Modern Warships (Vital Guide)

67 Pages·2001·64.293 MB·English

by  Leo Marriott

--OD RN
w SHIPS
LEO MARRIOTT

CONTENTS
Notes on Data Tables 4
Introduction 5
Aircraft Carriers 6
Copyright©2001 Airlife Publishing Ltd
Submarines 17
Firstpublished in the UK in 2001
byAirlife Publishing Ltd
Major Warships 43
British LibraryCataloguing-in-Publication Data
Acatalogue record forthisbook
isavailablefrom the British Library Destroyers & Frigates 49
ISBN 184037 1773
Small Warships 88
The information in this bookistrue and complete
tothe bestofourknowledge. All
recommendations are madewithout any Amphibious Warfare Vessels 106
guarantee on the partofthe Publisher, who also
disclaimsany liabilityincurred in connection with
the useofthis data orspecific details. Logistic Support Vessels 118
All rights reserved. Nopartofthis book maybe -
reproduced ortransmitted inanyform orbyany Glossary 126
means, electronicormechanical including
photocopying, recording orbyany information
storageand retrieval system, withoutpermission Index 127
from the Publisherinwriting.
Typesetby Echelon, Wimborne
Printed in Hong Kong
Airlife Publishing Ltd
101 Longden Road, Shrewsbury,
SY39EB, England
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.airlifebooks.com
Notes on Data
""
Tables
Thefollowing notesapplytothedataprovidedinthe
description of each warship type listed in the
following pages.
Type:
The standard NATO designations are used to
describethefunction ofthe ship(seeGlossary).
Nationality:
Normallythe country which is the major userof
the relevant warship class, although the country
ofconstruction mayalsobeindicated.
Class:
The name which refers to the group of ships of
the samedesign. Mostarenormallynamedafter
theleadship,althoughagenericdesignationmay The modern warship is a complex In orderto give abalanced picture, it is
beapplied(e.gType42).
vessel. Inthe lastthirtyyears the pace not only the major vessels which are
Displacement: of change and development has greatly described but also representative
Unlessotherwiseindicated,thefiguregivenisthe increased as new technologies, including samples of smaller warships, including
standarddisplacement. electronics, missiles, propulsion and fast and well-armed corvettes or fast
hydrodynamics, have been applied to attack craft, as well as often overlooked,
Length,BeamandDraught:
Measurements given in feet and metres to one make each ship more effective than its but vital, mine warfare vessels. A major
point of decimals. Unless otherwise specified, predecessor. As in any form of warfare, function of modern navies is power
lengthreferstooveralllength,beamtothewidest there is a constant struggle to upset the projection, the ability to transfer and
partofthehullanddraughttokeel depth.
balance between attack and defence, and support significant land, sea and air
Machinery: the situation is made more complex by forces to any part of the world within
Propulsiontype.Powerratingsrelatetomaximum the factthatwarships must basicallyfight reach of the sea. In modern littoral
available continuous power which may be less in three separate environments: on the warfare, this can include objectives up to
thanthepeakfiguresometimesquoted.
surface ofthe sea, under the surface and 150miles (240km) inland and involvesthe
Speed: in the air above. Here, the reader is deployment of purpose-built amphibious
Maximum unlessotherwisespecified. presented with arepresentativesampleof warfare vessels, examples of which are
modern warships although, in abookthis also described. Finally, the ocean is a
Armament:
size, it would be impossible to describe large place and the distances to be
Described under Missiles and Guns, together
with a section describing any anti-submarine or every type of warship in use. There are covered are great, often taking warships
underwaterweaponssystemssuchastorpedoes, literally hundreds of warship and thousands ofmilesawayfrom theirhome
mortarsanddecoys. submarine classes in service today, so bases. In such situationsthe presenceofa
some type of selection has been well-equipped logisticssystem isvital and
Sensors:
Describesradarandsonarsystemsfitted. necessary in order to reduce these to this can also act as a force multiplier as
manageable proportions. In general, well as merely providing supplies. A
Aircraft: therefore, the most modern and up-to representative selection of logistic
Figure quoted is normallythe maximum number
date vessels are described, although it supportvessels isthereforealso included.
whichcanbeembarked.
has been necessaryto includesome older Forconvenience and ease ofreference,
ships where these have a particular the ships described in the main body of
operational significance. For example, this book are grouped according to the
many of the current US Navy aircraft following broad classifications: Aircraft
carriers are over thirty years old but are Carriers, Submarines, Major Warships,
still amongthemostpowerful warships in Destroyers and Frigates, Small Warships,
existence. Some other major warship Amphibious Warfare and Logistic
classes are included where they are Support. In each group, the ships are
operationally significant, despite being presented in descending order of size as
relatively long in the tooth. indicated bytheir standard displacement.
4 5
UNITED STATES
CVN, Nimitz
THEREARE CURRENTLY EIGHTofthese massive
nuclear-poweredaircraftcarriersinservicewiththe
US Navy. A ninth, USS Ronald Reagan ICVN-76), is
under construction while CVN-77 was authorised in
1999butwillnotcommissionuntil2008.Originallythe
first three were known as the Nimitz class after the
leadshipwascompletedin1975,theothersbeingthe
Ow(ghtO. Eisenhower(1977) and CarlVinson (1982).
Subsequent vessels formed the Theodore Roosevelt
class. However, apart from an increased full load
displacement and many detail differences, they are
now regarded as a single class for operational
purposes. The Theodore Rooseveltcommissioned in
1986,followedbytheAbrahamLincoln(1989), George
Washington (1992), John C Stennis(1995)and Harry
S. Truman(1998). USSAbrahamLincoln,NimitzclassCVN.
These carriers are the largest warships ever built (PublicAffairsOffice,USSAbrahamLincoln)
andtheirnuclearreactors haveanexpected lifeofup
to 15 years, representing around one million miles
betweenrefuelling.The4.5-acre(18,200m')flightdeck
is hometoupto 80aircraftofthe assignedcarrierair
wing ICVW) which typically includes 50 fighters and
strikeaircraftIF-14TomcatandF-18Hornet)aswellas '$
electronic warfare, AEW and ASW aircraft and -~~~\..~I-' ,.>~"--!!I!!~~!!~'!:1'':c'.:::;;':;;;\i
helicopters. These are organised into 10 separate .... ,
squadronsand mostoftheaircraftare usuallyranged
on deck as the hangars, despite their size, can
accommodatenomorethanhalfthistotalThreedeck
--
edge lifts on the starboard side and one on the port
side are provided forthe transfer ofaircraft between ~
flightdeck and hangars. There are fourType C Mk.13 USSNimitz,CVN-68.
Mod 1 steam catapults which can accelerate the (PublicAffairsOffice,USSNimitz)
heaviest aircraft to a speed in excess of 170mph
1270kph) within 3 seconds through a stroke of 310ft
195m).Forlanding,therearefourarresterwireswhich
SPECIFICATION
can bring an aircraft to rest from a landing speed of
160mph(260kph)withinadistance300ft(91m). Type:CVN
Thelastshiptobebuilt, CVN-77, will belaiddown Class:Nimitz
in2003andcompletion isplannedfor2008. Originally
Displacement:102,000tonsfull load
this was to have been to a new CVX design, but
Length:1,092ft1317m)
instead CVN-77 will be based upon the basic Nimitz
design and will carry new equipment and systems, Beam:wi 134ft1408ml,flightdeck252ft(76.8m)
possiblyincludingelectromagneticcatapultsinsteadof Draught:39ftIl1.9m)
Major vessels equipped with other country which currently has a the current steam catapults. The design ofthe island Machinery:nuclear;2Westinghouse/GEA1GPWR
continuous flightdecks whose substantial conventional aircraft carrier superstructurewillalsobealtered,andmaybebroken reactors;4turbines,260,000hp;4emergencydiesels,
purpose is the operation and support of is France, although the UK plans two upintoseveralsmallerstructures. 10,nOhp;4shafts
naval fixed-wing aircraftand helicopters. 40,OOO-ton carriers for service around Speed&Range:30kt+;15yearsbetweenreactor
refuelling
Their main functions include air defence 2013. The development of a viable
Complement:5,930(includingairgroupandstaffl
of naval forces by establishing local air vertical take-offaircraft in theform ofthe
Missiles:3Mk.29octuplelaunchers,SeaSparrowshort
superiority, offensive operations against Sea Harrier and the later AV-8A/B has
rangeSAM;RAMshort-rangeSAMbeingfitted
enemy naval forces, support of enabled a number of other navies to Guns:4Vulcan/Phalanx6-barrelled20mmCIWS
amphibious landings, support ofground aspire to carrier aviation. These include ASW&USW:SSTDStorpedodefencesystem;SLQ-36
operations ashore, anti-submarine war the UK with its three Invincible class Nixietorpedodecoy
fare and reconnaissance. The most ships, Spain, Italy and Thailand. India Sensors:radar:SPS-48Elong-range3Dairsearch;SPS
significant ships in this group are the also has an ex-British carrier and is 49airsearch;Mk.23targetacquisition;SPS-67surface
search;SPN43B,SPN46aircraftcontrol;SPS-64and
large nuclear-powered carriers ofthe US planning to acquire one of the larger
Furuno900navigation;Mk.9Sfirecontrol
Navy, Russian attempts to compete Russian carriers, which is now available,
Aircraft:70fixed-wingaircraft,10helicoptersItypicalair
having collapsed after the end of the although this will operate the potent
wing)
Cold War in the early 1990s. The only supersonic MiG-29K. USSAbrahamLincoln,NimitzclassCVN. INote:dataappliestoAbrahamLincolnandlaterships)
(PublicAffairsOffice, USSAbraham Lincoln)
6 7
UNITED STATES UNITED STATES
CVN, Enterprise CV, Kittyhawk/Kennedy
THE USS ENTERPRISE, CVN-65, was the US The Enterprise, whose name commemorates a INTHEAFTERMATH OFWORLDWARII, inthelate
Navy's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. She very famous US Navy carrier in World War II which 1950s, the US Navy introduced the Forrestal class
waslaiddown in February1958,waslaunchedon24 took part in virtually all of the major actions in the offour large 'supercarriers', the firstto be designed
September1960andcommissionedon25November Pacific and survived unscathed until retirement in fromthestarttooperatethenewgenerationsofnaval
1961,anamazinglyshortperiodinwhichtobuildsuch 1947, carries a standard carrier air wing (CVW) of jets then entering service. These have nowall been
acomplexandadvancedwarship. Infactshewasthe around76to80aircraft.Shecostaround$450million decommissioned but they were followed by three
world'ssecondnuclear-poweredsurfacewarship,the to build, an extremely high figure for the time and larger ships of the Kittyhawk class which were
first being the cruiser Long Beach. Since entering almosttwicethepriceoftheconventionallypowered completed between 1961 and 1965 Construction of
service the Enterprise has undergone several refits Kittyhawk class. Plans forfive sistershipswere asa thefourthship,USSJohnFKennedy,wasdelayedby
and modernisation programmes, and is today very result abandoned, and a gap of 10 years elapsed adebateoverwhetheritwastobenuclear-powered,
similar in terms of combat capability to the later between the laying down of the Enterprise in 1958 although eventually it was completed in 1968 with
Nimitzclass. Sheis likelyto remain in serviceforthe and the first ofthe Nimitzclass. The Enterprisewas conventional steamturbinemachinery.
foreseeablefuture aslongasthe US Navyretains its constructedbyNewportNewsShipbuilding, the only Kittyhawk and Constellation saw considerable USSKittyhawk (CV-63)photographedinthe
statedrequirementfora12-carrierforce.Allowingfor yard capable of building such large warships, and all service in the Vietnam War, each spending several PersianGulfincompanywiththeBritishRFA
two on extended refit atany given time, and others the Nimitz class ships were also built here. Fittingly, periods of duty in that theatre up to 1972, when Brambleleaf. (USNavy)
undergoingtrials and operational training, this allows theplannedreplacementfortheEnterprisewillbethe Americanforceswithdrew. The USSAmerica, oneof
for around five or six continuously available for firstofanewclassofcarriers, CVNX-1.Thiswillretain thethree Kittyhawkclass ships, waswithdrawnfrom
operationaldeployments. the basic Nimitz class layout but will have a new service in 1996, and the John F Kennedyis held in
design nuclear plant and advanced features such as reserve status. Kittyhawkis based in Japan with her
electromagneticaircraftlaunchingsystems (EMALS). carrierairwing, CVVV-5,deployedashoreatAtsugiair
Anotherdesigntargetwillbeasignificantreductionin base Constellation and Kittyhawk underwent
theship'scomplement, possiblybyasmuchas50%. modernisation in service life extension programmes
(SLEP), completed in 1992 and 1991 respectively.
This effectively brought the ships up to the same
standard as the Nimitz class in terms of
communications and electronic systems, as well as
defensive armament and aircraft operating
equipment.
Itissobering torealisethatthese ships, originally
commissionedin 1961,are now40years oldbutstill
SPECIFICATION
capableofoperatingthelatestaircraft.Theseinclude
Type:CVN the F-14 Tomcat and the F/A-18 Hornet fixed-wing USSKittyhawkenteringPearlHarbor. F-14
Class:Enterprise fightersandattackaircraft,aswellasEA-68 Prowlers Tomcats, F-18HornetsandE-6Prowlersare
for electronic warfare, E-2C Hawkeye AEW aircraft, rangedonthef1ightdeck. (USNavy)
Displacement:75,700tonsstandard,93,970tonsfull
S-38 Viking ASW aircraft, and SH/HH-60 Seahawk
load
helicopters. Despite being slightly smaller than the
Length:1,123ft(342.3m) laterNimitzclass, the Kittyhawkand hersisterscarry
Beam:wi133ft(405ml.flightdeck252ft(768m) identical airgroups, althoughstorageforaviation fuel
Draught:39ft(11.9m) andordnanceissomewhatless. SPECIFICATION
Machinery:nuclear;2Westinghouse/GEA2WPWR USSConstellationisduetodecommissionin2003
reactors;4turbines,280,000hp;4emergencydiesels.. whenitwillbereplacedbyUSSRonaldReagan(CVN Type:CV
76) ThemoreadvancedCVN-77will replacethe USS Class:Kittyhawk/Kennedy
10,720hp;4shafts
Kittyhawkin 2008,andthe USSJohn FKennedywill Displacement:81,430tonsfull load
Speed&Range:33kt
besucceededbyCVNX-2in2018 Length:1,052ft(3206m)
Complement:5,765(includingairgroupandstaff)
Beam:wi 130ft(39.6ml.flightdeck252ft(768m)
Missiles:3Mk.29octuplelaunchers.SeaSparrowshort
Draught:37.4ft(ll.4ml
rangeSAM
Machinery:8boilers,4Westinghouseturbines,
Guns:3Vulcan/Phalanx6-barrelled20mmCIWS
~ 280.000hp;4shafts
ASW&USW:SSTDStorpedodefencesystem;SLQ-36 Speed&Range:32kt; 12.000miles(19,300km)at20kt
Nixietorpedodecoy
Complement:5,520(includingairwingandstaff)
Sensors:radar:SPS-48Elong-range3Dairsearch;
Missiles:3Mk.29octuplelaunchers,SeaSparrow
SPS-49airsearch;Mk.23targetacquisition;SPS-67
short-rangeSAM
surfacesearch;SPN43A,SPN46aircraftcontrol; SPS-64
Guns:3or4Vulcan/Phalanx6-barrelled20mmCIWS
andFuruno900navigation;Mk.95firecontrol ASW&USW:SSTDStorpedodefencesystem;SLQ-36
Aircraft:typical airwingincludes72fixed-wingaircraft.
Nixietorpedodecoy
6helicopters
Sensors:radar:SPS-48Elong-range3Dairsearch;
SPS-49airsearch;Mk.23targetacquisition;SPS-67
USSEnterprise (CVN-65), thefirstnuclear surfacesearch;SPN43A,SPN46aircraftcontrol;SPS-64
poweredaircraftcarrier. andFuruno900navigation;Mk.95firecontrol
(USNavy) Aircraft:typical airwingincludes72fixed-wingaircraft.
USSJohnF. Kennedy (CV-67). (USNavy) 6-8helicopters
8 9
RUSSIA FRANCE
CVN, Charles de Gaulle
CV, Admiral Kuznetzov
ORIGINALLYLAIDDOWNIN1983,thisisRussia's IN 1980 THE FRENCH DEFENCE COUNCIL
approved a plan to build two nuclear-powered
only surviving aircraft carrier. A sister ship, the -""--;;'s
aircraftcarrierstoreplacethe Clemenceauand Foch,
Varying, wasnevercompletedandthreesmallerKiev
which had entered service in the early 1960s.
class aircraft-carrying cruisers areall non-operational.
Eventually only one ship, to be named Charles de
Oneofthese, theAdmiralGorshkov, isbeing soldto
Gaul/e,wasorderedin 1986,althoughtheformal keel
Indiaafteramodernisationrefitwhichwillincludethe
laying was not until April 1989. Thereafter work
removal ofsomelong-rangemissilesystemstoallow
progressed slowly, often delayed by financial
theflightdecktobeextendedtothebow.
The current Admiral Kuznetzov (originally named problems,andtheshipwasnotlauncheduntil 7May
1994 and did not commission following initial sea
Tblisl] normallycarries an airgroup comprising 18to
trials until March2000. Plansforasecondshiparein
24 Sukhoi Su-33 Flanker D fighters of the 279th
abeyance, andanyorderis unlikelytobe placed until
ShipboardFighterAviationRegiment,four SukhoiSu
around 2005 at the earliest. The cost of building the
25UTG Frogfoot ground attack and training aircraft,
Charles de Gaullehas had amajor effect on French
andupto15KamovKa-27HelixASWhelicoptersand
naval planning and plans to retain the Foch as a
two Ka-31 RLD AEW helicopters. The flightdeck
reservecarrierhavebeenabandoned- Fochhasnow
layout is closely based on that of contemporary
Americancarriersbutdiffersinthataski-jumprampis been sold to the Brazilian Navy and will re-enter CharlesdeGaulle,France'snuclear-powered
incorporated at the bow, a feature normally service in 2002 after a refit. The C1emenceau has aircrahcarrier; undergoingseatrials.
associated with STOVL aircraft such as the Sea alreadybeendiscardedandtheresultwillbethatthe (MarineNationale,France)
French Navy will now have only one operational
Harrier. The Kuznetzovwas originally designed with
carrier for the foreseeable future, although,
the Yak-38M (similartothe Sea Harrier) in mind, and
admittedly, itisanextremelypowerfulone.
thismayaccountfortheramp, although itappearsto
The air group will eventually comprise some 40 to upgrade the command and control facilities.
workjustaswellwiththeconventionaltake-offofthe
aircraft which will initially be made up of mainly On completion of this work she was formally
Su-33,amuch largerandheavieraircraft.
In contrast to the American carriers, which rely AdmiralKuznetzov. nuclear-capable Super Etendard strike aircraft, but commissioned in October 2000 and was ready to
exclusively on the aircraft for offensive strike, the (RAFKinloss/MoD) these will be joined by a squadron of the multi-role begin working up the air group to full operational
Rafale M in 2001. Some 60 Rafales areonorderbut standard. Despite the cost overruns and publicised
Kuznetzov carries a substantial battery of SS-N-19
deliveryofthesewill notbecompleted untilthenext teething troubles, the completion of this ship is a
Shipwreck anti-ship missiles with amaximum range
decade, by which time they will have completely major achievement for the French shipbuilding
of almost 250 miles (400km) More significantly,
supplanted the Super Etendards. In addition the industry and places the Marine Nationale in the
these can carry 500-kiloton nuclear warheads. The
FrenchNavyhaspurchasedfourE-2CHawkeyeAEW forefront ofcurrent naval aviation practice, although
missilesarecarriedinasiloflush mountedbelowthe SPECIFICATION
aircraftalthoughtheflightdeckhasprovedtobeafew the lack of a sister ship will restrict operational
forward flightdeck. For self-defence the ship carries
substantial batteries of short-range SSMs including Type:CV metrestooshortfornormaloperationsbythistypeof availability.
theSA-N-9Gauntletwitharangeofsixtosevenmiles Class:AdmiralKuznetzov aircraftand will be lengthened by four metres atan
early opportunity. Initially, Panther and Super Frelon
(11km)andthe SA-N-11 Grisson,witharangeoffour Displacement:45,000tons(standard!.58.500tons
helicopters will be embarked, but these will both
to five miles (8km). The latter are carried on a (fuilioadl SPECIFICATION
eventually be replaced by the multi-role NH90 when
csyosmtebminse.dAmltooguentthinegr,wthiteh KAuKz3n6e0tzo3v0mwmoulCdIWprSovgeuna length:oaandflightdeck999ft(304.5m!.wi918.6ft deliveriesbeginin2003. Type:CVN
(280m) Following initial sea trials in 1999, the ship
prickly target to attack, and in wartime the aircraft Class:CharlesdeGaulle
Beam:oa229.7ft(70m!.wi 121.4ft(37m) dockedforasix-monthrefitattheendoftheyearto
complementwould be boosted to around 60aircraft Displacement:36,600tonsstandard,40,550tonsfull
asendvehreellyicroepstterircst.sHthoewoepveerra,tiloanckofotfhfisunsdhiinpg,wphriecshenhtalsy DMraacuhgihnte:r3y4:ft4(s1t0e.a3m6mt)urbines(8boilers!.each50.000hp; arencdtifoythperrobdleefmicsiewncitihesruhdigdhelrigvhibteradtiboyntahtehitgrihalss,peaendd load
length:oaandflightdeck857.7ft(261.5m!.wi7808ft
spent relatively little time at sea since it was first 4shafts
(238m)
commissionedin 1991. Speed&Range:30kt;3.850miles(6.195km)at29kt.
Beam:oa211.3ft164.4m),w1103.3ft(31.5m)
8.500miles(13.675kmlat18kt
Complement:1.960+airgroup Draught:27.8ft18.5m)
Machinery:nuclear;2PWRTypeK15reactors,300MW;
Missiles:12singlelaunchers.SS-N-19Shipwrecklong
2GECAlsthomsteamturbines,76,200hp;2shafts
rangeSSM;4sextuplelaunchers,AltairSA-N-9Gauntlet
Speed&Range:27kt;5yearssteamingat20kt
short-rangeSAMten-tubelaunchers.AltairSA-N-l1
Complement:1,150+600airgroupandstaff
Grissonshort-rangeSAM
Missiles:4EUROSAMoctupleVLSlaunchers,Aster15
Guns:8twinGatlingtype30mmguns(co-mountedwith
anti-missileandSAM;2SadralPOMSsextuplelaunchers.
SA-N-l1 missilelaunchersl6six-barrelledAK63030mm
Mistralshort-rangeSAM
CIWS
Guns:8Giat20F220mmguns
ASW&USW:2RBU12000A/Smortars;UOAV-lM
ASW&USW:SLATtorpedodecoys
torpedocountermeasures
Sensors:radar:ThompsonCSFORBJ 11Bmedium-/long
Sensors:radars: SkyWatchPlanarArrayairsearch;Top
rangeairsearch,OBRV260Jupitermedium-rangeair
PlateBair/surfacesearch;StrutPairsurfacesearch;Palm
search,ORBV150SeaTigermedium-rangeairsearch.
Frondnavigation;CrossSwordandHotFlashfirecontrol;
Racal1229(ORBN34A)navigation,ThompsonCSFArabel
FlyTrapaircraftcontrol;sonar;BullHornandHorseJaw,
A HawkeyeE-2CAEWaircrahlandingaboard firecontrol;sonar;SLATtorpedowarning
HormoneASWhelicoptersaboardtheAdmiral hull-mountedactivesearchandattack
Kuznetzov. Aircraft:22fixed-wing,17helicopters t(hMeaCrinhearNleastdioenGalaeu,lFler.ance) Aircraft:35-40fixed-wingplushelicopters
(viaNavalTechnology)
11
10
INDIA(UK) UNITED KINGDOM
CV, Viraat CVS, Invincible
THESE SHIPS WERE CONCEIVED in the late
1960s following the cancellation of the CVA-01
classoffleetcarriersin 1966.Theprimerequirement
wastoprovideaplatformto carryandoperateviable
numbers of the large Sea King anti-submarine
AbowviewofINSViraat,previously
helicopter. Forpoliticalreasonstheshipswereknown
HMSHermesoftheRoyalNavy.
as through-deck command cruisers {TOCCI and
(MikeLennon)
facilitiesforconventional fixed-wing aircraftwerenot
includedinthedesign. However,thedevelopmentof
the Sea HarrierVTOLjetfighterinthe 1970senabled
theRoyalNavytorestoresomeorganicairdefenceto
itsfleetwhen HMS Invinciblecommissionedin 1980.
The value of the Sea Harrier (and the ground
attack RAF HarrierGR3)was clearlydemonstrated in
operations to recover the Falklands following the
Argentineinvasion in 1982.Togetherwith the elderly
HMS Hermes, the Invincible played a crucial part in
thewar, itsSea Harriersprovidingairdefenceforthe
fleet and support for the troops ashore. The second
shipoftheclass, HMS Illustrious, commissionedjust
too late to see service in the Falklands, but was
rushedtotheSouthAtlantictorelieveInvinciblewhen
she returned home after spending 166 days
continuously at sea, a record for any British aircraft
carrier. A third ship, Ark Royal, was completed and
commissioned in 1985, since when there have
normally been two of the class in commission with
thethirdin reserveorundergoingrefit.
ThenormalairgroupwasestablishedateightSea HMSIllustrious,InvincibleclassCVS.
Harriers, nine ASW Sea Kings and two AEW Sea (RoyalNavy)
Kings. However, in 1998/99, HMS Illustrious was
ORIGINALLY LAID DOWN IN 1944, this ship was powered version of the French Charles de Gaulle modified by removing the Sea Dart missile launcher
completedfortheRoyalNavyasHMSHermesin However, India has completed negotiations to andassociated magazinesfrom the bows in orderto The United Kingdom iscurrentlyplanning to build
1959. After a long and varied career, including akey purchase the Russian Admiral Gorshkov in a deal increaseflightdeckareaforward, aswell asproviding two40,000-ton aircraftcarriers to enterservice from
role in the 1982 Falklands War, she was which also involvestheacquisitionofSu-30KorMiG additionalstorageforaircraftordnance. Shecan now 2013. These will eventually replace the three
decommissionedandsoldto India in 1986. Following 29K high-performance fighters. As this plan is support an additional six aircraft in the form of RAF Invincibleclassaircraftcarriers.
arefitandmodestmodernisationprogramme,shere implemented, it may mean the end of a project to Harrier GR strike aircraft in addition to eight or nine
commissionedasINS Viraaton20May1987. builda24,000-tonairdefenceshipin India. upgraded Sea Harrier F/A.2s. Ark Royal is being
Externally,theshipdifferslittleinappearancefrom similarly refitted, work due to be completed in May
her British service and, in particular, retains the 2001, with Invincibletofollow. SPECIFICATION
distinctive ski-jump ramp fitted at the bows to SPECIFICATION
facilitate the launch offully loaded Sea Harriers. The Type:CVS
Indian Navycurrently operatesapproximately23 Sea Type:CV HMSIllustrious,showingnewflightdeck Class:Invincible
Harrier FRS.51 single-seaters and a number of two Class:Viraat extension. (RoyalNavy) Displacement:20,600tonsfull load
seat trainers. The FRS.51 is the equivalent of the Displacement:23,900tonsstandard,28,700tonsfull length:oa685.8ft(2091m),wi632ft(192.6m),flightdeck
Royal Navy's FRS.1 which hasnowbeensuperseded load 550ft11678m)
bythemoreadvanced F/A.2variant. Planstosimilarly length:744.3ft(226.9ml Beam:oa118ft(36m),wi90ft(275m)
upgradetheIndianaircraftareawaitingthenecessary Beam:wi90ft(274m),flightdeck160ft(488m) Draught:26ft(8m)
funding, although the existingaircraftarearmed with
thepotentSeaEagleanti-shipmissileaswellasair-to Draught:285ft18.7ml Machinery:COGAG;4Rolls-RoyceOlympusTM3Bgas
air missiles, conventional bombs and 30mm cannon. Machinery:4boilers,2Parsonssteamturbines, turbines,97,000hp;2shafts
In the meantime two squadrons, each of six Sea 76,000hp;2shafts Speed&Range:28kt;7,000miles(11,260km)at19kt
Harriers, normally serve aboard the Viraat, together Speed&Range:28kt Complement:685+airgroup
with various ASW helicopters including Sea King Complement:1,350 Missiles:SeaDartmedium-rangesurface-to-airmissile
Mk.42s or Kamov Ka-28 Helixs. India is also taking Missiles:nil system,1twinlauncher(removedinsomevesselsI
deliveryof four Kamov Ka-31 Helix AEW helicopters Guns:2Bofors40mm/60;2AK23030mmmulti-barrelled Guns:320mmVulcan/PhalanxCIWSor330mm
which will provide a substantial boost to the
guns GoalkeeperCIWS
effectivenessofthe Sea Harriers.
ASW&USW:nil ASW&USW:nil
A second Indian carrier was the Vikrant, an ex
British Majestic class light fleet carrier originally laid Sensors:radar:Type966long-rangeairsearch;DA05air Sensors:radars:Type1022airsearch,Type996surface
down in 1943 but onlycompleted in 1961.This ship andsurfacesearch;Type1006navigation;sonarType search,Type1006/7navigation,Type909firecontrol;
was decommissioned in 1996, since when India has 184Mhull-mountedactivesearchandattack sonar:hull-mountedType2016activesearchandattack
activelysoughtasecondcarrier.Variousoptionswere Aircraft:12(30maxifixed-wing,7helicopters Aircraft:15fixed-wingSTOVL,9helicopters(max.1
investigated, includingthebuildingofaconventionally
12 13
SPAIN ITALY
CVS, Principe de Asturias CVS, Garibaldi
THISSHIPWASBUILTBYBAZANatFerrolinnorth
JI
west Spain and its design was basedon a1970s
USprojectforaSeaControl Ship,themaindifference
beingtheadditionofa12°ski-jumprampatthebowto
allow operation of Harriers. She was laid down on 8
October 1979, launched on 22 May 1982 and finally
commissionedon30May1988.
Theairgroupcompositionvarieswith afixed-wing
element comprising 6 to 12 AV-8B Harrier II/Plus
STOVLjetfighters and upto 10 helicopters including
SH-3Sea KingsoperatingintheASWandAEWroles,
AgustaBellAB212sforelectronicwarfareandSH-60B
SeahawksalsoforASW. Upto37aircraftintotalcould
beembarkedinanemergency, butamoretypicalmix PrincipedeAsturias (R11), showingtheupswept
would be eight Harriers (known as the Matador in ski-jumprampatthebow. (author)
Spanish service) and 10 helicopters The main axis of
the flightdeck is angled, unusually, to starboard to
allow parking and operation of the stern lift to the
hangar during flying operations Another lift is THIS ISA CAPABLE SHIPwhich packsa lot intoa GiuseppeGaribaldi,Italy'sfirstoperational
positionedonthestarboardside, immediatelyforward relatively small hull. Laid down at the Italcantieri aircrahcarrier. (MarinaMilitare,Italy)
ofthe island. The island superstructure was enlarged
yard at Monfalconeon 26 March 1981,the Giuseppe
during a 1990 refit to incorporate additional briefing
Garibaldi was launched on 4 June 1983 and
roomsandcoveredparkingfortheflightdeckvehicles. commissioned on 30 September 1985. Initially the aft of the island serve the hangar deck, which can
Forself-defencetheshipcarriestheSpanish-designed ship was employed as a helicopter carrier only with accommodate 10Harriersor12Sea Kings.
Meroka CIWS which has a 12-barrelled 20mm gun SH-3DSea KingsandAgusta BellAB 212 helicopters The Giuseppe Garibaldiis Italy's first operational
firing3,600roundsperminutetoarangeof1.25miles in the ASW role It could also act as a helicopter aircraft carrier, although in World War II a passenger
(2km).Twomountingsarecarriedonthesternandone assaultshipandembarkedarmy-operatedAB205and linerwas convertedintothe 23,350-ton carrierAquila
oneitherbeam nearthebow, givingacomplete 360° A 129attackhelicoptersaswell astroop-carrying CH which never saw service and was eventually
coverage. 47s. Deployment of fixed-wing aircraft was delayed damaged in various attacksand scuttled. Currentlya
Theshipisnormallydeployedasthecentrepieceof until adispute between the air force and navy as to new 20,000-ton carrier will be laid down in 2002 for
apowerfulbattlegroupwhich alsoincludesuptofive who would operate such aircraftwas finally resolved completion in 2006/7 Named Luigi Einaudi, it will
missile-armedfrigates,anditwashopedthatasecond in favour of the navy in 1989. This allowed the carryupto20aircraftand helicopters.
shipmighthavebeenbuiltbut,todate,thenecessary
funding has not been forthcoming. The Principe de PrincipedeAsturias (foreground)incompany purchase of 16 Boeing (McDonnell Douglas) AV-8B
Asturias has been very successful in service and a withChakriNarubetoftheThaiNavy. (Bazan) eHmarbraierrkelids atotognocea,hebaudt.aInmothreeotryypiaclalloafirthgerosuepcwanoublde SPECIFICATION
smallerversionhasbeenbuiltforThailand.
compriseamixof18Harriersandhelicopters.TheSH
SPECIFICATION 3D Sea Kings will shortly be replaced by the larger Type:CVS
Anglo-ItalianEH101 MerlinhelicopterinbothAEWand Class:Garibaldi
Type:CVS ASWvariants. Forthe future, ItalymayordertheJSF Displacement:10,100tonsstandard,13,850tonsfull load
Class:PrincipedeAsturias (Joint Strike Fighter) currently underdevelopment by length:oa591.2ft(180m).flightdeck570.2ft(173.8m)
Displacement:17,188tonsfull load the USand BritainasareplacementfortheHarriers. Beam:oa110.2ft(334m).flightdeck99.7ft(304mI
length:oa642.7ft(1958m).pp6152ft(1875m). The 570ft (173m) flightdeck has aslightski-jump Draught:22ft(6.7m)
flightdeck575.lIt(1753m) ramp, angled at 6.5°, on the bows but the island Machinery:COGAG;4Fiat/GELM2500gasturbines,
superstructure is obtrusive and rather wide in
Beam:hull79.7ft(24.3m).flightdeck95.lIt(29m) 81,000hp;2shafts
proportiontooverallbeam.Liftsimmediatelyforeand
Draught:30.8ft(94m) Speed&Range:30kt;7,000miles(11.260km)at20kt
Machinery:2GELM2500gasturbines,46,400hp;single Complement:550t 230airgroup
shaftwithcontrollablepitchpropeller;21,600electric GiuseppeGaribaldi.Harrier1/andSeaKings Missiles:4fixed launchersforOTOMeleraTeseoMk.2
motorsdrivingasingleretractablepropeller embarked. !MarinaMilitare,Italy) long-rangeSSMoctupleAlbatroslaunchers,Aspide
Speed&Range:25kt:6,500miles(10,460kmlat20kt short-rangeSAM
Complement:555t·208staffandairgroup Guns:3twinBreda40mm/70guns
Missiles:nil ASW&USW:2324mm(12.75in)8-515triplelaunchers,
Guns:4BazanMeroka12-barrelled20mmCIWS;237mm Mk46ASWtorpedoes; SLQ-25Nixiedecoys
salutingguns Sensors:radar: HughesSPS-52C3Dlong-rangeair
ASW&USW:SLQ-25Nixietowedtorpedodecoy;US search,SeleniaSPS-768medium-rangeairsearch,SPN
Prairie/Maskerunderwaternoisesuppressionsystem 728airsearch,SeleniaSPS-774airandsurfacesearch,
Sensors:radar: HughesSPS-52C/D3Dlong-rangeair SPS-702targetindication,SPN-749navigation,SPG
search,ISCCardionSPS-55surfacesearch,ITTSPN-35A 75/RTN30Xmissilecontrol,SPG-74firecontrol,SPN-728
aircraftcontrol,SeleniaRAN 12Ltargetdesignator,RTN aircraftcontrol;sonars:RaytheonDE1160LFbow-mounted
11Lmissilewarning,Sperry/LockheedVPS2firecontrol medium-frequencyactivesearch
PrincipedeAsturiaswithHarriersembarked. Aircraft:6-12fixed-wing, upto16helicopters Aircraft:16fixed-wingor18helicopters
(MonchArchives)
14 15
THAILAND
CVS, Chakri Narubet
These currently fall into three main American Mk.48 ADCAP, or submarine
categories ofwhich the most powerful launched anti-ship missileswith ranges of
are the strategic submarines (SSBN) up to 100 miles (160km), Many of these
carrying long-range ballistic missiles boats have been adapted to launch cruise
armed with nuclearwarheads. It is almost missiles for use against land targets so
impossible to imagine the destructive that altogether they have a substantial
powercarried byjustoneofthesevessels, offensive capability, made even more
whose crews literally have the fate of the effective by the difficulty of hunting and
world in their hands. Both the United successfullyattackingthem. In additionto
APARTFROM INDIA,Thailandiscurrentlytheonly ChakriNarubet (911)withtwoAV-BSMatadors
FarEastnavytooperateanaircraftcarrier. Plans ondeck. States and Russia maintain large fleets of the US and Russian navies, SSNs are also
for such a vessel dated back to the 1980s, and (Bazan) strategic submarines, while Britain and operated by Britain, France, and China.
Bremer Vulcan in Germany was initially awarded a Francebothdeployasignificantnumber.A Finally there are the conventional
contract for a small 7,800-ton carrier. However, this fifth entranttothis exclusiveclub is China, diesel-powered submarines (SSK) which
contract was cancelled in 1991 and agreement was
which has the missile technology but has continue to be developed and which still
reached in 1992withtheSpanish Bazanyardtobuild
a ship similar in layout to the Principe de Asturias, so far only sent one or two missile offer some advantages over the larger
SPECIFICATION
although only two thirds the displacement of the carrying submarines to sea, although the nuclear-powered boats, cost being one of
Spanish ship. Despite this, the flightdeck is only Type:CVS potential for further construction is the most significant. Although smaller in
slightly shorter and the Thai carrier has twin MTU Class:ChakriNarubet substantial. However, the status of the size, most of them are equipped with
diesels as well as the LM2500 gas turbines for
economiccruising Displacement:11,485tonslull load ballistic missile as a major strategic sophisticated sonarequipmentand armed
Laid down in July 1994, the Chakri Narubetwas length:oa599.1ft(182.6ml.wi 538.4ft(164.1ml. weapon is now subject to competition as with torpedoes and anti-ship missiles.
launched in January 1996 and commissioned on 27 Ilightdeck5n81t(1746ml the submarine-launched cruise missile They are very quiet and better suited to
March 1997 Trials and operational work-up were Beam:oa1OO.1ft(30.5ml.wi7381t(225m)
becomes increasingly more sophisticated shallow-water operations in littoral areas
carriedoutinSpanishwatersandtheshipdidnotreach Draught:20.3ft16.2m)
ThailanduntilAugust1997.Tosavecoststheshipwas Machinery:CODOG;2GELM2500gasturbines, and ballistic missile numbers are than their larger nuclear-powered
delivered without some armament and other 44,250hp;2MTU16V1163TB83diesels,11,780hp; progressively reduced under the various counterparts.SSKsareoperated byalarge
equipment, the intention being to upgrade to the 2shafts,cppropellers strategic arms reduction treaties (START). number of navies as they provide a cost
required standard at a later date. As part of the
Speed&Range:26kt(16ktdiesels);10,000miles The US Navy is now building the Virginia effective way of building up an effective
agreementtohavetheshipbuiltinSpain,theThaiNavy
receivedsevenAV-8SMatadors(Harrier),plustwotwo 116,090km)at12kt class of cruise-missile-armed nuclear naval presence, As suchtheyform athreat
seater TAV-8S which had previously flown with the Complement:455+146airgroup powered submarines which are expected ofwhich the larger navies musttake note,
Spanish Navybutweresurplustorequirementswhen Missiles:1Mk.41 eight-cellVLSforSeaSparrowSAM; to enterservice in 2004, An exciting development now being
Spaintook deliveryofnewAV-8B Harrier Plusaircraft. 3sextuplelaunchers,Mistralshort-rangeSAM
The second group ofsubmarines isthe incorporated into some of the latest SSK
The Matadors are flown by 301 Squadron while 302 Guns:420mmVulcan/PhalanxCIWS;230mmguns
SquadronoperatessevenS-70BSeahawkhelicopters. (tobefittedwhenavailablel nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) projects such as the Swedish A19 and
AtypicalairgroupcomprisessixAV-8SMatadorandsix ASW&USW:nil whose main role is the location and German Type 212 is the use of an air
Seahawk multi-mission helicopters. However, since Sensors:radar:HughesSPS-52Cairsearch,SPS-64 destruction of enemy underwater forces. independent propulsion system (AlP) to
entering service the ship has mostly operated as a
surfacesearch,SignaalSATIRfirecontrol,KelvinHughes However, they are also very effective supplement conventional diesels. This
helicoptercarrierwiththeHarriersembarkingforshort
periods only, due to problems with serviceability navigationandaircraftcontrol;sonar:hull-mounted against surface warships, using either allows the submarine to operate
caused by a lack of spare parts. Nevertheless, the medium-frequencyactivesearch modern sophisticated guided torpedoes continuously underwaterfor periods ofup
possession of this ship gives the Thai Navy a Aircraft:6fixed-wing,6helicopters such as the British Spearfish or the to two orthreeweeks.
considerableadvantageoverothersinthearea.
16 17