The largest aircraft-carrying cruiser in the world. The largest aircraft carriers in the world in service
Wars have always been the “locomotive of progress”! A funny paradox - all scientific potential was used to create means of their own destruction, which ultimately contributed to a giant leap in the development of mankind.
Introduction
Sometimes a person invented another type of weapon, which he could use tactically and strategically only years later. For example, this happened with a tank, an airplane, a submarine and... an aircraft carrier.
Some believe that the "history of aircraft carriers" began with Eugene Ely's legendary flight when he landed on the USS Pennsylvania. And some - from the day when ArkRoyal took part in the Dardanelles operation. And although there were only seaplanes on board, historians consider this ship to be the world's first aircraft carrier to take part in hostilities.
In any case, humanity received a completely new military tool, which it would have to really use decades later.
Excursion into history
At the very beginning of their appearance, aircraft carriers were not actively used. After all, the combat potential of the aircraft as the main carrier of weapons has not yet been fully revealed. The First World War seemed to have buried the still fragile child forever. And although this class of ships continued to develop between the two world wars, none of the states even thought about giving the palm of supremacy at sea to an aircraft-carrying ship. Battleships and battlecruisers ruled the roost. Having powerful artillery, the caliber of which could exceed 400 mm, they were a powerful means of destruction.
During the Second World War, such giants as Bismarck and Richelieu, Yamato and Iowa were launched.
The first alarm bells for battleships came in November 1940 and December 1941. In the first case, an attack by British carrier-based aircraft on the Italian battlefleet allowed Great Britain to seize the initiative in the Mediterranean. In the second, the devastating Japanese air raid on Pearl Harbor completely destroyed the American battle fleet. After the end of the Battle of Midway in June 1942, it became clear that only aircraft carriers could ensure dominance on the high seas.
The final nail in the coffin of battleships was hammered on April 7, 1945, when US carrier-based aircraft simply tore apart the largest battleship in history, the Yamato. Two hundred aircraft in two hours inflicted mortal wounds on the “pride of the Japanese fleet.” Having been hit by 10 torpedoes and 13 aerial bombs, the battleship took over 3,000 sailors with it to the bottom.
Eugene Ely takes off from the deck of the USS Pennsylvania on January 18, 1911.
During World War II, aircraft carriers developed rapidly, performing a wide range of missions. Separate classes of aircraft carriers appeared: heavy, light, escort, auxiliary, training, etc.
The escort aircraft carrier was intended for air and anti-submarine defense of convoys and reconnaissance. It had a displacement of up to 24 thousand tons and a speed of up to 20 knots (37 km/h). Armament: 25–30 aircraft, up to 50 anti-aircraft guns. Crew up to 1000 people. Most of escort aircraft carriers were converted from transport ships that did not have armor.
The light aircraft carrier was intended for air defense of formations of warships, convoys, landing detachments, destruction of enemy ships (vessels) at sea, and air support for amphibious assault forces. It had a displacement of up to 20 thousand tons and a speed of up to 32 knots (59 km/h). Armament: up to 50 aircraft, about 70 anti-aircraft guns. Crew up to 1400 people.
The heavy aircraft carrier was intended to defeat (destroy) formations of enemy warships, transports and landing craft, and to gain air superiority in the combat area. It had a displacement of up to 55 thousand tons and a speed of up to 33 knots (61 km/h). Armament: up to 100 aircraft, up to 12 guns of up to 200 mm caliber and up to 120 small-caliber anti-aircraft guns. Crew up to 4000 people.
During the war, 194 aircraft carriers were built, a significant part of which were converted from previously laid down battleships, cruisers and transport ships. Almost every fifth one was sunk.
In the post-war period, most maritime powers began to massively decommission their warships, getting rid of battleships, aircraft carriers and cruisers. Great Britain finally lost its status as a great maritime power, and Japan could not even dream of its former greatness. Only the Americans had a powerful aircraft carrier fleet; they were in no hurry to destroy it. Moreover, strategists at the Pentagon continued to actively develop this type of ship.
The entry into service of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Enterprise in 1961 ushered in a new era in aircraft carrier development. At that time, it was the largest surface ship in the entire history of the fleet with almost unlimited navigation autonomy. This year can safely be considered the year of birth of the US nuclear aircraft carrier fleet.
Aircraft carrier "Enterprise" with a nuclear power plant
Over the past seventy years, aircraft carriers have actively participated in many local wars. These are the wars in Korea and Vietnam, the Falklands Crisis, Operation Desert Storm, the bombing of Belgrade, etc.
The aircraft carrier has evolved and become a universal combat platform, deadly for a potential enemy. The presence on board of various types of aircraft allows the aircraft carrier to perform many combat missions. This is the search and destruction of enemy aircraft, submarines and ships, landing troops on the coast and launching missile and bomb attacks on coastal targets and in depth. Before the advent of strategic nuclear submarines, aircraft carriers even carried bombers with nuclear weapons. Aircraft carriers were an integral tool in the US strategy to destroy the USSR.
Ship structure
A modern aircraft carrier is, in my opinion, the most complex type of weapon to date.
Aircraft carriers are the world's largest and technically very complex warships in the history of mankind. To imagine the enormity and uniqueness of such a “technical monster”, here are a few numbers (the Nimitz aircraft carrier is taken as an example):
— the construction of an aircraft carrier requires 60,000 tons of steel and 1,360 tons of filler materials;
the ship has more than 4,000 rooms for various purposes;
— a nuclear power plant consisting of two pressurized water reactors of type A4W/A1G drives four steam turbines with a total power of 280,000 hp;
— the mass of the propeller (there are four of them on the ship) is almost 3 tons, and each of the two anchors is 30 tons;
— flight deck area 18,200 sq. m;
— the ship has four steam catapults weighing 180 tons, allowing for trouble-free takeoff of combat aircraft whose weight reaches 40–43 tons, with an acceleration speed of up to 300 km/h;
— total mass of ammunition 2000 tons;
— crew of 6,000 people (including staff, air wing maintenance and field headquarters).
Creating such a ship requires enormous financial and labor costs.
The cost of the US Navy aircraft carrier George W. Bush (the last in the Nimitz class series) is estimated at 6.5 billion dollars (at 2009 prices), and the French Charles de Gaulle - 3.3 billion (at 2001 prices year). The new aircraft carrier Gerald Ford will cost American taxpayers $14 billion, and the Queen Elizabeth will cost English taxpayers £6.5 billion. And this does not include the cost of an air wing.
The lead aircraft carrier usually takes 6–7 years to build. This is the optimal period, provided that the shipbuilder receives the final approved design documentation and has extensive experience in building similar ships.
The last condition is very important. For example, Northrop Grumman, founded in 1886, is one of the largest shipbuilding companies in the United States and one of two (General Dynamics) companies producing nuclear-powered ships. The first aircraft carrier, the CV-4 Ranger, was built at this shipyard in 1934. The shipyard has built a total of 30 aircraft carriers, including all 11 US nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, starting with the CVN-65 Enterprise in 1961.
Advantages and disadvantages
The main obvious advantages of aircraft-carrying ships are: high combat potential, versatility and high mobility.
High combat potential expressed in a large and varied number of weapons. AUGs are capable of delivering strikes in depth: against sea targets - up to 1000 km, against coastal targets up to 1600 km.
The ship's versatility lies in the aircraft carrier's ability to perform a wide range of missions. Let us list the main ones: the destruction of enemy naval groups in naval theaters of military operations; striking targets located on the sea coast and deep in enemy territory; air cover and support for landing forces and ground forces operating in the coastal zone; gaining and maintaining air superiority in the area of operation; providing air defense for ships, landing troops, large convoys on sea crossings, blockade of the enemy's coast; conducting aerial tactical reconnaissance; landing on the coast.
Aircraft carrier mobility lies in the ability to expand into as soon as possible a large aviation group. The ability to make daily throws of 1000 km is impressive.
The obvious disadvantage of an aircraft carrier is its low degree of stealth. The uniqueness of this ship is not only its blessing, but also its curse. When launching missile and torpedo strikes, the aircraft carrier will always be a priority target for the enemy. The times when an aircraft-carrying ship performed a solo voyage are forever gone; it must always be protected by escort ships.
The versatility of an aircraft-carrying ship also has a negative side.. On board are thousands of tons of fuel and ammunition. It's essentially a powder keg traveling at 30 knots. And although experts claim that the survivability control system on modern aircraft-carrying ships is very reliable, this can only be verified in the event of real combat operations.
Aircraft carrier accident rate
The accident on the attack aircraft carrier USS Forrestal (CV-59), which occurred in the Gulf of Tonkin in 1967, is the largest accident in the US Navy in the last 50 years. According to the official conclusion, the fire started after the spontaneous launch of an unguided rocket under the influence of an accidental voltage surge in the circuits of one of the aircraft standing on the deck. Result: the 17th fire, which engulfed six decks of the ship, the detonation of nine bombs on the flight deck, killing 134 people (161 injured). The ship and its aircraft completely lost their combat capability, 21 burned-out aircraft were thrown overboard (not counting the aircraft damaged by fire).
About 70 miles from Honolulu, while one of the fighter-bombers was preparing for a combat mission, the warhead of an unguided rocket suspended under its wing exploded. The explosion occurred as a result of overheating of the missile warhead, caused by a sufficiently long exposure to the jet stream of the engine of another aircraft, which was on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier and was also preparing for takeoff.
Within just 20 minutes, 18 powerful explosions occurred on the flight deck of the nuclear-powered ship, including the detonation of eight 500-pound (227 kg) aerial bombs. Later there was another series of explosions. In total, as a result of the accident, 28 people were killed, 343 people from the crew and naval air wing of the Enterprise and the destroyers Benjamin Stoddert and Rogers were injured of varying degrees of severity, and 15 combat aircraft were completely destroyed. There is no need to talk about the various equipment that was destroyed. The aircraft carrier's combat service in the Vietnam area had to be postponed.
The following are significant accidents. More than a hundred smaller ones occurred. For example, on the aircraft carrier Nimitz:
— 1981. A landing plane crashed into an unsuccessfully parked helicopter on the deck of an aircraft carrier. Fire. Explosions. Result: 18 aircraft destroyed, 14 killed and 39 wounded.
— 1988. The electric launch of the high-speed artillery cannon jammed on the attack aircraft. The tanker plane caught fire. Losses: 8 aircraft.
— 1991. Airplane crash during landing. The burning car, abandoned by the crew, caught on the arresting device and froze in the middle of the deck. But its engines roared in afterburner mode. If not for the actions of a brave technician (who turned off the engines), the situation would have gotten out of control.
There were accidents in the navy and in the USSR...
The anti-submarine cruiser "Moscow" is an aircraft-carrying ship, or more precisely, a helicopter carrier. As a result of a short circuit at the diesel generator switchboard, a fire broke out, which took 6 hours to extinguish. Three people were killed and 26 people were injured.
The aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov was also on fire. One example is on January 6, 2009, when the aircraft carrier led a group of ships of the Northern Fleet in the southeastern Mediterranean. There was a fire in the engine room. The fire took two hours to extinguish. One sailor died.
To summarize, I would like to point out that these are just a few examples of accidents that occurred in peacetime. In combat conditions, the accident rate increases significantly.
Defense AUG
Today, the most effective means of destroying aircraft carriers are: an anti-ship cruise missile and a torpedo. And the main carriers of these means of destruction are ships, submarines and aircraft.
For effective defense of an aircraft carrier, a group of ships is created. This group, including the aircraft carrier, is called an aircraft carrier strike group (ACG). The AUG, as a rule, includes cruisers, destroyers, frigates, attack submarines and supply vessels. Their number depends on the number of aircraft-carrying ships of the group and the mobility requirements of the group. Of course, this significantly diverts resources, but the ship group gathered into a single fist has a very large combat potential.
AUG ships create lines of defense that provide anti-missile, anti-aircraft and anti-submarine protection. Thus, a multi-level defense system emerges, which is quite difficult to overcome. Do not forget that the air wing of an aircraft carrier is the main striking power of the AUG and also provides all types of its (group) defense!
Against cruise missiles launched by enemy aircraft, submarines and surface ships, the naval group's defense forces create a deep layered defense up to 700 km deep. For the fullest use of the combat capabilities of air defense systems, their multi-level construction by zones is envisaged - three air defense zones are being formed:
- distant(long-range radar detection aircraft (AWACS), radar patrol ships (RPS), combat air patrol fighter aircraft, medium-range anti-aircraft missile systems (SAM) of security ships);
- average(ships and helicopters of close range radar, electronic warfare (EW) aircraft, air defense ships using air defense systems, electronic warfare equipment of main forces and air defense ships);
- near(SAM, artillery and electronic warfare of all ships).
Anti-submarine defense is organized to search for and destroy submarines. The depth of such defense today reaches 600 km. In this case, the naval group also has the widest range of capabilities to search for and destroy enemy submarines. Anti-submarine security of the AUG is carried out by anti-submarine aircraft by patrolling, making shuttle flights from the center of the AUG and back in the direction of the probable appearance of the enemy.
In addition to aircraft, anti-submarine protection is provided by submarines that are part of the AUG and equipped with hydroacoustic stations (HAS). The AUG's close security forces include helicopters and surface ships. Their main task is to prevent a torpedo attack from enemy submarines. The sonar systems of surface ships are used in active mode. Surface ships are positioned in such a way as to create a continuous ring of sonar surveillance. Helicopters are also used, which use a lowered sonar, magnetic detector and sonobuoys to detect enemy submarines.
In 1983, a new warship entered the ocean. At the stern, a huge banner fluttered in the wind: “Stand by, Admiral Gorshkov: “Aegis” at sea!” (Beware, Admiral Gorshkov! “Aegis” is at sea!). This is how the guided missile cruiser USS Ticonderoga (CG-47) began its service. And so began the combat service of the ship's multifunctional combat information and control system, the Aegis combat system. This is an integrated network of shipborne situational lighting, weapons and control equipment. The system allows you to receive and process information from sensors of other ships and aircraft of the formation and issue target designations to their launchers. In simple terms, it is an electronic think tank.
Thus, the AUG has a system that provides collective defense of ships, allowing it to intercept almost all modern air attack weapons, including ballistic missiles. The Aegis system detects and tracks up to 300 targets simultaneously and directs up to 18 missiles at the most dangerous of them. Carrier-based fighters and AWACS aircraft may also be involved in repelling the strike. The decision to hit targets can be made automatically.
Fighting AUG
American admirals consider their aircraft carrier formations invulnerable. They are partly right. Having such multi-level and universal defense, you can really feel completely safe. It is possible to destroy an AUG only with a massive missile salvo. At one time, the USSR made a calculation that to ensure the destruction of an AUG it was necessary to use 70–100 anti-ship missiles in one strike. The cruise missile must have a warhead of 500 kg and a flight speed exceeding the speed of sound by 2.5 times. Such missiles today are the P-700 (Granit) and P-1000 (Vulcan) / P-500 (Basalt).
To deliver such a strike, it is necessary to approach the AUG within the launch range of its missiles. And this is where the problems begin. AUG reconnaissance means can detect the enemy several hundred kilometers before the point of missile strike. Let me remind you that the main factor that influenced the American victory in the Battle of Midway was that they were ahead of the enemy in deployment.
The enemy AUG has no choice but to fight his way to the launch point. It is also necessary to issue target designations to submarines and synchronize the launch of cruise missiles with other carriers. In general, AUG is in a clearly advantageous situation. And a breakthrough of the AUG defenses will be associated with large losses. There is another way: striking the AUG with cruise missiles (torpedoes) with a special warhead (SCU). But this will only be done as a last resort.
What do we have?
In the Soviet Union, aircraft-carrying ships began to be built only in the 1960s. These are anti-submarine cruisers pr. 1123, i.e. full-fledged helicopter carriers. Two buildings were built: “Moscow” and “Leningrad”. In the 1970s, construction of aircraft-carrying cruisers Project 1143 began. Kyiv, Minsk, Novorossiysk and Baku entered service. And in 1991 it entered service (project 1143.5). The main difference between our aircraft-carrying cruisers Project 1143 and Western-built aircraft carriers is the presence on board of the Basalt and Granit cruise missile complex.
It’s difficult to say whether our designers took the right path or a dead-end branch. Then (as now) our shipbuilding industry could not build such giants as the Enterprise. There was only one plant in Nikolaev, therefore, the displacement was not very large (relative to American aircraft carriers). And why did we need such giants? The admirals of the USSR did not plan to fight the United States at sea. At that time, a policy of containment was pursued. The main tasks assigned to our aircraft carriers were defensive. Our aircraft carriers left the Black Sea as “anti-submarine cruisers” (which was partly true).
Were our aircraft carriers much inferior to American ones? In the 1970s, definitely not. These ships had a lot of advanced technology. As a matter of fact, we went our own way in everything. The P-500 cruise missile with a flight range of 550 km was then a very formidable weapon. And US carrier-based aircraft were not so technically developed as to be guaranteed to destroy our cruisers before approaching the cruise missile launch point.
Was this a dead end path of development? I think yes. A ship is the most complex combat mechanism. And attempts to create “something universal” can lead to a “monstrous hybrid.” A striking example today is the heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov. With a total displacement of 65,000 tons, having carrier-based aircraft not exceeding 30 aircraft is an obvious dead end. When was the last time this cruiser fired missiles? A long time ago. Because he doesn't shoot anymore. Technically it can't. The material was lost.
Will we build or not?
To try to figure it out, I will take a neutral position between opponents and allies of the construction of aircraft carriers.
Do we plan to control the largest trade routes? No.
Are we planning to blockade any coastal state? No.
Or maybe we are about to capture the X archipelago? No. But it's a no today. And who knows what will happen tomorrow?
Aircraft carriers are a very expensive toy. They are very expensive to build and maintain. There is absolutely nothing to object to. But the fleet itself is “very expensive.” And it’s not necessary to build monsters like the Gerald Ford, whose daily maintenance costs $7 million. The Soviet Union understood this.
Aircraft carriers, like the entire navy, are an extra expense and a hole in the budget! How do you calculate dividends? In Norway in the late 1930s they also thought so. They said that they adhere to a policy of neutrality. Their military budget was practically zero, which Hitler took advantage of in 1940.
Aircraft carriers are cardboard ships. They heat up very easily. Possibly, but who checked it? Only real combat operations show the effectiveness of weapons. The Second World War showed a fairly high survivability of aircraft carriers.
Aircraft carriers are explosive ships. Accidents on them happen quite often. Right. But all the ships are burning and exploding. As practice shows, most accidents occur due to elementary carelessness of personnel. The problem is not in the hardware, but in people.
We will sink all enemy aircraft carriers with cruise missiles. We have the Bastion complex! The Bastion complex is a coastal missile system. It is designed to protect the coast. The range of cruise missiles is around 300 km. An aircraft carrier would never dare to come so close to the shore. In general, the further the AUG is from the coast, the safer the aircraft carrier will be. Today we do not have cruise missiles capable of destroying an aircraft carrier at long range.
It seems this debate will go on forever. On opposite sides of the barricades are opponents and supporters of aircraft carriers. Some argue that aircraft-carrying ships are expensive and obsolete weapons. Others say that it is the most powerful instrument of war at sea.
The Indian Navy's aircraft carrier Vikrant has been under construction since 2006.
My subjective opinion is the following:
There is no need to rush into building a new aircraft carrier. Carry out design work? Yes. Urgent mortgage? No. The navy has big problems with ships of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th ranks. The coast guard also needs to be updated. It is now extremely important for us to close our inland seas to the “adversary”. And so, step by step, go out into the seas and oceans. I repeat, step by step.
What is the point of straining shipbuilding capacity with the “construction of the century” when we now have ships and boats queuing up for repairs and modernization? It is necessary to carry out (and it is now underway) the renewal of shipbuilding capacities and an increase in workforce (and this is the biggest problem today). You can't build today. But this does not mean that we should not build “tomorrow”. To do this, it is extremely important for us not to lose the last half-dead aircraft carrier in order to preserve flight personnel and experience in operating this complex equipment. It is necessary to extend the service life of the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier to the maximum by carrying out its deep modernization.
No one put as much effort into the appearance of aircraft carriers in our fleet as Admiral Gorshkov. But there is an opinion that by the end of his activity he came to the conclusion that aircraft carriers were futile due to their great vulnerability. He proposed the use of “marine airfield platforms” based on ships with a small waterline area, proposed at one time by Canadian inventor Frederick Creed.
Very logical. Cheap and practical. The Chinese also realized that there was a partial replacement for aircraft carriers, and began building “unsinkable aircraft carriers.” The appearance of artificial islands in the South China Sea is now very annoying to Japan and the United States.
In defense of aircraft carriers, I would like to cite one indisputable fact. Today, 12 countries have aircraft-carrying ships in their fleet. Many of them not only do not abandon these ships, but also continue to build them. And if we add to this number of countries the owners of universal landing ships(and this is the same, to some extent, as aircraft-carrying ships), then this begs the question... So is it worth burying aircraft carriers?
Finally, I want to say that the fleet must be balanced. Therefore, aircraft carriers will always have a place in it. The ideal option for us would be a ship with a displacement of up to 50,000 tons with a nuclear power plant. But, as they say, everything has its time.
Personally, I really want these beauties to please us with their might only in parades and never fight with each other.
Literature:
— Shunkov V.N. Aircraft carriers and naval aviation. – Minsk, Publishing house: “Potpourri”, 2003
— Belavin N.I. Aircraft carriers. – Moscow, Publishing house: “Patriot”, 1990
— Katorin Yu. Aircraft carriers. – Moscow, Publisher: Galeya Print, 2010
Today there are a large number of giant aircraft carriers. The main requirement for a modern army is mobility. It is for this simple reason that there is nothing more effective than aircraft carriers, which can carry dozens or large numbers of people on board. Let's take a look at the largest aircraft carriers in the world. Some of them still perform their function today, while others have long been taken out of service and serve as museum exhibits.
Largest Nimitz-class aircraft carrier
It is safe to say that Nimitz-class aircraft carriers are considered the largest in the world. With a length of 333 meters and a flight deck width of more than 76 meters, these giants can accommodate about 90 aircraft. Among them are 64 fighters and 26 helicopters. The full crew of the Nimitz aircraft carriers is 3,200 people. From here we can allocate 2,800 flight personnel and 70 command personnel. Almost all ships have the same technical characteristics, design solutions and weapons on board. It should be noted that Nimitz aircraft carriers can operate for about 20 years without replacing the power plant's energy carrier. Simply put, he can be sent on a long voyage for 20 years. The first ship of the line was launched in 1975 and had the same name “Nimitz”.
A more detailed description of the Nimitz-class aircraft carriers
A few words need to be said about the ship's power plant. It consists of the main and auxiliary systems. The main one includes two water reactors, each of which powers 2 turbines. The peculiarity of a water reactor is that it uses ordinary water under pressure as a coolant and moderator. Today in the world this type of aircraft carriers is the most popular and effective. If you add up the power of four turbines, the result is a device with 280,000 horsepower. The auxiliary installation is 4 diesel engines with a total capacity of 10,700 horsepower. These largest aircraft carriers in the world are equipped with weapons to protect against airborne enemies and underwater threats. In the first case, 3 anti-aircraft missile systems are installed, as well as 4 anti-aircraft guns of 20 mm caliber. For protection against torpedoes there are two 324 mm torpedo tubes. Currently, 10 Nimitz aircraft carriers have been built, the last of them is the George W. Bush, which we will now consider.
The aircraft carrier George W. Bush is the most powerful warship in the world
This ship is the latest development of the Nimitz project. It has a number of distinctive enhancements that make it truly unique. As you can understand, the naming of this aircraft carrier in honor of the 41st President of the United States of America, George, began in 2003 and cost the US treasury almost 6.5 billion dollars. In 2009, "George Bush" was officially adopted into service. Today it is one of the largest and most powerful aircraft carriers in the world. The length of the giant is 332.8 meters with a displacement of 110 thousand tons. It can reach speeds of up to 60 kilometers per hour and carry 90 units of military equipment on board. Many call it a modern-day “Noah's Ark.” Thanks to the fact that the designers managed to move the wheelhouse and antennas to the edge of the deck, they managed to slightly expand the runway, which is very important for a ship of this purpose. Well, now let's look at the other largest aircraft carriers in the world, because there are quite a lot of them.
About Enterprise in detail
Of course, we cannot fail to mention the longest ship in the world, which was launched more than half a century ago. It is the world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier with a crew of almost 5,000 people and a length of 342 meters. The government planned to produce 6 Enterprise ships, but after the first one cost $450 million and significantly impacted the US treasury, the rest were abandoned. For years it has been said that the Enterprise is the pinnacle of military development for the Army. During its service, the aircraft carrier visited many conflicts, from Vietnam to North Korea. Over 52 years of operation, more than 100,000 people served on the Enterprise, so we can safely say that this ship is worthy of attention. It was decommissioned in 2012 and is still being dismantled for scrap; the process is planned to be completed by the beginning of 2015.
The sad story of Shinano
If this Japanese ship cannot be called something ingenious from a design point of view, then it can be considered a giant without a twinge of conscience. While performing her first mission, this cruiser sank; this happened back in 1944. The length of the ship was about 266 meters, and the displacement was almost 70 thousand tons. But the active conduct of hostilities did not allow the constructors to complete the ship 100%, so it was launched and sank 17 hours after leaving the port. It was torpedoed, and since the waterproof partitions were initially installed incorrectly and the crew lacked experience, the ship was at the bottom within 7 hours after the torpedo hit.
The great "Admiral Kuznetsov"
Among Europe and Asia, there is a ship named after the admiral of the navy, Admiral Kuznetsov, which is one of the largest and most powerful. The development of this giant began back in 1982 in the city of Nikolaev. Judging by technical specifications, "Admiral Kuznetsov" was supposed to become an advanced aircraft carrier. The deck of the ship was somewhat elongated to allow the Su-25 and Su-27 fighters to take off. It is noteworthy that it was on this cruiser that the Luna optical system and fighter side lifts were first used. The length of the ship is 302 meters, and on board it can accommodate 25 helicopters and the same number of airplanes. If you call the most grand aircraft carriers world in terms of weapons and radar equipment, then Admiral Kuznetsov will be among the leaders. On its decks there are 12 Granit launchers, 8 Dirk launchers, 6 AK-630M artillery launchers and 4 Kinzhal launchers. Such a large number of weapons, as well as a huge ammunition reserve, allows the ship to conduct continuous fire for a long time. Today, this operational ship is undergoing a complete replacement of Su-33 fighters with MiG-29K, and a major overhaul is planned for 2015.
History of the cruiser "Varyag"
We have already listed many of the largest aircraft carriers in the world, but it is worth mentioning another ship called the Varyag, or Liaoning. It began to be built in Nikolaev in 1986, and was completed in 1988. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the cruiser went to Ukraine. Until 1998, it was only kept afloat and did not invest in development, repairs, etc. Later, it was decided to sell the aircraft carrier for only 20 million dollars, which was simply a ridiculous price. Its length is 304 meters with a displacement of 60 thousand tons. The Chinese private company that bought the Varyag completed and modernized it, so that it still floats and successfully fulfills its tasks.
Conclusion
So we looked at the most famous aircraft carriers in the whole world. Of course, what was said is just a “drop in the ocean.” There are also such famous ships as Theodore Roosevelt with a length of 317 meters, Ronald Reagan with a length of 332 meters and others. Almost every modern country trying to build the most powerful fleet possible. Many of the world's active aircraft carriers can accommodate a small army of planes and helicopters on board, ready to take off at a moment's notice.
Modern armed forces must be mobile - months-long campaigns on war elephants and six-month military expeditions in galleys are a thing of the past. Now, when the count is not even days, but hours, there is nothing more effective for armies than aircraft carriers. And the only thing better than an aircraft carrier is a large, very large aircraft carrier. In this material, RG will talk about ships that make even blue whales jealous.
"Shinano"
The Japanese giant can hardly be considered modern, because in 1944 it sank safely while performing its first mission. But what there is no doubt about is its colossal size, especially for that time. Its length was 266 meters and its displacement was 68,060 tons. In order for you to understand the size of this hulk, imagine the Titanic. So this legendary liner was only three meters longer than the Shinano, and in terms of displacement it was even inferior to 10 thousand tons.
Initially, the Japanese was supposed to become the fourth in a series of Yamato-class battleships, but the designers' plans were redrawn by the Battle of Midway, where the Imperial Japanese Navy lost four brand new aircraft carriers and a whole group of smaller ships. The Shinano, half completed, was decided to be converted as soon as possible into a vessel capable of carrying aircraft.
Haste made itself felt during the giant's first and last battle. In November 1944, it was torpedoed by an American submarine. The watertight bulkheads were installed incorrectly, so they were leaky, and the crew was inexperienced.
"Shinano" sank 7 hours after the attack and 17 hours after leaving the port.
"Varyag" or "Liaoning"
A giant with a very interesting and slightly sad fate was laid down at a shipyard in Nikolaev in 1985, and launched already in 1988. Most of the technical devices on the ship were missing, and the overall readiness of the combat vessel could be estimated at no more than 60 percent. After the collapse of the USSR, it went to Ukraine, which until 1998 invested in it exactly as much money as was necessary to keep it afloat, no more.
In 1998, a giant with a length of 304.5 meters and a displacement of 59,500 tons was sold by official Kiev for the ridiculous amount of $20 million. The buyer was a private Chinese company, which announced its intention to turn the unfinished aircraft carrier into an amusement park and casino. But if there were such plans, they were abandoned almost immediately: 20 million for the crown of creation of Soviet designers is an insignificant price, so the PRC government nationalized the ship and completed its construction. Thus, by 2011 the Chinese People's Republic entered the pool of countries that have aircraft carriers in their arsenal.
"Admiral Kuznetsov"
The largest and most powerful aircraft-carrying cruiser in Europe and Asia began to be built in Nikolaev in 1982. Named in honor of Nikolai Gerasimovich Kuznetsov, admiral of the Soviet Union Fleet.
In all its characteristics, the aircraft carrier was advanced: the deck was lengthened to allow the Su-25, Su-27 and MiG-29 to take off and land, and the hull was built in a unique way from blocks weighing up to 1,400 tons. Aerofinishers, the Luna optical landing system and aircraft side lifts first appeared on it. The length of "Admiral" is more than three football fields, it is like the Eiffel Tower without a spire - 306 meters. At the same time, such a colossus can carry a whole small air army - 25 planes and 25 helicopters.
Unlike most standard aircraft carriers, the armament of the Admiral Kuznetsov is far from modest: 12 4K80 Granit anti-ship missile launchers, 8 Kortik launchers with an arsenal of 256 missiles, 6 six-barreled 30-mm AK-630M artillery mounts with 48 thousand shells and 4 six-barrel launchers of the Kinzhal air defense system. The radar is also at its best - the Beysur complex, Buran-2 and the Resistor flight control radar station, and the Kuznetsov crew is almost 2,000 sailors and officers. "Kuznetsov" is the real beauty and pride of Russia.
By 2015, all Su-33 carrier-based fighters on the ship will be replaced with multifunctional MiG-29K. The ship will undergo a major overhaul by 2017.
"Nimitz"
This American Gulliver is named after Chester W. Nimitz, Commander-in-Chief of the US Pacific Fleet during World War II. The Nimitz aircraft carrier was laid down back in 1968 and became one of the first ships of its type with a nuclear power plant. Participated in the infamous failed special operation "Eagle Claw" in 1980. In May 1981, an incident occurred on board: a landing Prowler fighter crashed, killing 14 people and injuring about 50.
The aircraft carrier has gigantic size- 332 meters in length and with a displacement of almost 100,000 tons. But these numbers did not bring him success in 2008, when two Russian Tu-95MS teased a “floating fortress” as part of a training flight. One of them flew at an altitude of only 600 meters above the Nimitz, and even the F/A-18 fighters raised on alert did not confuse our pilots.
"Enterprise"
More than half a century ago, in 1960, the CVN-65 Enterprise was launched, which still remains the longest warship of all time - 342 meters! The Big E also became the world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, and this big guy had a crew of just under 5,000 people. In total, it was planned to create 6 such ships, but the release of the first Enterprise, which cost $451 million, shook the US economy, so the remaining ships in the project were abandoned.
The aircraft carrier has always been positioned as the pinnacle of the country's naval development and took part in all conflicts and wars of the Stars and Stripes. From the Cuban Missile Crisis to the Vietnam War, from the confrontation between North and South Korea to Yugoslavia and Iraq. He was not spared from unpleasant incidents either; on January 14, 1969, due to the negligence of the crew, a rocket spontaneously exploded on one of the Phantom planes. The subsequent fire destroyed another 15 fighters, killing 27 people and injuring 349. In total, over 52 years, more than 100,000 people served on the aircraft carrier.
The ship was decommissioned in 2012, and by 2015 it will be dismantled for scrap, despite numerous protests from former sailors who persuaded the government to turn the legendary ship into a floating museum.
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It was built in 1994-1997 by the Spanish company Basan and is similar in design to the aircraft carrier Principe de Asturias, built earlier by the same company for the Spanish Navy.
Used for exclusive economic zone patrols and search and rescue operations. Its tasks also include providing air support, but in general the ship's combat effectiveness is assessed as low due to a lack of funding and rare trips to sea.
According to the media of both Thailand and many other countries, the Chakri Narubet can be considered the world's largest royal yacht, since during short trips to sea, members of the royal family are usually present on the ship, for which extensive accommodation is provided on the aircraft carrier apartments.
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Electronic weapons include: multifunctional phased array radar AMS/Selex EMPAR, three-dimensional long-range air target detection radar, short- and medium-range air and surface target detection radar, two 76-mm fire control radars, aviation control radar, navigation Radar, hydroacoustic station for navigation and mine detection, infrared situation illumination system, infrared all-round viewing system, system for instrumental landing of aircraft on the deck.
In addition to airplanes and helicopters, it can transport troops: 415 people, up to 100 units of wheeled vehicles, or 24 main battle tanks, or 50 heavy armored combat vehicles.
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Aircraft carrier of the Brazilian Navy, former Clemenceau-class aircraft carrier Foch of the French Navy. She was laid down on February 15, 1957, launched on July 23, 1960, and entered service with the French Navy on July 15, 1963. On November 15, 2000, she was transferred to the Brazilian Navy and, after repairs, arrived in Brazil in February 2001.
The power plant is a two-shaft steam turbine. It consists of six Laval steam boilers and two Alstom turbines.
Total power - 126,000 hp. With.
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The aircraft carrier was built on the basis of the heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Gorshkov through deep modernization. After a complete reconstruction, the ship changed its purpose: instead of an aircraft-carrying anti-submarine cruiser, the ship became a full-fledged aircraft carrier.
In November 2013, the ceremonial transfer of the aircraft carrier Vikramaditya (former heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Gorshkov) to the Indian Navy took place in Severodvinsk. Since November 26, the ship has been making the transition from Severomorsk to the Indian naval base of Karwar. On January 8, 2014, the aircraft carrier Vikramaditya, without weapons or aircraft, arrived off the coast of Karnataka. The integration of the new ship into the Indian Navy took about four months. All this time, Russian warranty service specialists worked on the ship.
The composition of the air group has been determined: these are 14-16 MiG-29K aircraft, 4 MiG-29KUB (transferred to India on February 12, 2009), up to 8 Ka-28 helicopters, 1 Ka-31 helicopter, up to 3 HAL Dhruv (instead of 2 Ka-28) . Initially, pilots will be trained on an electronic naval aviation simulator, and after the commissioning of a similar complex - in India.
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Charles de Gaulle is the flagship of the French Navy, the only operational aircraft carrier of the French Navy, and the first French surface combatant with a nuclear power plant. Among the aircraft carriers of other countries, excluding the United States, it is the second largest (after the Russian heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov) and the most combat-ready aircraft-carrying ship.
Maximum capacity - up to 100 aircraft for up to 7 days. Starts can be made every 30 s. However, simultaneous takeoffs and landings are not provided for by the design.
Supports the L16 tactical radio communication standard for data exchange between military units, in which it can act as a command post. In this case, he can control fighter aircraft, send them target designation data, and assign combat missions.
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Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers are British aircraft carriers, also known under the code name CVF, being built to replace the current Invincible class light aircraft carriers. There are currently two aircraft carriers under construction (HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales).
The development of the ship's mechanical structures was fully automated. Computer simulation tools were developed by QinetiQ. The hull design was based on the required 50-year service life of the ship. A special feature of the hull was the presence of a springboard, used for aircraft with a short take-off. Since the service life of F-35 aircraft is 20 years, it was decided to leave the possibility of converting the aircraft carrier into a smooth-deck aircraft carrier designed for horizontal take-off aircraft. The hull has nine decks, not counting the flight deck. The 85,000 tonnes of steel needed to build the two aircraft carriers, costing £65 million, is being supplied by Corus.
These ships are set to be the largest ships ever built for the Royal Navy.
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Liaoning is the first and only aircraft carrier of the PLA. It was laid down in 1985 at a shipyard in Nikolaev for the USSR Navy as the second aircraft carrier of Project 1143.6. After the collapse of the USSR in 1992, the ship went to Ukraine and construction was stopped in 1998. Purchased by China for $25 million, officially for the purpose of organizing a floating entertainment center. Towed to China and completed as an aircraft carrier. On September 25, 2012, it became part of the PLA Navy.
The design of the ship is close to the same type "Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov", most of the differences lie in the combat and electronic weapons systems used. According to reports, the P-700 Granit anti-ship missile launchers in the bow of the aircraft carrier were dismantled, and the deck silos for them were sealed in order to free up more space for placing spare parts for aircraft and helicopters of the ship's air group.
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"Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov" is a heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser of Project 1143.5, the only one in the Navy Russian Federation in your class. Designed to destroy large surface targets, protect naval formations from attacks by a potential enemy using aircraft carriers and a large number of submarines. "Admiral Kuznetsov" also has the task of supporting landing operations.
The aircraft carrier carries 12 4K-80 launchers for Granit heavy missiles. The aircraft carrier "Admiral Kuznetsov" is the only aircraft carrier in the world that can be in the Black Sea, since according to the Montreux Convention, the passage of "clean" aircraft carriers through the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits is prohibited, and the "Admiral Kuznetsov" has serious missile weapons and is therefore declared as " aircraft carrier."
On November 12, 2016, the aircraft carrier group began maneuvers in the eastern Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Syria. On November 15, 2016, from an aircraft carrier, for the first time in the history of the Russian Navy, Su-33 aircraft began to strike positions of ISIS and Jabhat al-Nusra terrorists in the provinces of Idlib and Homs in Syria.
2 "Nimitz" (usual)
In 1981, during discussions both within Congress and the Pentagon, it was decided to produce an improved Nimitz. In the end, 7 aircraft carriers of this type were built.
The first improved Nimitz aircraft carrier is considered to be the Theodore Roosevelt, commissioned in 1986. In 1999 he participated in the NATO war against Yugoslavia.
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Aircraft carriers of the Gerald R. Ford class are a series of US multi-purpose nuclear aircraft carriers, the construction of which has been underway since 2009. They were created as an improved version of Nimitz-class aircraft carriers and differ from them, with comparable sizes and aircraft armament, in a reduced crew due to a high degree of automation and, as a result, lower operating costs. In addition, the new aircraft carriers are distinguished by the introduction of a number of new technologies and design solutions, in particular, elements of stealth technology. The lead ship was laid down on November 14, 2009, and its commissioning is planned for 2016. In addition, the construction of at least two ships is planned; as the Gerald R. Ford class aircraft carriers enter service, they will replace the Nimitz aircraft carriers.
As a means of air defense for self-defense, the ship is armed with Raytheon ESSM missiles with two 8-container launchers for 32 missiles each. The missiles are designed to combat high-speed, highly maneuverable anti-ship missiles. Short-range systems include RAM surface-to-air missiles from Raytheon and Ramsys GmbH.
The ship will use an improved system for storing and supplying ammunition and consumables with double-height storage facilities. The carrier's ammunition consists of missiles, artillery rounds, bombs and air-to-ground missiles for attack aircraft, torpedoes and depth charges for anti-submarine aircraft.
An aircraft carrier is a combat and strategic ship. The main striking power lies in the aircraft located on the deck. These giants have everything for repair, maintenance, as well as temporary storage of helicopters and aircraft. Today, all operating aircraft carriers in the world are large in size, as well as the most modern equipment. Let's talk about this topic in more detail and take a closer look at several of the largest ships. Among them will be both legends and aircraft carriers still in service.
general information
For the first time, the largest aircraft carriers in the world began to be used by the British during the 1st World War. Over time, the English government realized that it was much easier to defend its borders using mobile ships. By World War II, the British were in the lead in the number of cruisers, but over time they lost leadership to the United States. As for today's situation, of course, aircraft carriers are not only combat units carrying a small army of aviation, but also a means of communication that allows you to quickly exchange information. The main requirement for armed forces is mobility, so highly maneuverable combat units play a key role in many battles. However, if a nuclear exchange occurs, the world's largest aircraft carriers will become the primary target. Powerful power plants allow you to stay on the open sea for decades.
Modern aircraft carriers
Today, such ships are the most actively used. The country has about 11 aircraft carriers in service and 10 are being designed, while the Russian Federation has only one operational and two under construction. The United States uses cruisers to resolve conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo and so on.
The first US aircraft carrier to have a nuclear propulsion system on board was built in 1961 and was named Enterprise. Today this is one of its lengths: 342 meters.
In the USSR, Admiral Kuznetsov believed that aircraft carriers were the future. Therefore, under his command, the construction of several cruisers began, but after Kuznetsov’s departure, the new admiral Gorshkov closed the projects. However, in 1967, a decision was made to build “Minsk”, “Kyiv” and “Novorossiysk”.
The largest aircraft carriers in the world
First of all, we need to talk about warships with aircraft on board the Nimitz class. These giants are considered the largest and most powerful not only in the USA, but throughout the world. In total, about ten ships were built. Each of them cost the government approximately $4.5-5.0 billion. The last aircraft carrier is considered the most powerful and is named after the 41st, George H.W. On board the George Bush can transport about 90 units of military equipment. There are fighter jets of various brands and combat helicopters. Each Nimitz-class aircraft carrier is expected to operate for 50 years before being retired. But the United States has already begun building the next generation of ships. Presumably these will be Gerald Ford-class aircraft carriers, the combat power of which will be slightly increased, as well as the amount of aircraft transported.
The most powerful and largest aircraft carrier of the Russian Federation
The Commander-in-Chief of the Fleet of the Soviet Union, Admiral Kuznetsov, was truly an outstanding personality. In his memory it was built with the same name. Its length is 305 meters and 10 centimeters. It is worth drawing your attention to the fact that, in contrast to Western-style aircraft carriers, the developments of Soviet shipbuilders are very different. Just look at the armament of the cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov. Dozens of large-caliber anti-aircraft guns, anti-tank installations, anti-torpedo weapons and much more. Essentially, there is a heavy defensive offensive weapon here. All this, along with what is on board, makes the ship deadly and effective during combat operations. At the same time, 40 aircraft can be on board the ship. Approximately 30 fixed wing aircraft and 10 helicopters.
Modified "Admiral Kuznetsov" or "Liaoning"
This ship became the first aircraft carrier that China put into its arsenal. Liaoning was originally built at the Nikolaev shipyard in Ukraine for operation in the Soviet Union. However, after the collapse of the USSR, the aircraft carrier went to Ukraine, which, after several years of operating normally and without completing the ship, sold it to China for only 20 million dollars. The Chinese brought the cruiser to life and put it into their arsenal. If we list all the most powerful aircraft carriers in the world, the Liaoning will be in one of the first places. This is due to the fact that it was designed following the example of the cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov with some modifications. That is why, on board the ship there is not only a large amount of ammunition, which is enough for several hours of intense battle, but also a large number of aircraft. In China, Liaoning is used for pilot training.
"Krechet" from India
Currently, the Indian Navy has 2 aircraft carriers. One of them is called “Vikramaditya”, its length is about 283-284 meters. The original name of the ship is “Baku” or “Modified Kyiv”. It was built back in the Soviet Union, but after its collapse, Russia decided to decommission the vessel, which was due to the high cost of maintaining the equipment in working condition. In 2004, the aircraft carrier was sold to India for $2.5 billion. At the same time, the ship was equipped with Russian fighters and weapons. If we name all the modern aircraft carriers in the world, then Vikramaditya is one of them. In 2013, this ship was put into service. An aircraft-carrying cruiser of this class can carry approximately 36 aircraft, mostly Russian-made fighters.
Aircraft carrier "Sao Paulo"
The Clemenceau type was in service with France for 39 years. There were only two such ships. One was scrapped in 2000, and the second was sold to Brazil for just $12 million. From the moment of purchase, Brazilian engineers, with the support of their French colleagues, began to modernize the ship. Not only the weapons, which were almost completely updated, were subject to changes, but also the flight deck, which was somewhat expanded. In the end, engines, all kinds of sensors, etc. were changed. However, it is difficult to say that everything was always good at Sao Paulo. For example, in 2005 and 2012 there were fires there, as a result of which several sailors died. The Sao Paulo can carry 39 units of military equipment on board. The offensive potential is realized by the Skyhawk, an American light attack aircraft. The length of the ship is 264 meters 80 centimeters.
"Charles de Gaulle"
Currently, several aircraft carriers are in service. One of them is “Charles de Gaulle”. In fact, this ship is the only nuclear-powered aircraft carrier that is not in service with the US Navy. The construction of the ship cost the state approximately $4 billion. The aircraft carrier was launched in 2000, although it was planned to do this a little earlier, but due to the crisis, construction was frozen. Since the reactor is nuclear, the ship can sail without refueling for about 20 years and carry about 40 pieces of aircraft on board. It has been repeatedly said that in 1993, Mi-6 spies infiltrated the Charles de Gaulle and, although they managed to inspect the ship, they were unable to get off because they were captured. Currently, many aircraft carriers around the world are taking part in combat operations, and the Charles de Gaulle is one of them.
Conclusion
As you can see, every country's navy needs aircraft carriers. Of course, today supremacy in the sea belongs to the United States, since they have more ships there and have modern equipment. Nevertheless, Russia, as well as a number of other countries, such as Japan and Great Britain, also have potential. Currently there are a large number of promising projects. For example, this year Japan plans to launch its own aircraft carrier, Izumo. True, since Japan does not have permission to build aircraft-carrying cruisers, it is declared as a helicopter carrier. The Indian Viktrant is also due to launch this year, and the Queen Elizabeth (Great Britain) in 2020. That's all that can be said about what they are, the best aircraft carriers in the world, and what is remarkable about each of these giants.