Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!cwjcc!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!att!cbnews!military
From: scameron@blake.acs.washington.edu (Scott Cameron)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: A NASTY attack sub idea
Summary: Escort ASW Helos in USS Constellation battle grp
Message-ID: <7302@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Date: 9 Jun 89 03:28:42 GMT
References: <7132@cbnews.ATT.COM> <7159@cbnews.ATT.COM> <7209@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Sender: military@cbnews.ATT.COM
Organization: Univ of Washington, Seattle
Lines: 37
Approved: military@att.att.com



From: scameron@blake.acs.washington.edu (Scott Cameron)

In article <7209@cbnews.ATT.COM>, nak@cbnews.ATT.COM (Neil A. Kirby) writes:
      [much deleted]
 
>     Missing from this was any comment on how many 'spare' helos there are
>     for ASW work in a convoy situation. 

Had an opportunity to tour (general public "where your money goes Mr. Tax
Payer type tour) some units of the USS Constellation's escort force that
put into Seattle over Memorial Day.  Most of these ships are fairly old,
(CV-64 being pre-nuc), with the exception of the Valley Forge.

While several of the ships were not open to public tours (Constellation, 
USS California, USS Henry B. Wilson (DDG-7) ) I did get a chance to tour
three of the escorts:

	USS Marvin Shields (FF-1044? Knox class).  Carries one very tiny
		helo, intended primarily for plane-guard/rescue duty I
		think (according to the left-seater who was "explaining"
		it).  The rather clever hangar design, which telescopes
   		to allow the same deck space to serve as both landing pad
		and hangar, is a retrofit just large enough for the single
		bird.

	USS Valley Forge (CG-50, Aegis ship).  2 LAMPS helos.  

	USS Fox ["tour" consisted of crossing over to Valley Forge] - Saw
		one LAMPS helo on deck, hangar didn't look big enough for
		two, but perhaps would be if the second were creatively
		stowed.  

	Of the ships not open for tour, the Wilson doesn't have a helo
	deck, and while the Constellation does carry a number of helos,
	I don't know what fraction have an ASW mission.