Надводные силы флотов. Война., страница 4

Air Wings: Each large aircraft carrier (CV/CVN) normally operates an air wing of 85-90 aircraft. In recent years those air wings have included F-4 Phantom fighter aircraft and A-7 Viking attack aircraft. However, F-14Tomcat fighters and F/A-18 attack aircraft have just about replaced these aircraft in the fleet. Beginning in late 1988, CV/CVNs will begin transition to the new "notional" air wing. It will consist of two fighter squadrons of 20 F-14s, two light attack squadrons of 20 F/A-18s, two medium attack squadrons of 20 A-6 Intruders, one ASW squadron of 10 S-3 Viking aircraft, one detachment of six EA-6B Prowler electronic-warfare aircraft, five E-2 Hawkeye early-warning/ control aircraft and one ASW squadron of six SH-3 helicopters. The "Midway" class carriers cannot accommodate the full wing described above, but have been modified to operate F/A-18s. Because of budgetary restraints, the Navy will have to deactivate one active carrier air wing during FY 1989 and will have to rely on two Naval Reserve air wings to augment its forces in event of crisis. Seven active and one reserve wing will be assigned to the Atlantic Command, five active and one reserve wing to the Pacific Command, and one active wing will remain deployed to Japan. See Shipborne Aircraft section for details of aircraft.

Classification: From 1972 onward attack aircraft carriers (CVA) were reclassified as aircraft carriers (CV) upon being fitted with anti-submarine control centres and facilities to support A/S aircraft and helicopters (in addition to fighter/attack aircraft). The multi-purpose configuration was dictated by the phasing out of dedicated anti-submarine aircraft carriers (CVS), the last being decommissioned in 1974.

All active ships still classified as attack aircraft carriers (CVA/ CYAN) on 30 June 1975 were changed to CV/CVN regardless of their ability to support anti-submarine aircraft.

Service Life Extension Programme (SLEP): The SLEP programme was initiated in 1979. Saratoga and Forrestal have completed 28 month SLEP overhaul and modernisation,

Independence, scheduled for 34 months, completed in May 1985 and Kitty Hawk started SLEP in January 1988. The principal objective of SLEP is to extend the service life of aircraft carriers an additional 15 years, providing a reliable, logistically supportable platform capable of operating all current and future fleet aircraft. While the major thrust of SLEP is repair and life enhancement, warfighting improvements are incorporated to keep pace with the aircraft carrier modernisation baseline. SLEP includes complete overhaul of propulsion, auxiliary, and launch systems; upgrade of aircraft recovery equipment; extensive structure, tank, and piping repair, and installation of updated sensors, weapons systems, and electronic suites. On earlier SLEP ships this included installation of Vulcan Phalanx close-in weapons system (CIWS), NATO Sea Sparrow missile system, SPS 49 radar, and F-18 Hornet capability. Future SLEP ships, if already equipped with these systems, will receive modernisation to current standards incorporating improved NTDS, SPS48E, TAS MK 23 radar, and new ASW systems SLEP overhauls subsequent to independence are planned tentatively for 37 months for improved industrial efficiency.

Training Carrier: The "Essex" class carrier Lexington (AVT 16) operates as a training ship and is based at Pensacola, Florida. The ship has no aircraft maintenance or arming capabilities, and is not considered as 3 combat ship. In an emergency, aircraft could he embarked on a very restricted operational basis.

CRUISER VIRGINIA CGN38

Displacement, tons: 8 623 light, 11000 full load

Dimensions, feet (metres): 585 x 63 x 29.5

(178.4 x 19.2 x 9)

Main machinery: 2 geared turbines; 100000 shp; 2 shafts; 2

General Electric pressunsed-water cooled nuclear reactors D2G

Speed, knots: 30+

Complement: 554-624 (34-45 officers)