Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!att!cbnews!military From: terryr@ogicse.ogc.edu (Terry Rooker) Newsgroups: sci.military Subject: Re: Why the F18 for the US Navy ? Message-ID: <13378@cbnews.ATT.COM> Date: 22 Jan 90 06:03:43 GMT References: <13345@cbnews.ATT.COM> Sender: military@cbnews.ATT.COM Organization: Oregon Graduate Institute (formerly OGC), Beaverton, OR Lines: 37 Approved: military@att.att.com From: terryr@ogicse.ogc.edu (Terry Rooker) In article <13345@cbnews.ATT.COM> munnari!batserver.cs.uq.oz.au!anthony@uunet.UU.NET (Anthony Lee) writes: > >Just a quick question, I was reading this book about warships and there >was a mention that because of the short endurance (range) of the >F18s, additional tankers had to be carry on each aircraft carriers. >This meant fewer attach A6 attack planes can be carried. > >What I don't is, why used the F18s, surely the F14s are a lot better >for one thing the F14s could carry 6 phoenix missiles whereas the F18s >could only carry 2 sparrows. > Actually the F-18 can carry 4 Sparrows, not that it makes any difference. There were several reasons for procuring the F-18. It was intended as a replacement for the A-7 light attack plane. It is short ranged when compared to that aircraft. The Tomcat doesn't have much more range than the F-18. As an added advantage, the F-18 also was able to serve as a replacement for the F-4 on the older, smaller carriers that couldn't handle the F-14. A final reason was the astronomical cost of the F-14, the Navy couldn't afford more than 2 squadrons per air wing. You also have to remember that the F-18 was replacing A-7s not F-4s or F-14s, so in a pinch the carrier gains 2 fighter squadrons over what it had previously. The Marines had some say also. They needed fighters that could haul bombs. Early in the F-14 program it was realized that these expensive fighters just weren't meant to move mud, and I believe there are some technical difficulties with weapons release. Finally look at the trouble and expense the air force is going through trying to add equivalent air to ground capabilities to its same generation aircraft (F-15, F-16). All in all it sounds like a bargain, even if the navy had to spot a couple extra tankers for them. -- Terry Rooker terryr@cse.ogi.edu