Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!att!cbnews!military From: V059L49Z@ubvmsc.cc.buffalo.edu (IF INSANITY IS AN ART, CALL ME PICASO) Newsgroups: sci.military Subject: QUESTION ABOUT VIRGINIA-CLASS CRUISERS Message-ID: <14314@cbnews.ATT.COM> Date: 25 Feb 90 06:12:40 GMT Sender: military@cbnews.ATT.COM Lines: 39 Approved: military@att.att.com From: "IF INSANITY IS AN ART, CALL ME PICASO" I realize that being a primarily air-defense platform, Virginia-class crusiers don't have as much need of an ASW helicopter that ASW destroyers and frigates would. However, I see in the latest JANE'S FIGHTING SHIPS that the helicopter- capability was removed by the addition of Tomahawk cruise-missle launchers. I don't think I understand this action. Since it had an elevator installed for moving the helicopter down into the hanger (my MODERN NAVAL COMBAT book says this is the only ship-class to have an elevator system like outside of carriers), putting a missle-launcher where the helicopter goes seems to have made the elevator installation a waste of money. I should think that they could have placed it somewhere else. I also read in my book at up to 1986, Virginias never even had a helicopter embarked on it. It says it was to carry a SH-2 Sea Sprite (I forget if it was capable of carrying two or not). This seems like a waste as well. The Navy had Kaman (the builder of SH-2's) reopen the production line to fill their order of new copters due to some ships not being able to handle the new SH-60's. The Navy couldn't have sent a few SH-2's the Virginias' way? For anyone interested..... The novel DEFCON ONE (taking place roughly in the mid 1990's) has the USS VIRGINIA carrying a helicopter (possibly a SH-2) on board which pursues an attacking Russian Sierra (I think)-class sub. It's been a little while since I've read it. Paul State University of New York at Buffalo