US Navy CVN help

[Phoenix]

Hey anyone out there know the average aircraft breakdown of a Nimitz class aircraft carrier. All I can find is the total of 80-85 aircraft.

Thanks in advance for any help.

[Sea Tyger]

You mean the number of each type, Phoenix? If so, I'll see what I can find.

[SIR SIG]

10 F-14 Tomcat fighters, 36 F/A-18 Hornet strike aircraft, 4 EA-6B Prowler attack aircraft, 4 E-2C Hawkeye command aircraft, 8 S-3A/B Viking anti-submarine aircraft, 3 SH-60F and 3 HH-60H Seahawk helicopters

http://www.secretweapon.com/weapons/navel.html

If you need some newer data. I have a US Navy book about here somewhere that has good stats. Very late 90's.

PS. After a bit of looking, most sites seem to list this as the standard air complement even though its only 60 aircraft and not the 80 odd 'they supposedly' carry. Maybe the 80 is the max and 68 is standard complement.

[Phoenix]

Thank You guys, your help is appreciated.

(I thought I looked at that page)

[Sea Tyger]

Jane's says:

Fixed-wing aircraft: Composition of air-wing depends on mission and includes: 10-12 F-14B Tomcat (or F/A-18F Hornet); 36 F/A-18A/C/E Hornet; 4 EA-6B Prowler; 4 E-2C Hawkeye; up to 6 S 3-B Viking.
Helicopters: 4 SH-60F and 2 HH-60H Seahawk.

That's pretty close to what SIG found. The Jane's quote is accurate as of April 2004.

[REG]

How long before they completely phase out my beloved Tomcats?

[JALU3]

From my understanding regarding the F-14 . . . it's a matter of production of the Super Hornets. But regarding the current Air Wing make up . . . I think it's unfortunate they have removed the official role of the S-3B in the ASW role. As submariners say . . . ships are targets. Furthermore, the F/A-14Fs lack the range of the F-14B/Ds . . . however what they lack in range they make up in their possible weapons loads. Also, the E-2C frames are reaching the end of their service life, and they haven't done enough work regarding that, and let me not start regarding the sole EW aircraft that the US has in its arsonnal.

[REG]

And when will they deploy Navy version of the JSF into service? BTW, the Navy JSF will not be V/STOL-capable, right?

[black campbellq]

You can probably find a copy of Clancy's Carrier pretty easily. All the stuff you could want in a pretty concise book.

[redwood973]

Just check out the official web page of one of the carriers, or even one of the air wings themselves. That information is usually available on their page.

I usually use the USS Abraham Lincoln page and the Carrier Air Wing Fourteen page for any questions such as yours that I have, but any of them would work I would think. . .they all see to be very similar.

[jkp1187]

Tyger,

Have a link for the "Jane's Fighting Ships Online"?

[Sea Tyger]

Jane's Fighting Ships Online

At some point, I'm going to shell out the $1,795 to get the automatically updated Jane's Online services...or, I'll just pay the $725 or more for the latest book. This stuff is just full of valuable information (which is useless to me, except for their cool factor ).

[JALU3]

OMG! . . . that's enough money to put a kid through college for semester at Sonoma State!

[black campbellq]

Yup...the Jane's stuff is way too expensive, but since their main customers are governments, they feel comfy charging outrageous prices. At least, that's my take on it...

[JALU3]

On a side note . . . I am of the opinion, given the current retooling of the CVs that are going on, that a future force would be better off with 8 or 10 CVBGs, but increasing the number of ESGs to 18. For with the adoption of the F-35Bs they will have the same ordanance capabilities of the big flattops and in a pinch can serve as a sea control ship with a full complement of these new VSTOLs, save a small ASW Helo detatchment, thus becoming CVLs.

This coupled with a larger SSN force, and the USN will be able to hold of forceable combatants for some time to come.

The only problem with this is . . . I am not prepared to retire older CVNs due to the increasingly blue water PLAN, which I think is the main threat to US Maritime dominance for the foreseeable future. They have a growing economy and a totalitarian government who can focus its nations nationalism against others due their overpowering control of information to their masses. But I am not trying to start a political debate here . . .

I am talking about Naval strength not politics.