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But wait there's more, and a free set of Steak Knives.lol
Have a great NEW YEAR to all who run Military Photos and all the Members & Contributors.
Hump
But wait there's more, and a free set of Steak Knives.lol
Have a great NEW YEAR to all who run Military Photos and all the Members & Contributors.
Hump
Last edited by Hump; 12-30-2008 at 09:34 PM. Reason: New Year
Does the US Navy uses the A-4 Skyhawk as aggressor squadron?
No. Not sense 1992. The navy now uses Hornets.Originally Posted by chefjavier
Last edited by bd popeye; 12-30-2008 at 10:28 PM.
I use to be live in Key West, Florida and I seen the F-5 and A-4 aircraft as aggressors.
Been a while since the Navy used F-5..
According to the offical USN TOPGUN site ..As a result of budget cuts, the once sizeable fleet of Navy aggressor aircraft has been cut down to virtually nothing. Top Gun's F-16Ns were flown out to AMARC for storage in February 1995, leaving only F/A-18 Hornets and F-14 Tomcats still serving. The Tiger II-equipped VF-43 was formally disestablished in 1993. By the end of 1995, VFA-127 had 13 F-5Es and a single F-5F, but was scheduled for disestablishment in March of 1996. No F-5E/Fs are now serving with the US Navy, and the burden of providing aggressor training was assigned to the Reserve Squadrons VFC-12 at Oceana and VFC-13 at Miramar. The concept of dissimilar air combat has gone by the wayside, since both these units are equipped with the F/A-18. Miramar became a Marine Corps Air Station as of October 1997, and the F-14 and F/A-18 squadrons at Miramar relocated to NAS Lemoore, NV in 1995-97. Top Gun relocated to NAS Fallon, NV in 1996.
Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center (NSAWC)(TOPGUN)
The Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center (NSAWC) at Naval Air Station Fallon is the center of excellence for naval aviation training and tactics development. NSAWC provides service to aircrews, squadrons and air wings throughout the United States Navy through flight training, academic instructional classes, and direct operational and intelligence support. The command consists of more than 130 officers, 250 enlisted and 500 contract personnel. NSAWC flies and maintains F/A-18 Hornets, F-14 Tomcats and SH-60F Seahawk helicopters.
I finally found a source about what type of aircrfat the USN adversary squadrons use. Hornets only. Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center (NSAWC) has 23. Sorry about any confusion.
This was actually a historical day, as USS Kitty Hawk was the last conventionally powered aircraft carrier to visit Sydney. As Sydney City Council won't allow nuclear powered warships in the harbour, she was essentially the last USN carrier to conduct a visit there.I'm on a roll now Popeye, here are a few pics of the Kitty Hawk when she visited Sydney in 2007. I have searched the thread to make sure they aren't reposts. I found 1 but it's smaller. If I have made a mistake I apologise in advance.
Hump
I think that air force aggressor squadrons too should checked, as inter service arm training is reality. F-5 has common "profile" with T-38 that is still used by air force and pretty same flight characteristics. Even training fighters can be more than match for modern fighters in dog fight, when in early nineties Finnish Air Force did fighter evaluations for new plane purchase Bae Hawk Mk.51 defeated Mirage 2000-5 couple times.
Did you see how much room she took up in the Harbour, she was like a giant. Even with the rust from the long voyage she was still a beautiful ship.
Hump
Just a side note on the A4's Popeye, we sold them off to New Zealand when we were finished with them and then our government leased them back on a ten year deal. Go figure
Every French Carriers
1914 to the future
A601 BÉARN:1914 - 1967
Built by FC de la Mediterranee, La Seyne. Laid down 10 Jan 1914, suspended at the start of WWI, temporarily resumed postwar, launched 4/1920. Postwar plans for completion as a battleship cancelled. Converted to an aircraft carrier 1923-1927, commissioned 5/1927.
Refitted 1935. Interned at Martinique 6/1940, demilitarized 5/1942. Transferred to Free French forces 30 June 1943. Refitted as aircraft transport 1943-1944 at New Orleans; guns replaced by 4 5/38, 5 quad 40 mm, 26 20 mm.
Used as a transport to Southeast Asia postwar. Hulked 1948 as a training ship, later used as a submarine depot ship. Stricken 11/1966, sold 31 March 1967 and subsequently scrapped in Italy.A609 DIXMUDE: 1945 - 1966
ex HMS Biter, ex merchant Rio Parana
Built by Sun Shipbuilding. Laid down 28 December 1939, launched 18 Dec 1940. Acquired by USN 20 May 1941. Converted at Atlantic Basin Iron Works, transferred and commissioned in RN service as HMS Biter (D97) 1 May 1942. Employed in convoy escort duties. Damaged by a torpedo from her own aircraft 16 November 1943 after the aircraft ditched alongside.
Damaged by fire in port 24 August 1944; repair facilities were not available and the ship was laid up in reserve. Returned to USN 9 April 1945 and immediately transferred to France as Dixmude. After limited service as a carrier she was used as a transport starting 1949 and was disarmed during 1951-1953. Stricken from USN Naval Vessels Register 24 Jan 1951. Hulked as an accommodation/base ship 1960. At the end of her active service she was listed at 8,500 tons displacement and 16 knots maximum speed. Returned to USN for disposal 10 June 1966. Subsequently sunk as a target.R95 ARROMANCHES: 1946 - 1973
ex-HMS Colossus
Hellcat (correct?) crash 1952
Delivery of the first French Crusaders in Norfolk 1964
Built by Vickers-Armstrong, Tyne. Laid down 1 June 1942, launched 30 Sept 1943, commissioned 1 Dec 1944. RN designation changed to R61 circa 1945 for service in the Pacific; arrived in the Pacific too late to see combat. Returned home in 1946 and returned to original designation (15). Decommissioned for transfer 23 July 1946 immediately upon return to UK; loaned to France as Arromanches (R95) 6 Aug 1946.
Frequently deployed to Indo-China starting in 1949. Formally sold to France in 1951. Refitted in 1957-58 as an ASW/training carrier. Starting in 1962 she embarked assault helicopters at times. Refitted in 1968 to serve primarily in the ASW role and redesignated as a helicopter carrier with 24 helicopters embarked. She was also tasked with intervention/assault, training, and fast military transport.
Decommissioned and stricken 22 Jan 1974; subsequently sold and scrapped at Toulon in 1978.
R96 LA FAYETTE: 1951 - 1963
ex-USS Langley, ex-Crown Point, ex-Fargo
Built by New York Shipbuilding. Reordered as carrier and redesignated CV 27 31 March 1942, laid down 11 April 1942, renamed 13 Nov 1942, renamed again 15 May 1943, launched 22 May 1943, commissioned 31 Aug 1943. Redesignated CVL 27 15 July 1943. Decommissioned to reserve 11 Feb 1947.
Transferred to France 8 Jan 1951, overhauled during reactivation. Renamed Lafayette and commissioned into French service 2 June 1951, designated R96.
Returned to USN March 1963. Stricken for disposal 20 March 1963, scrapped at Baltimore in 1964.
R97 BOIS BELLEAU 1953 - 1960
ex-USS Beleau Wood, ex-New Haven
To be continued...Built by New York Shipbuilding. Laid down as light cruiser 11 Aug 1941, reordered as carrier, renamed and redesignated CV 24 14 Feb 1942, launched 6 Dec 1942, commissioned as carrier 31 Mar 1943. Redesignated CVL 24 15 July 1943. Hit by kamikaze 30 Oct 1944. Decommissioned to reserve 13 Jan 1947.
Transferred to France 6/51, overhauled during reactivation. Renamed Bois Belleau and commissioned in French service 9 Sept 1953, designated R97.
Returned to USN 9/60, stricken for disposal 1 Oct 1960. Scrapped at Chester PA in 1962.
Nice collection.
...
R98 CLEMENCEAU: 1957 - 1997
First Gulf War:
Concept/Program: Small, but modern, multirole carriers built to replace the old ex-US CVLs. Formed the mainstay of the French Navy for over 30 years. Both have seen lengthy service as numerous replacement plans were cancelled or delayed. They were intended to operate in the amphibious role if needed, but have served in the carrier role only.
Design: Typical postwar carrier design, but on a smaller scale. Relatively heavy gun armament; the angled deck is shallower than in US ships. Additional armament had been planned but was eliminated to reduce topweight, and the ships were bulged to improve stability.
Modifications: Both went through extensive overhauls in the late 1970's/early 1980's and had new defensive systems fitted in the late 1980's: 2 Crotale SAM launchers fitted in place of 4 100 mm guns.
Departure from Service/Disposal: Clemenceau decommissioned without replacement 9/1997. Foch was to be retired and held in reserve following the completion of De Gaulle, but it was announced 6/1998 that she would be permanently retired instead.R99 FOCH 1957 - 2000
Built by Ch. Atlantique (St. Nazaire), completed at Brest. Laid down 2/57, launched 7/1959 when complete up to the hangar floor, transferred to Brest and docked for completion, relaunched 28 July 1960, commissioned 15 July 1963.
Refitted 15 July 1980 to 4 Dec 1981. Refitted with new defensive systems 2/87 to 6/88. Decommissioned 15 November 2000 and transferred to Brazil as Sao Paulo (A12) same date.Verdun attack aircraft carrier
Authorized 1958 but abandoned 1961 before work started.
Displacement: 45,000 tons full load
Concept/Program: A larger carrier, intended as a nuclear-strike ship. Cancelled due to cost; one of a series of projects to meet this fate.
PH 75 Project nuclear powered amphibious assault ship
Displacement: 18,400 tons full load
Concept/Program: Initially conceived as a replacement for the aging Arromanches in the assualt role, this ship grew to include assault, ASW, disaster relief, and command roles. Nuclear propulsion was chosen, presumably to allow expeditionary operations without supporting auxiliaries. When this was officially a "live" project it was planned for completion in 1981, but was continually delayed and eventually cancelled.
R91 CHARLES DE GAULLE 2000 - ....
(This one is probably the most famous so 1 picture will do)
Charles de Gaulle (R91) is the only serving French aircraft carrier and is the flagship of the French Navy (Marine Nationale). She is the tenth French aircraft carrier, the first French nuclear-powered surface vessel, and the first and only nuclear-powered carrier built outside of the United States Navy. She is named after French statesman and general Charles de Gaulle.
The ship carries a complement of Dassault Rafale M and E-2C Hawkeye, as well as modern electronics and Aster missiles. She is the second largest European carrier, after the Admiral Kuznetsov. It is a CATOBAR-type carrier that uses the same catapult system as that installed on the US Nimitz class carriers, the 75 m C13-3 steam catapult.Project Romeo
Proposed 2nd Aircraft carrier. Not sellected
Project Juliette
Evolution of the Romeo design (with nuclear propulsion, Romeo having classic propulsion... or the other way around, I don't remember). Not selected.
CVF - PA2: Selected design, order postponned to 2011. Commissioning Planned for 2015
PA2 (Porte-Avions 2) is a planned new aircraft carrier developed for the French Navy by Thales Naval France and DCN from the Thales UK/BMT design for the future British Queen Elizabeth class (formerly CVF). The vessel will displace approximately 70,000-75,000 tonnes, making it a potential supercarrier, and will be based in Toulon, Var, France and will complement the current French carrier, Charles de Gaulle. France's 2008 military budget includes ordering that second aircraft carrier.[2] However, in April 2008 French Defence Minister Herve Morin cast doubt over plans for a second aircraft carrier, citing a cash crunch, and said a decision would be taken soon.[3] Further doubts were cast on the project on 21 June 2008 when French President Nicholas Sarkozy decided to pull out of the Franco-British project. Sarkozy stated that a final decision on the future of French participation in the Project would be taken in 2011 or 2012. British plans for two aircraft carriers went ahead as planned despite the French withdrawal.[4]
Excellent post Xav.
Hey Popeye, I have an AVI of the HMAS Torrens being sunk by an Australian Submarine using a mark 48 torpedo Very Good Quality better than Utube. It's about 13 meg is it ok to post it. It's not a carrier I know but it's interesting to watch.
Hump
Also here is an "Excel" document containing all the vessels lost between ww1 and wwII, it must have taken who ever did it years to assemble. Very interesting.
Hump
Sorry guys it won't let me post as it's not a picture, I will try to do it another way.
Last edited by Hump; 12-31-2008 at 07:51 PM. Reason: Trouble posting
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