Us naval battle group plus#

To accomplish its mission, a carrier air wing typically consists of nine squadrons, with 70 to 80 total aircraft. Carrier battle groups must be constantly vigilant against attack from the air, from the sea and from underwater. The defensive role is an around-the-clock operation.

Defend the battle group against any type of enemy attack.

There are approximately 80 aircraft available, and perhaps 8,000 men and women at work.

When a carrier battle group arrives at its destination, the 10 or so ships deploy and begin operations. It all depends on the mission.ДЄerial view of guided-missile destroyer USS MacDonough and nuclear-powered submarine USS Scamp traveling through the Panama Canal during a training exercise For example, there may be troop ships, amphibious ships for the marines, cargo ships carrying tanks and other equipment, mine sweepers, etc. There may be other ships that travel with the group. The supply ship carries fuel, food and ammunition for the group. The submarines are defensive ships that can attack enemy ships and submarines.

Guided-missile frigate USS Klakring on its way to the Pacific Phase of Exercise Unitas 43-02 ( click here for information about Exercise Unitas) Guided-missile frigate USS Kauffman in Souda Bay, Crete, Greece, during Operation Enduring Freedom Guided-missile frigate USS Talbot launching a target drone during a training exercise off the coast of Chile The frigate is used for anti-submarine defense. Churchill launching a Tomahawk Missile during Operation Iraqi Freedom Destroyers now also come equipped with the ability to launch cruise missiles. They can defend against attacks by submarines and aircraft ( Nav Facts: Destroyers/a> provides a very nice description of the evolution of destroyers). These are offensive ships loaded with cruise missiles to strike land targetsДestroyers traditionally are defensive ships. However, a typical carrier battle group consists of the following ships:ДЄircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk launching a radar-guided, air-to-air missile during a live-fire exercise Therefore, no two carrier battle groups are the same. Navy forms carrier battle groups on an as-needed basis and assigns ships to the group based on the mission. The carrier battle group is responsible, therefore, for protecting the aircraft carrier at the center of the group. The enemy can attack from the air with airplanes, bombs and missiles.The enemy can attack from underwater with submarines, mines and torpedoes.The enemy can attack from the sea with boats equipped with long-range cannons and cruise missiles.They are vulnerable from several different angles: Aircraft carriers are also huge and impossible to hide. has only 12 of them, with two under construction ), they are very obvious targets for enemy forces. Right: USS Sacramento support ship, USS Reid frigateД«ecause aircraft carriers are so valuable, because they are so powerful and because they are so few in number (the U.S. Left: Nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Enterprise With a speed of approximately 700 nautical miles per day and bases on both the east coast of the United States and in Hawaii, aircraft carriers can arrive anywhere in the world in less than two weeks. This ability gives the United States incredible flexibility, because there is no need for treaties or permission from other nations. navy to move an entire airport, along with 70 to 80 fighters, bombers and support aircraft, anywhere in the world where there is an ocean.

naval operations.ДЄn aircraft carrier allows the U.S. In this article, you will learn about these powerful collections of military force and see why they have become so important to U.S. A modern carrier battle group is nearly invincible.

Us naval battle group plus#

The aircraft carrier plus the flotilla is known as the carrier battle group. They are always escorted by an extensive flotilla of other ships. That's why aircraft carriers never leave home alone. And without protection, an aircraft carrier is extremely vulnerable.

In other words, an aircraft carrier is extremely valuable. Nimitz battle group - USS Nimitz aircraft carrier, guided-missile cruiser USS Port Royal, and nuclear-powered submarine USS Annapolis - in the North Persian Gulf during Operation Southern Watch. Photo courtesy Department of Defense - Defense Visual Information Center Plus, it is carrying a small town's worth of people as well as a billion dollars in aircraft. What this means is that an aircraft carrier is worth between $4 billion and $5 billion - it is a substantial investment by itself.

They are constructed of about 1 billion individual pieces.

They house 6,000 crew members and 70 to 80 aircraft.

They are powered by nuclear reactors rather than diesel engines or turbines.

They are 20 stories high and over 1,000 feet (305 m) long.

If you've read the HowStuffWorks article How Aircraft Carriers Work, then you know about many of the amazing features of aircraft carriers: