class carrier, the next step up from the war-winning Essex class. The largest number of planes embarked that I can find a record of was on her first shakedown cruise. 135 aircraft… consisting of F4U-4 Corsairs, SB2C Helldivers and F6F-5P Hellcats, of the CVG(CAG)-75 air wing [CLICK HERE to check out the ship fact sheet].’

Pyper continues;

‘The reason why numbers were greater then than now is simply that the planes were a lot smaller, so you could fit more of them in. Modern carriers are much larger than the Rosie, but they still have fewer planes, because they are a whole lot bigger. The Gerald R Ford is scheduled to carry about 75 planes.’

Noteworthy, in their original configuration, the Midway-class ships had an airwing of almost 130 aircraft. It was soon realized that the coordination of so many planes was beyond the effective command and control ability of one ship.

Originally christened Coral Sea (CVB-42) the FDR was laid down on Dec. 1, 1943, at the New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, N.Y., and launched on Apr. 29, 1945. The ship sponsor was Mrs. Anne P. Towers, née Pierette, wife of Adm. John H. Towers, Commander of Air Force, Pacific Fleet, while its honorary sponsor was First Lady A. Eleanor Roosevelt. Coral Sea was renamed Franklin D. Roosevelt to honor the late President Roosevelt on May 8, 1945, marking the first time that the Navy made an exception to the traditional naming of fleet aircraft carriers for battles or famous ships. FDR was commissioned on Oct. 27, 1945, with Capt. Apollo Soucek in command.

Photo by U.S. Navy

Assuming both ships are without escort what flattop would win in 1v1, the Nimitz-Class aircraft carrier or the Admiral Kuznetsov?

Aircraft carriers are the centerpiece of America’s Naval forces. In times of crisis, the first question leaders ask is: “Where are the carriers?” Often the presence of an aircraft carrier has deterred potential adversaries from striking against US interests.

Currently, the US Navy fields 10 Nimitz-class aircraft carriers (and the Gerald R. Ford, the first sample of the next generation of an aircraft carrier): these vessels are the largest warships in the world, each designed for an approximately 50-year service life with just single mid-life refueling.

The embarked carrier air wing supports and operates aircraft that engage in attacks on airborne, afloat and ashore targets that threaten free use of the sea and engage in sustained power projection operations in support of US and coalition forces.

By contrast, Russia has only one carrier, Admiral Kuznetsov. Admiral Kuznetsov was originally commissioned in the Soviet Navy and was intended to be the lead ship of the two-ship Kuznetsov class. However, its sister ship Varyag was still incomplete when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. The second hull was eventually sold by Ukraine to the People’s Republic of China, completed in Dalian, and commissioned as Liaoning.

Assuming both ships are without escort what flattop would win in 1v1, the Nimitz-Class aircraft carrier or the Admiral Kuznetsov?

‘Well, currently and for the foreseeable future the Kuznetov cannot go to sea [the carrier was in fact badly damaged by a huge fire on Dec. 12, 2019]. But let’s just say some miracle happens and the Russians can get her underway,’ says James Shannon, Senior Chief Petty Officer BMCS (SW/AW)(E-8) at United States Navy (1995-present), on Quora.

‘On its latest deployment in 2017, Kuznetsov carried 12 P700 anti-ship missiles, 12 SU-33s, 6 MiG-29, and 6 helicopters.

‘A Nimitz-Class aircraft carrier normally carries 48 Super Hornets, 5 Growlers, 3 Hawkeyes, 1–2 COD, and at least a dozen MH-60S and MH-60R.

‘The kicker for Nimitz-Class aircraft carrier’s aircraft is not just in the numbers. Nimitz-Class aircraft carrier’s Super Hornets can launch with full payloads due to having catapults and buddy-stores tanking systems. Kuznetsov’s aircraft are significantly limited in payload due to the need to ski-jump and they have no organic tanking ability.’

Shannon continues;

‘To sum it up the Nimitz-Class aircraft carrier can send 4 complete Strike Fighter Squadrons and 1 Electronic Attack Squadron, fully loaded with full combat radius, with full Airborne Early Warning support and Organic Tanking support.

‘The Nimitz-Class aircraft carrier’s aircraft can hit Kuznetsov from outside of the P700 range and also the range of the SU-33 and MiG-29. Kuznetsov’s surface-to-air missiles would not be able to reach Reagan’s airwing. Kuznetsov would need to focus its small airwing completely on fighting AAW. The problem is that all of the Nimitz-Class aircraft carrier’s aircraft coming in their vicinity will be capable of AAW, and even the Growler will have AMRAAMs.

‘The Nimitz-Class aircraft carrier’s airwing will peel back the SU-33s and MiG-29s. The Growlers will then work on electronically disabling Kuznetsov’s fire-control ability (missile guidance). They will do with jamming and decoying, then they will hit Kutnesov with AARGM anti-radiation missiles.

‘Following more slowly behind will be the subsonic anti-ship missiles coming from the Super Hornets. 48 Rhinos in the Airwing, many of them will have either SLAM-ER or LRASM. Kuznetsov probably already expended a fair amount of missiles trying to shoot down AARGMs and Decoys from the Growlers. Kuznetsov will not have much fire-control ability either way. The Nimitz-Class aircraft carrier’s airwing can easily send 50 or so SLAM-ERs and LRASMs. It won’t take even half that to put Kuznetsov permanently out of action. Once it’s disabled and unable to fight, the coup de grace would probably come from 2000-pound laser-guided bombs.’

F/A-18F Super Hornet firing an AIM-120D AMRAAM

F/A-18F Super Hornet loaded for Buddy-Stores Tanking Duty

F/A-18E Super Hornet loaded for ASuW with SLAM-ER

E/A-18G Growler loaded to bead for Jamming, AAW and Anti-Radiation Missiles

E-2D Hawkeye providing AEW support.

Shannon concludes;

‘It really wouldn’t be much of a fight.’

Photo by U.S. Navy and Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation

‘The fighter jet jocks got with us and came up with this slant, on an age-old tradition, of releasing a greased pig, onto the deck of the relieving ship. Three pigs painted with Red, White, and Blue food coloring and lathered in grease,’ Brian Michaels, former Aircrewman/SAR Swimmer with HS-11 helo squadron.

Dating back to the early 60s, a prank played by US Navy carriers in the Mediterranean was to surprise their relieving carrier by releasing greased pigs on the flight deck.

This 1986 video is of a helicopter from USS America dropping off pigs on USS John F. Kennedy, as Brian Michaels, who filmed the video, explains in the clip description:

‘This was filmed in 1986 while I was stationed aboard the USS America CV-66. I was an Aircrewman/SAR Swimmer with the HS-11 helo squadron. We were at the end of a 6-month deployment to the Indian Ocean/Mediterranean Sea. We were being relieved by the USS Kennedy. The fighter jet jocks got with us and came up with this slant, on an age-old tradition, of releasing a greased pig, onto the deck of the relieving ship. Three pigs were painted with Red, White, and Blue food coloring and lathered in grease. The Kennedy never saw it coming! LOL.’

George Duncan’s ramp strike has been used in several films including Men of the Fighting Lady, Midway, and The Hunt for Red October

Taken in 1951, the shocking video in this post shows the famous non-fatal Grumman F9F-2 Panther ramp strike accident that occurred as Cdr. George Duncan attempted to land on USS Midway (CV-41) in F9F-2 BuNo 125228, during carrier suitability tests in the Atlantic Ocean.

The Panther was engulfed in fire, and sailors pulled Capt. Duncan from the flaming wreckage. He was badly burned but was back flying in six months.

Noteworthy the footage of Duncan’s ramp strike has been used in several movies including Men of the Fighting Lady (realistically as an F9F), Midway (where the SBD Dauntless flown by Charlton Heston morphs into an SB2C Helldiver in the groove and crashes as Duncan’s Panther), and The Hunt for Red October (standing in for an F-14 Tomcat).

Photo by U.S. Navy

Lt. Cmdr. Kellen Smith and Lt. Matthew Halliwell were two of three pilots aboard a US Navy VAW-123 Screwtops E-2C Hawkeye that was landing on the USS Eisenhower aircraft carrier on Mar. 18, 2016, when an arresting cable snapped during a carrier landing.

Lt. Cmdr. Kellen Smith and Lt. Matthew Halliwell were two of three pilots aboard a US Navy Airborne Early Warning Squadron 123 (VAW-123) Screwtops E-2C Hawkeye that was landing on USS Eisenhower (CVN-69) aircraft carrier on Mar. 18, 2016, when an arresting cable snapped during a carrier landing in a rare and terrifying flight deck mishap.

In the following video, they talked to the Virginian Pilot about how they prevented the loss of lives and the aircraft during the mishap.

For the accident that injured eight sailors and nearly sent the E-2C Hawkeye plunging into the ocean, the Navy faulted flawed maintenance.

Navy Times then reported that the 30-second incident required six medical evacuations of eight injured sailors and caused more than $200,000 of damages to the carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower and aircraft on deck, according to a report, which blamed this mishap on complicated maintenance rules and sailors’ mistakes. 

Three VAW-123 E-2Cs were working pre-deployment carrier landing qualifications off the coast of Virginia on that day when the pilots of one of the Hawkeye propeller planes noticed that despite textbook landing — hooking the fourth and final arresting cable on the flight deck — the aircraft wasn’t slowing down.

“All three mishap aircrew heard a loud bang, heard the tailhook re-contact the flight deck, and felt a shudder,” according to the report. “Both pilots realized that ‘something’ had happened and observed that they were continuing to roll towards the end of the landing area.”

While the E-2C rolled off the deck, flight deck sailors rushed to avoid being struck by the snapped metal wire. The aircraft went missing for a frightening second, as the pilots struggled to get airborne again. The plane came within 20 feet of striking the water, the report said. 

The Hawkeye plunged off the edge, getting airborne again about 10 to 20 feet above the water, according to the investigation.

Meanwhile, the No. 4 wire snapped and swung across the flight deck, hitting eight sailors and causing injuries from minor lacerations to broken bones and a cracked skull.

The accident also caused hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of damages to a C-2 Greyhound and MH-60SnKnighthawk parked on the flight deck.

The investigation blamed three sailors responsible for maintaining the landing gear, as well as the needlessly complicated procedures required to do that job. Sailors failed to properly fix an error on Ike’s No. 4 wire, which left the arresting gear engine unable to provide enough load to stop the E-2C Hawkeye from landing on deck. The sailors were recommended for discipline but did not say what actions were taken.

351 Naval aviators were qualified using EMALS and AAG throughout 2020 and 2021.

Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) and Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) achieved 8,000 aircraft recoveries and launch aboard USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) on April 19, during the final independent steaming event of her 18-month Post Delivery Test & Trials (PDT&T) period.

Capt. Kenneth Sterbenz, Aircraft Launch and Recovery Equipment (ALRE) program manager (PMA-251) for EMALS and AAG, said ALRE finished PDT&T strong, and they are ready for the next step, as Ford prepares for Full Ship Shock Trials, which is scheduled to begin summer 2021.

“ALRE’s support of EMALS and AAG was admirable throughout the rigorous testing of PDT&T operations,” said Sterbenz in the NAVAIR news release. “On the way to reaching 8,000 launches and recoveries, we saw many Ford crew trained, learned a great deal about the systems, and laid the invaluable groundwork for future Ford-class ships.”

As CVN 78 moved through PDT&T, ALRE had the opportunity to directly support the fleet, as 351 Naval aviators were qualified using EMALS and AAG throughout 2020 and 2021. Time and training also enabled a great increase in the efficiency of flight operations. More than 7,000 of Ford’s total launches and recoveries were completed in the last 18 months.

The Navy’s newest aircraft launch and recovery technology, the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System and Advanced Arresting Gear System, were designed for use aboard Ford-class aircraft carriers, beginning with USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78). Land-based test sites, located at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., enable testing, troubleshooting, and Sailor training. Developed by prime contractor General Atomics, EMALS, and AAG provide significant advancements to the Navy’s Ford-class aircraft carriers. EMALS and AAG require a smaller footprint in the ship, less maintenance, and less manpower than comparable steam catapults and arresting gear aboard Nimitz-class carriers.

For more than 40 years, Nimitz-class carriers have played the first-responder role in crises and conflicts. The delivery of CVN 77 in 2009 provided continued proof of the viability of the early-’60s design of the Nimitz-class carriers; these ships have served the nation well and will continue to do so in the coming decades. According to All Hands, Ford-class ships will begin to succeed those of the Nimitz class when Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) is commissioned. While the aircraft carrier’s basic mission will remain unchanged, Ford-class ships will deliver greater lethality, survivability, and joint interoperability, along with unmatched versatility and compatibility with continuing joint-force transformation – all at a reduced operating and maintenance cost to taxpayers. Ford will be capable of carrying the Navy’s most advanced aircraft, such as the F-35C Lightning II; F/A-18E/F Super Hornet; E-2D Advanced Hawkeye; EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft; MH-60R/S helicopters and unmanned air vehicles. Adding to its versatility, Ford will also be able to recover and launch various Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) aircraft flown by the United States Marine Corps. Finally, the design margins built into the ship will allow for the integration of future manned and unmanned aircraft with minimal ship alterations.

Photo by MC3 Elizabeth Thompson/U.S. Navy

USS Nimitz headed towards the South China Sea on Feb. 2, 2021, a few days after Chinese combat aircraft conducted a mock attack on USS Theodore Roosevelt.

The Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group conducted dual carrier operations with the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group in the South China Sea on Feb. 9, 2021.

The ships and aircraft of the two strike groups coordinated operations in a highly trafficked area to demonstrate the US Navy’s ability to operate in challenging environments.

According to the USS Theodore Roosevelt Public Affairs press release, as a part of dual-carrier operations, the strike groups conducted a multitude of exercises aimed at increasing interoperability between assets as well as command and control capabilities.

“Training with Carrier Strike Group Eleven in the South China Sea is a tremendously valuable opportunity,” said Rear Adm. Doug Verissimo, commander, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) Nine. “Through operations like this, we ensure that we are tactically proficient to meet the challenge of maintaining peace and we are able to continue to show our partners and allies in the region that we are committed to promoting a Free and Open Indo-Pacific.”

Carrier Strike Group Nine and Carrier Strike Group Eleven last conducted dual-carrier operations on June 21, 2020, in the Philippine Sea.

The last time the US conducted dual-carrier operations in the South China Sea was in July 2020, when the Ronald Reagan and Nimitz carrier strike groups twice operated together in the South China Sea.

“Working cooperatively alongside Carrier Strike Group Nine improves our collective tactical skill while ensuring regional stability and security,” said Rear Adm. Jim Kirk, commander, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 11. “We are committed to ensuring the lawful use of the sea that all nations enjoy under international law.”

This exercise falls into a long history of the U.S. Navy operating in the Indo-Pacific. Dual carrier operations, like this one, are not new and are intended to maintain U.S. readiness and combat-credible forces to reassure allies and partners and preserve peace in the region.

CSG 9 consists of USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11, the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52), Destroyer Squadron 23, and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Russell (DDG 59) and USS John Finn (DDG 113).

CSG 11 consists of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17, guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59), the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, USS Sterett (DDG 104), and Destroyer Squadron 9 and CSG 11 staffs. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed fleet and employs 50 to 70 ships and submarines across the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans. 7th Fleet routinely operates and interacts with 35 maritime nations while conducting missions to preserve and protect a free and open Indo-Pacific region. USS Theodore Roosevelt departed San Diego for a scheduled deployment to the Indo-Pacific on Dec. 23 while USS Nimitz departed Bremerton, Wash., on Apr. 27 for COMPTUEX and deployment following an onboard restriction of movement period that began on Apr. 1.

The Theodore Roosevelt and Nimitz Carrier Strike Groups are on scheduled deployments to the 7th Fleet area of operations. As the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed fleet, the 7th Fleet routinely operates and interacts with 35 maritime nations while conducting missions to preserve and protect a Free and Open Indo-Pacific Region.

Noteworthy, USS Nimitz headed towards the South China Sea on Feb. 2, a few days after Chinese combat aircraft conducted a mock attack on USS Theodore Roosevelt and after US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin ordered the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group to head home in the West Coast of the US.

As reported by Alert 5, on Jan. 30, Financial Times disclosed that intelligence collected by the US and its allies on Jan. 23, found that China had carried out a mock attack on USS Theodore Roosevelt that day when the warship transited the Bashi Channel south of Taiwan.

Intercepted communications of the H-6K crew revealed confirmation of orders to simulate the targeting of the carrier and release of anti-ship missiles.

Data provided by Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense on that shows eight H-6K bombers heading toward the direction of the carrier. Four J-16 fighters and one KQ200 anti-submarine aircraft participated in the drill as well.

However, on Jan. 31 US Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) said in a statement that the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group is all Chinese military activities and no US Navy warships, aircraft, or sailors were threatened.

Reuters quoted an anonymous official as saying that the Chinese aircraft did not come within 250 nautical miles of the ship.

Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Zachary Wheeler and Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Deirdre Marsac / U.S. Navy

Currently, Russia fields just one aircraft carrier, Admiral Kuznetsov.

The “UMK Varan” is the latest Russian aircraft carrier concept unveiled by Nevskoe Design Bureau (PKB), part of Russia’s United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) and one of the largest domestic developers of universal ships and the only designer of aircraft carriers and training complexes in Russia.

According to TASS the Varan is a universal sea ship (UMK) and is an aircraft-carrier concept featuring a high degree of automation and the possibility of using robotic systems. The flattop will be able to carry 24 multipurpose aircraft, six helicopters, and up to 20 unmanned aerial vehicles.

The Varan will be capable of speeds up to 26 knots and will have a displacement of about 45,000 tons, a length of about 250 m, a width of 65 m, and a draft at the waterline of 9 m.

A new universal landing ship (UDC) concept was also unveiled by Nevskoe. The UDC will have a displacement of about 30,000 tons, a length of about 220 m, a width of 42 m, and a draft at the waterline of 7 m. The UDC will be capable of speeds of about 24 knots and will be able to carry seven helicopters.

Currently, Russia fields just one aircraft carrier, Admiral Kuznetsov. The carrier has been undergoing repairs and maintenance since 2017, after completing a mission in the eastern Mediterranean, where the vessel took part in the country’s campaign in Syria.

On Oct. 30, 2018, Admiral Kuznetsov was damaged when Russia’s biggest floating dry dock, the PD-50, sank and one of the dock’s 70-ton cranes crashed onto the ship’s flight deck leaving behind a 200 square-foot hole in the flight deck. One person was reported missing and four were injured as the dry dock sank in Kola Bay. Admiral Kuznetsov was in the process of being removed from the dock when the accident happened, and was towed to a nearby yard after the accident. The cost for repairs of the damage was estimated to be 70 million rubles (about 1 million dollars) and should not affect the timing of the currently underway overhaul and modernization of the ship. Although it is unclear how the overhaul and repair schedule would not be affected by the dry dock sunk.

The fallen crane was removed within two to three months. In late May 2019, seven months later, information posted on Digital Forensic Research Lab’s blog suggested that repair work on the aircraft carrier was underway.

On Dec. 12, 2019, during the aforementioned repair work while it was docked at the Barents Sea port of Murmansk a huge fire broke out on the aircraft carrier. The fire covered 600 square meters (6,460 square feet) of Admiral Kuznetsov.

Admiral Kuznetsov was originally commissioned in the Soviet Navy and was intended to be the lead ship of the two-ship Kuznetsov class. However, its sister ship Varyag was still incomplete when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. The second hull was eventually sold by Ukraine to the People’s Republic of China, completed in Dalian, and commissioned as Liaoning.

Photo by Nevskoe

The AAG was working for an average of 48 traps before failing.

According to Alert 5, the Pentagon’s Director, Operational Test & Evaluation (DOT&E) latest assessment of the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) installed on USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) remains pessimistic.

In fact more than three years after USS Gerald R. Ford was delivered, aircraft takeoff and landing systems on the $13.2 billion carrier remain unreliable and break down too often, according to director of testing Robert Behler.

“Poor or unknown reliability of new technology systems critical for flight operations,” including its $3.5 billion electromagnetic launch system and advanced arresting gear, could “adversely affect” the carrier’s ability to generate sorties, he said in his new summary of the program obtained by Bloomberg News before its release in an annual report.

Ford’s EMALS and AAG systems are crucial to justifying the expense of what’s now a four-vessel, $57 billion program intended to replace the current Nimitz class of aircraft carriers.

However, the new flattop remains several years from being declared combat-ready for extended deployments, a milestone originally set for 2018.

Nevertheless, the Ford class is also the backbone of the Navy’s aspirations to expand its fleet from 297 vessels today to 355 and then almost 500 by 2045.

Behler’s assessment covered 3,975 launches and landing operations on the Ford during 11 at-sea, post-delivery trials from November 2019 through September 2020. In his report, Behler said the EMALS was failing after 181 launches. It was required to work for 4,166 launches before failure. EMALS also broke down for three days on two occasions in 2020. Instead, the AAG was working for an average of 48 traps before failing.

But Navy officials were upbeat during a media visit to the carrier in November. “These are enormous undertakings,” Rear Admiral James Downey, the Navy’s program executive officer for aircraft carriers, told reporters, according to USNI News. “There’s been some problems. There have been some cost issues. Most of that’s history.”

For more than 40 years, Nimitz-class carriers have played the first-responder role in crises and conflicts. The delivery of CVN 77 in 2009 provided continued proof of the viability of the early-’60s design of the Nimitz-class carriers; these ships have served the nation well and will continue to do so in the coming decades. Ford-class ships will begin to succeed those of the Nimitz class.

According to All Hands, while the aircraft carrier’s basic mission will remain unchanged, Ford-class ships will deliver greater lethality, survivability, and joint interoperability, along with unmatched versatility and compatibility with continuing joint-force transformation – all at a reduced operating and maintenance cost to taxpayers. Ford will be capable of carrying the Navy’s most advanced aircraft, such as the F-35C Lightning II; F/A-18E/F Super Hornet; E-2D Advanced Hawkeye; EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft; MH-60R/S helicopters and unmanned air vehicles. Adding to its versatility, Ford will also be able to recover and launch various Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) aircraft flown by the United States Marine Corps. Finally, the design margins built into the ship will allow for the integration of future manned and unmanned aircraft with minimal ship alterations.

Photo by U.S. Navy