Why the U.S. Navy Said No to Medium Aircraft Carriers
The service s ten nuclear supercarriers are the largest warships on the high seas. So why not something smaller?
Here s What You Need to Know: Despite the proposed advantages of the Medium Aircraft Carrier the disadvantages of the smaller platform ultimately made it unattractive.
The United States Navy’s ten nuclear supercarriers are the largest warships on the high seas. Home to more than five thousand sailors and Marines, the Nimitz-class carriers are nuclear-powered and can carry nearly ninety combat aircraft. Still, it didn’t have to be this way: had the Navy taken a different tack several decades ago, the gigantic ships would have been supplemented with smaller, more cost effective flattops the Medium Aircraft Carriers.
Small Aircraft Carriers: The Future of the U.S. Navy?
For the first time in decades, the number of carriers dropped below twenty, making it increasingly unlikely that enough flight decks would be available during a conventional war to service all requirements.
Here’s What You Need to Remember: The United States Navy’s ten nuclear supercarriers are the largest warships on the high seas. Home to more than five thousand sailors and Marines, the Nimitz-class aircraft carriers are nuclear-powered and can carry nearly ninety combat aircraft. Still, it didn’t have to be this way: had the Navy taken a different tack several decades ago, the gigantic ships would have been supplemented with smaller, more cost-effective flattops the Medium Aircraft Carriers.