THE US NAVY AIRCRAFT CARRIER IMPORTANCE

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THE UNITED STATES AIRCRAFT CARRIER 3

The United States Aircraft Carrier

Aircraft carriers are the only United States (U.S.) ships that are sovereign territory.

They are able to steam anywhere in international waters and project air power over great distances without depending on land bases for operations. Senior Enlisted Leaders need to understand the significant role the aircraft carrier has played in the U.S. Navy because it has become the centerpiece of its fleet. This paper covers the history, evolution, and effects of the aircraft carrier on the U.S. Navy.

History

The first U.S. aircraft carrier was the USS Langley, which began its life as the Proteus-class collier USS Jupiter before it was converted (Hickman, 2016). In 1933, the USS Ranger (CV 4) was launched. She was the first American ship built as an aircraft carrier from the keel up, and at only 14,500 tons, it weighed far less than today’s 90,000-ton behemoths (Newport News Shipbuilding, 2016).

The third class of carriers was the battle carrier, the Midway (CV 41) and Coral Sea (CV 43). The 1950s and 1960s brought the age of the “Supercarrier”, with the Forrestal class. It was during this period that the first nuclear powered carrier the USS Enterprise (CVN 65) came to life.

The next big leap was in 1972 when the Nimitz-class was introduced, which ended the reign of boiler-powered ships. Today, the next era of aircraft carrier is being formed, with the Gerald R. Ford-class. It is equipped with two newly designed reactors and produces 250 percent more electrical power than the Nimitz-class (Ford Aircraft Carriers, 2016). All of these aircraft carrier classes contributed to the success of battles fought by the United States and have become a symbol of power and deterrence to our allies and enemies alike. Not only is it part of naval history, it has become a part of naval heritage. Now that we have covered the history of the aircraft carrier, let us discuss the evolution these ships took.

Evolution

Aircraft carriers have evolved from balloon-carrying wooden vessels into nuclear-powered ships carrying a vast array of fixed and rotary-wing aircraft. The first carriers were used to locate the enemy fleet so that one’s own battle line could maneuver to engage at best an advantage, used as lookouts. It quickly evolved into using fighter aircraft to win air superiority over the enemy’s battle space so that scouts could do their mission.

During World War 2, the carrier became the Capital Ship for the U.S. fleet, and took on the role of hit-and-run raids. Additionally, it during this time that the carrier became the fleet’s most significant weapon, and when the decline of the battleship began (Warships of World War 2, 2016).

The aircraft carrier has evolved from a curiosity and a look out platform into the largest, most complex, and expensive warship. Now that we have discussed the evolution of the aircraft carrier, let us look at the effects it has had on the U.S. Navy.

Effects

The effects the carrier has had on the U.S. Navy are enormous. These ships have changed naval warfare and become the most powerful warship in today’s inventory. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the battleship was the most powerful type of warship, and a fleet of battleships was vital for any nation to maintain command of the sea. Imperial Japan was the most powerful navy in the beginning of the Pacific War due to its carrier fleet, after the war, the United States became the premier and most powerful Navy in the world due to its aircraft carrier fleet.

It transformed into a fleet that primarily operates as a Carrier Battle Group to gain and maintain sea control while being an instrument of diplomacy and to display its military might. Since World War 2, in over 80% of times the world has been faced with international violence, the U.S. has responded with one or more Carrier Battle Groups. As former President Bill Clinton said during a visit to the USS Roosevelt (CVN 71), “When word of crisis breaks out in Washington, it’s no accident the first question that comes to everyone’s lips is; where is the nearest carrier” (Navy.mil, 2016). The carrier battle group provides a unique range of options to the President, Congress, and Secretary of Defense.

This paper covered the history, evolution, and effects that the Aircraft carrier has had on the U.S. Navy. Senior Enlisted Leaders need to understand the history, evolution, and effects the aircraft carrier has had on the U.S. Navy. Furthermore, they need to share this knowledge with their Sailors because the carrier has become the centerpiece, most important ship in the fleet. Could anyone imagine todays Navy without the Aircraft carrier?

References About.com. (2016). The Carrier Battle Group.Retrieved from: http:usmilitary.about.com/library/milinfo/navycarriers/blbattlegroup.htm Ford.com.. (2016). CVN 78 The future of naval aviation is here . Retrieved from: http://thefordclass.com/cvn78/index.html Hickman, K. (2016). Naval Aviation: USS Langley-First US Aircraft Carrier. Retrieved from Military History: http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/shipprofiles/p/usslangley.htm AmericasNavy.com. (2016). The US Navy Aircraft Carriers . Retrieved from: 0http://www.navy.mil/navydata/ships/carriers/cv-why.asp Huntingtoningalls.com. (2016, Jan). History of Carriers-Newport News Shipbuilding. Retrieved from: http://nns.huntingalls.com/products/carriers/history About.com. (2016). Warships of World War 2. Retrieved from: http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/worldwariiwarships/