Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!att!cbnews!military
From: malec@nprdc.navy.mil (Vern Malec)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: age of US carriers (was Re: A NASTY attack sub idea)
Message-ID: <7477@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Date: 15 Jun 89 03:53:24 GMT
References: <7132@cbnews.ATT.COM> <7159@cbnews.ATT.COM> <7209@cbnews.ATT.COM> <7302@cbnews.ATT.COM> <7442@cbnews.ATT.COM>
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From: malec@nprdc.navy.mil (Vern Malec)

welty@lewis.crd.ge.com (richard welty) writes:

>probably all of Constellation's helos have ASW functionalty.
>helicoptors were added to the fleet carriers during the
>`Elmo Zumwalt' era, when the carriers were reclassified from CVA(N)
>to CV(N) and given ASW duties in addition to their projection duties
>(this was a famous, bloody fight in the navy between aviators and
>surface sailors -- the carrier boys didn't want ASW missions to
>interfere with their prefered `projection' mission, while the surface
>boys are very concerned about the ability if the US to control shipping
>lanes (`sea control' is the name of that mission.))

In the late 50's and 60's the Navy designated carriers CVA or CVS. The CVA's 
were loaded out for attack or strike missions and the CVSs (HUK or hunter 
killer Groups) were loaded out for the ASW mission. Both carried helos which 
were used for plane guard, mail/cargo/personnel transfer, rescue and ASW 
(only on the CVS and only if they were equipped with a dipping sonar. MAD and 
passive buoys at that time were fixed wing only). Their present role hasn't 
changed that much, they just have more and better equipment. It is true that 
because of the current multiple mission requirement there is a competition for 
deck space. However, as I understand the arguement it was mostly directed at 
the S-3 (Viking) aircraft and not the helo. Carrior pilots seem to like the 
idea of having a rescue helo or two (Angel) around in case an unscheduled 
swim call.  

--Vern Malec (malec@nprdc.navy.mil)