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From: military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: Carrier discussion
Message-ID: <3494@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Date: 26 Jan 89 14:51:30 GMT
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From: military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker)


rupp@cod.nosc.mil (William L. Rupp) writes:
>
>For that matter, why not build some really cheap escort carriers similar
>to the converted merchant ships used in WWII.  Put a few Harriers,
>helos, whatever, on them, and they would be useful in third world scenarios 
>and not cost much.

There you've struck the key; converted.  Why build them now, when we can
convert them relatively quickly in time of war ?  If we build now, then
the Navy has to pay for them and maintain and crew them; if we wait,
the private shipping companies do that for us 8-)


Most importantly, I think, is that these ships would be awfully handy for
convoy escort; carrying a few Harriers and lots of ASW choppers.  If
converted from merchantmen, they wouldn't really be fast enough for much
else.

-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  - 
Bill Thacker      moderator, sci.military      military@att.att.com

"War is a matter of vital importance to the State; the province of life
or death; the road to survival or ruin. It is mandatory that it be 
thoroughly studied."   -  Sun Tzu