vstol carriers

The three Tiger class cruisers arouse strong opinions. As the only major non-carrier RN warships built after WW2 they mark the transition of the RN from a force built round its battleships' big guns to a missile dominated navy. The 6" and 3" guns fitted to them were supposed to be a new approach...

Érase una vez sólo dos bandos (y sabías qué esperar) y había un país llamado Unión Soviética. Y el portaaviones era la especie dominante en los mares (Cuanto más grande era el portaaviones, más felices eran los almirantes), pero este tipo de barcos son muy caros, tan caros que parecía que iban a...

This is a rough TL sketch. POD is October 20, 1971. http://www.ffaa.net/projects/jaguar/jaguar_fr.htm That day, off Marseille, the Foch is flight testing Jaguar M05, that is: the navalized fifth prototype. As the aircraft is returned to the hangar for maintenance, one mechanic raise alarm...

Here's a really interesting account I found on Project Terminated, by Ronnie Serrano: '... a couple drawings were done by Pierre Mion for the U.S Navy in the late-1960s which shows using converted Fletcher-class destroyers into makeshift "Harrier Carriers". The plan at the time is to convert...

In "Storia Militare" n. 196 (January 2010) Enrico Cernuschi described the unknown project of an early Italian helicopter/VTOL carrier of 60's. During 1965 the Italian Navy seriously considered the possibility to modify the proposed second "Vittorio Veneto" cruiser into a sort of small carrier...

1983, rather than 1982 is a key date for decisions for the RN and UK defence as a whole, in the light of the Falklands and it's effect not just on defence thinking but on the UK populace's attitude to their country. As surely as it was to the political establishment. But in terms of changes a...

From Ronnie Serrano on the "Project Terminated" page on Facebook: Source: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=876967599032670&set=gm.646696872124265&type=1&theater

Image of the Vickers proposal for a modified Invincible Class ship to replace HMAS Melbourne. The enlarged hangar and removal of Sea Dart are of note. Also Invincible image for comparison. Found at: http://warships1discussionboards.yuku.com/topic/24222

Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) 22DDH helicopter destroyer. Source: http://snafu-solomon.blogspot.com/2010/06/22ddh-japans-next-helicopter-carrier.html http://www.strategypage.com/militaryforums/6-62389.aspx http://oursogo.com/thread-1155047-1-1.html

This YouTube video has some really good footage of Harriers, plus some other aircraft (Sea Vixens - yay!): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjRdNwcWsZE I especially like the Sea Harrier in nuclear strike configuration (WE177 and tank) preparing to launch at 20:37 and the 'Captain Pugwash'...

I was browsing Google Books and found a preview of Iowa and Alaska Class Conversion Projects 1942-1962: An Illustrated Technical Reference by Wayne Scarpaci. I thought it was too cool not to share. ;D http://books.google.com/books?id=L4z8UIRymR4C&printsec=frontcover

Displacing 13,200 tons, space for 16 aircraft. 15deg ski jump. For peacetime operations a helicopter operates from the rear deck, in wartime the rear deck would be built up with containers to lengthen the flight deck. Length 604 ft. Source: Flight International, 12 Jan 1980.

In the 1960s the RN considered ordering up to six purpose built Commando/ASW carriers to replace the Albion and Bulwark conversions. It is a pity that the RN's focus on trying to keep its fixed wing aircraft carriers stood in the way of this programme as a decent design emerging in the second...

In Rebuilding the RN Brown notes 'In 1967 consideration was given to a stretched Type 82 to replace the Tiger class as helicopter ships' (DEFE 16/617 (PRO)) Were any drawings made?

Over the years the STOVL ability of the Harrier has led to various proposals for ships for it to operate from. First was the VT Harrier Carrier concept of the mid-1970s. 8,000 tons, c. 400ft length at WL, 420 ft flight deck with ski-jump. Electric propulsion powered by 9x5000 hp gas turbine...

Hi Folks, I am interested in information on the cancelled British CVA-01 carrier design. Any assistance would be appreciated. Thankyou in advance. Regards, Greg

SCS SWATH design carrier (Slightly off topic but cool :)

Thanks to Evan, heres a nice PDF of a British Aerospace Harrier II Plus brochure showing it in RN colours.

Desktop models from rival McDonnell 260 Source: Aviation Magazine International. Nº753 May 1979