Is it true that aircraft carrier can not go into battle alone ?

Question

I heard aircaft carrier actuall need many other ships and warships together to form a battle groups when it goes into battle.
Is that right ?

Are those ship for protection or supports ? Or what ?

Answer 1

Yes, an aircraft carrier's fighting power comes from its variety of aircraft carried onboard, not from its own armament.

The modern American carrier has 76 - 90 aircraft depending on which class of vessel you are talking about. These aircrafts include the following and its typical roles:

F/A-18C Hornets or F/A-18E Super Hornets
Primary role: Carrier air defence
Secondary role: Multi-mission strike platforms

EA-6B Prowlers
Primary role: Electronic warfare (Defensive Suppression)
Secondary role: Electronic warfare (Offensive Suppression)
[E/A-18G Growler is gradually taking over that role]

S-3 Vikings
Primary role: Anti Submarine warfare
Secondary role: Anti Surface warfare

E-2C Hawkeyes
Primary role: Airborne Early Warning

SH-60B LAMPS (Light Airborne Multi Purpose System) III Seahawk
Primary role: Anti-Submarine Warfare
Secondary role: CSAR, Anti-Surface Warfare

The carrier itself only has defensive weapons in the form of the following:

Phalanx CIWS (Close In Weapon System)
Defensive final layered weapon platform utilising a 20mm rotary cannon for defeating anti ship cruise missiles by relying on a high speed 1,200 rds/min rate of fire. Three are installed on the carrier.

ESSM (Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile)
A navalized version of the venerable AIM-7F Sparrow. It operates in a similar manner to the Standard Missiles carried onboard the Arleigh Burke class of Guided Missile Destroyers and the Ticonderoga class of Guided Missile Cruisers. These are house in a boxed launcher, consisting of six missiles per weapons station. 3 such stations are installed onboard.

RAM (Rolling Airframe Missile)
Functions in a similar capacity to the ESSM mentioned above. 3 are typically installed onboard.

These three systems are the only form of weaponary defences a carrier has. As you can see, it is largely an unarmed vessel.

The Navy operates them in a collective group known as a Carrier Battle Group or CVBG for short. It normally consist of Cruisers, Destroyers, and Frigates. In some cases, submarines and other auxillary vessels will also accompany the CVBG.

The typical formation adopted is the classical circle formation. The outer-most circle is the picket line, which has essentially two main functions. First, its the first line of air defense, which is essentially the role of Arleigh Burke DDGs and Ticonderoga CGs, utilising the powerful SPY-1 Aegis Weapon System. The radar itself is tied to the VLS (Verticle Launch System) housing the Standard Missile with a long engagement range.

The two classes of ships mentioned above are also extremely capable Anti-Submarine combatants and also fulfilled the role of submarine hunters and killers for the CVBG. Frigates such as the Oliver Hazard Perry class FFG are also used for that role.

Vessels in the inner circle of the formation would usually consist of ship with limited or no defensive capabilities.

Such a formation usually has a minimum of 3 layers, the outer defensive layer (also the most formidable layer), the middle layer consisting of perhaps the same class of ships from the outer defensive layer, and an inner escort layer, usually consisting of a frigate or cruiser for a last layer defense.

Answer 2

While the modern aircraft carrier can defend itself, it has to use its airwing to do so; this limits their capabilities, as their primary mission is power projection. The carrier air wing consists of several squadrons of fighter/bombers, but, with the loss of the F-14 tomcat, it no longer has the standoff fighter ability that a squadron of tomcats armed with 6 pheonix missles (100+ nm range) could provide. It also carries a squadron of S-3 vikings, which provide anti-submarine protection, but they are nowhere near as effective as a Hazard-class frigate or an arleigh burke destroyer being on scene with their helicopters to bracket a submerged contact. The Ticonderoga-class cruisers pack a serious punch, with its twin vertical launch system, capapble of loading two conventional warhead tomahawks, the AGM84 Harpoon anti-ship missle, and the SM2 SAM capable of almost 200 mile ranges.

An aircraft carrier would be able to defend itslef, but this is not the same as carrying out its mission.

Answer 3

The ships are for protection and support. Each ship has a specific function. The carrier is for long range hitting and recon.. The other ships offer a different type of solution dependent upon their size, weapons, and electronics. Submarines are usually with carrier battle groups as well. They protect the battle group from other subs and also have their usefulness carrying cruise missiles and other weapons. As well as being able to sneak up.
It is all a choreographed symphony when it goes together.

Answer 4

No, because it is the most important asset that a fleet EVER has because that is where all the planes are. That is why there are ships to protect the carrier. Like destroyers against enemy submarines and cruisers against incoming aircraft that may have not been spotted by the carrier's planes. There may be submarines to reinforce the fleets defenses.

Answer 5

Aircraft carriers do have a lot of strong defensive capabilities. They are also incredibly expensive, which is one of the main reasons the United States is the only country with aircraft carriers as capable as ours our. Because of their value, they never go anywhere without their escort force.

While an aircraft carrier can defend itself fairly easily from one ship that is far away, all by itself it is very vulnerable to any number of methods of attack. Large numbers of attackers, small attackers, submarines, land based aircraft. All of these situations are dangerous to an aircraft carrier, and for that reason the Navy puts a cordon of ships around the carrier. The aircraft carrier's main strength is its ability to project power elsewhere, no protect itself when things get up close and personal. For that, it needs friends.

Answer 6

Bird farms have a group, or Task Group that runs around with them. Even though they are bad to the bone, they still need little brothers help. You have an outer ring of protection along with the CAP overhead. Then you have a close in ring of protection and, as a last resort, you have protection systems on the ACC itself such as the Phalanx.

What you don't see is the fast attack sub lurking around the fringes to turn anyone who think they want a closer look.

Answer 7

Modern Aircraft Carriers are vulnerable to several different types of attacks. For example, anti-ship cruise missles, submarines, enemy destroyers, and such.

Submarines can protect a carrier from other submarines. An AEGIS Destroyer (a ship that shoots missiles at incoming missiles) can shoot down many cruise missiles, except for one's like an Exocet that skim the water's surface. They also need supply ships for food and fresh water and even mail delivery service.

Answer 8

Once an aircraft carrier is within firing range of enemy guns it is pretty much screwed, the major advantage of an aircraft carrier is that you can engage enemy ships hundreds of miles away before they even know where the aircraft carrier is.

Answer 9

No,modern acc's can take care of themselves.Acc's have sonar,depth charges,anti aircraft guns...not to mention jets,and scout apachee choppers,believe me,the U.S.S. Ronald Reagan could take out a country by itself,have you ever been on one?It has a mall in it....it's a floating city.Give me an ACC and just try to stop me.

Answer 10

Yes they always go out to sea in groups not sure it is right for that person to have named ships, in fact I am sure it is wrong there is always a battle group