Just reading the Daily Mail, it says that the ex-British carrier HMS Hermes was only 23,000 tonnes? Doesn't seem much, is this correct?
How many aircraft carriers does the UK Navy have, and how many does the US Navy have.
Could you give me some sort of comparison of size between UK and US carriers?
2007-01-30 04:57:01 · 12 answers · asked by fistenpumpen 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
yes that tonnage is correct. we have 2 carriers but in reality they are nothing more than helicopter support carriers that have a ski jump to allow sea harriers to operate from them. Us fleet carriers can operate 25 helicopters and 75 to 80 fixed wing aircraft each
2007-01-30 05:05:09 · answer #1 · answered by The Fat Controller 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The UK Royal Navy has no aircraft carriers. The Through Deck Cruisers of the Illustrious Class now carry Harrier GR7's and helicopters. The Navy has no Sea Harriers. The last of the Sea Harriers went to the Indian Navy, with HMS Hermes. Comparing the size of the Royal Navy TDC with the nuclear powered USN Fleet Carriers is not a like for like comparison. The USN Carrier Groups, of which there are 5 at the moment is a complete armada, self sufficient and self protecting, even down to nuclear powered hunter killer submarines. It could be argued that when fitted with cruise missiles these subs make the CBG obsolete as it is so vulnerable to attack from small, high powered, fast attach suicide boats. The Aegis Cruisers of USN CBG are amongst the most advanced cruisers in the world, being able to track and destroy many sub sea, sea and air targets at the same time. The US uses its CBG to extend its political will around the world. The Royal Navy are hoping to take delivery of two large aircraft carriers in 2012 or thereabouts. Currently they could not operate because the rest of the surface fleet is unable to protect them. They could only operate in conjunction with USN CBG's. Nothing changes. In 1936 the Admiralty could not afford to upgrade the deck armour on HMS Hood, and look what happened to her.
2007-01-30 15:29:32 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
United States aircraft carriers currently in service:
10 Nimitz Class Aircraft carriers
USS Nimitz
USS John C. Stennis
USS Abraham Lincoln
USS Carl Vinson
USS Ronald Reagan
USS Eisenhower
USS Harry Truman
USS George H. Bush
(can't remember the other ones)
1 Enterprise Class carrier
USS Enterprise
1 John F Kennedy Class
USS John F Kennedy
1 Kitty Hawk Class
USS Kitty Hawk
2007-01-30 13:39:32 · answer #3 · answered by Captain Moe 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Like comparing battleships to row boats. The tonnage of Hermes is correct the current UK fleet is three small invincible class carriers with two under construction that will be in the 54,000 ton range. The invincibles are only 20,000 tons. Meanwhile in the USA nuclear powered carriers are 100,000 tons + and dwarf all other carriers in the world. The US has 10 Nimitz class carriers and 1 Enterprise class carrier and are developing and even larger carrier the CVX. The reason why European carriers are so small is cost and a lack of need as most of Europe has given up it's overseas possessions so there is no real need for such giants. Where as the US has it's nose in every bodies business all over the globe and thus big carriers are essential.
2007-01-30 13:29:34 · answer #4 · answered by brian L 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Most of the below are correct especially the last two.
UK carriers are only small as we only operate Helicopters and Harriers from our decks, these are about the right size for our naval commitments. But before you jump to any conclusions, remeber the Falklands War, we only had the Two carriers and the islands where liberated.
Most US carriers are between 75,000 & 100,000 tonnes. and you really do not want to see one of those of your coastal waters !
Just check out A/c Carriers as a search engine.
2007-01-30 19:04:33 · answer #5 · answered by Ross B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most of the other answers are wrong. The royal navy has 2 'run through deck cruisers' aka mini aircraft carrier. Only one is mothballed so we only have one in service.
America have 14 nimitz class which can carry almost 100 planes each, the british one can only carry 22.
Comparison us navy have about 1400 planes at sea
Britian have 22
Great eh also our aircraft carrier apparently only runs on one engine to save fuel.
2007-01-31 10:44:38 · answer #6 · answered by Sam 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Roayl navy now has three aircraft carriers, and the U.S Navy has several, our aircraft carriers are three times smaller than what the Americans have too!
2007-01-30 13:18:14 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
We only have a couple of little helicopter carriers, really.
The US Navy runs nuclear powered behemoths.
2007-01-30 13:07:01 · answer #8 · answered by Well, said Alberto 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i dont know how many the US but the UK doesnt have any the ships that are taged carriers are though deck crussers
2007-01-31 07:50:53 · answer #9 · answered by johnstrangey 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
US Navy has 76 and #77 (George H. W. Bush) is under contruction.
2007-01-30 13:08:50 · answer #10 · answered by PROUD TO BE A LIBERAL TEEN! 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋