Carrier battle group
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A carrier battle group (CVBG) is a
The first naval
With the construction of the large "
Carrier battle groups in crises
In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, most uses of carrier battle groups by the United States as well as that of other Western nations have been in situations where their use has been uncontested by other comparable forces. During the Cold War, an important battle scenario was an attack against a CVBG using numerous
1956 Suez Crisis
British and French carrier battle groups were involved in the
1971 Indo-Pakistan war
During the
1982 Falklands War
The first attempted use of anti-ship missiles against a carrier battle group was part of Argentina's efforts against British armed forces during the Falklands War. This was the last conflict so far in which opposing belligerents employed aircraft carriers, although Argentina made little use of its sole carrier, ARA Veinticinco de Mayo, which was originally built in the United Kingdom as HMS Venerable and later served with the Royal Netherlands Navy (1948–1968).
Lebanon
The
Gulf of Sidra
Carrier battle groups routinely operated in the
2011 military intervention in Libya
During the
Applications
China
China plans to set up
France
The only serving French carrier is the
- a carrier air wing (Groupe Aérien Embarqué, GAE, in French), a complement composed of about 40 aircraft:
- Rafale F3 (up to 30)
- E-2C Hawkeye(2)
- SA365 Dauphin (3) for RESCO and EC725 Caracal for CSAR (2)
- one Rubis-class submarine
- two anti-submarine destroyers (currently FREMM ASM or Georges Leygues class)
- one or two anti-air destroyers (Horizon or Cassard class)
- one stealth frigate in forward patrol (usually a La Fayette class)
- one supply ship (currently a Durance-class tanker)
This group is commanded by a rear admiral (
France also operates three Mistral-class amphibious assault ships. While incapable of operating fixed-winged aircraft, they function as helicopter carriers and form the backbone of France's amphibious force. These ships are typically escorted by the same escorts the Charles De Gaulle uses.
India
Indian Navy has operated all types of aircraft carriers including
The Indian Navy's carrier battle group centered on Viraat consisted of two destroyers, usually of the Delhi class (previously Rajputs were used), two or more frigates, usually of the Brahmaputra, Godavari or Nilgiri classes, and one support ship.[10]
The navy's new carrier battle group centered on Vikramaditya and Vikrant consists of the modern Kolkata class guided missile destroyers, Shivalik and Talwar-class guided missile frigates, Kamorta-class anti-submarine warfare corvettes and new tankers.[10][11] INS Chakra is expected to fill the sub-surface component.
Italy
The CVS–ASW (Aircraft Carrier with Anti-Submarine Warfare)
After 2010, the Italian battle group will be formed by the new
Russia
Admiral Kuznetsov has been observed sailing together with a
Admiral Kuznetsov is designed specifically to sail alone and carries greater firepower than her U.S. counterparts. This includes 12x
United Kingdom
As one of the pioneers of aircraft carriers, the Royal Navy has maintained a carrier strike capability since the commissioning of HMS Argus (I49) in 1918.[14][15] However, the capability was temporarily lost between 2010 and 2018, following the retirement of the Invincible-class aircraft carrier and Harrier GR9s.[16] During this period, the Royal Navy worked to regenerate its carrier strike capability based on the Carrier-Enabled Power Projection (CEPP) concept by ordering two Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers and the F-35B Lightning to operate from them.[17] To maintain its skills and experience, the Royal Navy embedded personnel and ships with partner navies, in particular the United States Navy.[18]
In 2017, the first Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth entered service followed by her sister ship HMS Prince of Wales in 2019. The first carrier strike group took to sea in September 2019 as part of an exercise known as Westlant 19. HMS Queen Elizabeth and her air group of F-35B Lightning jets operated alongside two surface escorts and a fleet tanker off the east coast of the United States.[19][20] The deployment was in preparation for the first operational deployment in 2021, which is expected to involve HMS Queen Elizabeth alongside four Royal Navy escorts, two support ships and a submarine.[21]
Under current plans, a Royal Navy carrier strike group will typically comprise a Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier, two air defence destroyers, two anti-submarine frigates, a submarine, solid stores ship and a fleet tanker, however the composition varies depending on the operational tasking. While Queen Elizabeth's initial deployment will be as part of an all-British carrier group, it is envisaged in the longer term that the UK's carriers will usually form the centre of a multi-national operation – in 2018, it was announced that the British and Dutch governments had come to an agreement that would see escort vessels of the Royal Netherlands Navy operating as part of the UK Carrier Strike Group.[22] Command of the UK carrier strike group is the responsibility of Commander United Kingdom Carrier Strike Group. A June 2020 National Audit Office report however provided a critical review of the forthcoming Carrier Strike Group, especially noting the delay to the Crowsnest system.[23]
United States
Carrier strike group
In
Expeditionary strike group
An
Battleship battle group
During the period when the American navy recommissioned all four of its Iowa-class battleships, it sometimes used a similar formation centered on a battleship, referred to as a battleship battle group. It was alternately referred to as a surface action group.
The battleship battle group typically consisted of one modernized battleship, one Ticonderoga-class cruiser, one Kidd-class destroyer or Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, one Spruance-class destroyer, three Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates and one auxiliary ship such as a replenishment oiler.[25]
Surface action group
A surface action group is "a temporary or standing organization of combatant ships, other than carriers, tailored for a specific tactical mission".[26]
Underway replenishment
Since its origins, the viability of the carrier battle group has been dependent on its ability to remain at sea for extended periods. Specialized ships were developed to provide underway replenishment of fuel (for the carrier and its aircraft), ordnance, and other supplies necessary to sustain operations. Carrier battle groups devote a great deal of planning to efficiently conduct underway replenishment to minimize the time spent conducting replenishment. The carrier can also provide replenishment on a limited basis to its escorts, but typically a replenishment ship such as a fast combat support ship (AOE) or replenishment oiler (AOR) pulls alongside a carrier and conducts simultaneous operations with the carrier on its port side and one of the escorts on its starboard side. The advent of the helicopter provides the ability to speed replenishment by lifting supplies at the same time that fueling hoses and lines are delivering other goods.
Debate on future viability
There is debate in naval warfare circles as to the viability of carrier battle groups in 21st century naval warfare. Proponents of the CVBG argue that it provides unmatched firepower and force projection capabilities. Opponents argue that CVBGs are increasingly vulnerable to
Additionally, carrier battle groups proved to be vulnerable to
However, carriers have been called upon to be first responders even when conventional land-based aircraft were employed. During Desert Shield, the U.S. Navy sortied additional carriers to augment the on-station assets, eventually maintaining six carriers for
The
Regardless of the debate over viability, the United States has made a major investment in the development of a new carrier class—the Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers (formerly designated CVN-X, or the X Carrier)—to replace the existing Nimitz-class aircraft carriers. The new Ford-class carriers are designed to be modular and are easily adaptable as technology and equipment needed on board changes.[30]
See also
References
- ^ Defense News[dead link]
- ^ "China Kicks Off Construction of New Supercarrier". The Diplomat. 5 January 2018. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
- ^ Seidel, Jamie (23 April 2018). "Here's what we know about China's newest aircraft carriers". news.com.au. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
- ^ Tunningley, James (2 June 2017). "What China's Aircraft Carrier Means for its Naval Defence Capabilities". globalriskinsights.com.
- ^ Rahmat, Ridzwan (29 June 2017). "China launches largest surface combatant to date". Janes. Archived from the original on 1 July 2017. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
- ^ "INS Vikramaditya will create waves for India". Hindustan Times. 9 January 2014. Archived from the original on 9 January 2014. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ^ Peri, Dinakar (19 January 2018). "Cochin Shipyard undocks INS Vikrant". The Hindu.
- ^ "News18.com: CNN News18 Latest News, Breaking News India, Current News Headlines". News18. Archived from the original on 6 December 2011. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
- ^ "Carrier battle groups will add muscle to Navy power". Archived from the original on 25 October 2012.
- ^ a b "Navy's modern dreams set sail". India Today. 4 December 2013. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
- ^ "India to Induct Indigenous Anti-sub Corvette Soon". The New Indian Express. 5 July 2014. Archived from the original on 9 July 2014. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
- ^ "Marina Militare". www.marina.difesa.it (in Italian). Retrieved 3 February 2023.
- ^ "New ships of the Italian battle group (in Italian)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
- ISBN 9780007111527.
The Royal Navy pioneered the use of aircraft carriers during World War I, but famously lost Prince of Wales and Repulse to land based Japanese bombers in 1941.
- ^ "Aircraft carrier: A mind-boggling building job". BBC News. 7 April 2011.
The Royal Navy pioneered carriers, explains Hewitt, head of attractions and collections at the Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust.
- ^ "Britain moves to restore carrier strike capability with warship commissioning". Defense News. 7 December 2017.
- ^ "The Royal Navy Is Going All In on Aircraft Carriers". National Interest. 9 October 2019.
- ^ "Royal Navy Carrier Strike Group Put to the Test". Royal Navy. 19 January 2017.
- ^ "HMS Queen Elizabeth's Carrier Task Group Takes Shape". Royal Navy. 26 September 2019.
- ^ "UK begins 'Westlant 19' carrier deployment". Janes. 30 August 2019.
- ^ "HMS Queen Elizabeth Carrier Strike Group to deploy next year". UK Defence Journal. 1 February 2020.
- ^ "HMS Queen Elizabeth's First Operational Deployment To Be Alongside Dutch Warship". Forces.net. 24 October 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
- ^ "Carrier Strike Preparing for Deployment" (PDF). nao.org.uk. UK National Audit Office. 26 June 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 June 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
- ^ USS George Washington Public Affairs (21 August 2008). "USS George Washington Departs for Japan". Navy.mil. Archived from the original on 8 January 2012. Retrieved 2 November 2012.
- ^ Lightbody and Poyer, pp. 338–339.
- ^ Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms. S.v. "surface action group". Retrieved 12 November 2018.
- ^ Diaz, Jesus (17 December 2013). "The future of naval warfare: Are US supercarriers useless?". Retrieved 27 August 2017.
- ^ "Deutsches U-Boot fordert US-Marine heraus" (in German). t-online. 6 January 2013. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
- ^ "Pentagon: New Class Of Silent Submarines Poses Threat". KNBC. 19 October 2006. Archived from the original on 16 November 2007. Retrieved 21 July 2006.
- ^ CVX Next Generation Aircraft Carrier, globalsecurity.org
Bibliography
- Lightbody, Andy; Poyer, Joe (1990). The Complete Book of U.S. Fighting Power. New York: Crown Publishers. ISBN 978-0-51703-298-5.
- Morua, Michael L. (21 March 2000). "The Carrier Battle Group Force: An Operator's Perspective" (PDF). Engineering the Total Ship (ETS) 2000 Symposium. National Institute of Standards & Technology. ADA376409. Archived(PDF) from the original on 1 December 2012. Retrieved 28 October 2010.