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From: terryr@ogccse.ogc.edu (Terry Rooker)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: Light vs. large carriers
Message-ID: <11147@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Date: 6 Nov 89 05:03:08 GMT
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From: terryr@ogccse.ogc.edu (Terry Rooker)
The subject of light versus heavy carriers has been debated for a 
long time.  Unfortunately, the whole discussion revolves around
the ability of the planes.  The F-14 cannot operate from the 
smaller fleet carriers (such as the Midway), so F-18 is used.  The
discussion then centers on whether any number of Harriers can 
provide the same capability.  The Falklands conflict provided
much evidence that they can't.  Yes they did do a smash up job in
the South Atlantic, but the Argentines were operating under some
severe constraints.  It is not at all clear that the Harriers 
would do as well in any other environment.  

Assuming this line of reason, you need a carrier that can operate 
the Tomcat in sufficient numbers.  If you think about it, from a
cost effectiveness viewpoint, the only thing to do is to build
supercarriers.  That leaves the discussion of small carriers to 
decide if there are naval missions that don't require Tomcats and
Intruders.  The prevailing wisdom is that there aren't any.  Of
course that prevailing wisdom is from the fighter and attack 
communities and they have a vested interest in maintaining the
status quo.  

I am no fan of carriers or airdales, but after thinking long and 
hard about this problem, I have to agree with their decision.  I
can't think of any reason to justify building smaller carriers.  
They are actually more expensive to operate for the same number
of planes (there is a minimum overhead per hull).  For a more
detailed discussion look in previous editions of USNI Proceedings.
As I sat on my gator and thought about the capabilities of the 
Tomcat, I was glad it was there.

--
Terry Rooker
terryr@cse.ogc.edu