- simplefish
- Mar 28, 2011
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So long, and thanks for all the fish gallbladdΣrs!
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Let's not be so hasty. In modern warfare, it is necessary to carry a well-balanced striking force, capable of attacking the enemy from above and below. Only through maximizing our advantage in aircraft technology and tactics will we prevail in any future conflict- so first things first, let's evaluate the cutting edge of aviation technology, to examine which aircraft we shall potentially be equipping the Enterprise with.
Torpedo Bomber:
Douglas TBD Devestator
First flown in 1935, the Devastator was a groundbreaking aircraft when it was first introduced. The Navy's first all-metal monoplane, the Devastator also featured semi-retractable landing gear, folding wings, and integration of the new Norden Bombsight, creating an incredibly advanced and powerful aircraft. However, though it was only introduced a few years ago, the Devastator is already growing long in the tooth-it's slow, maneuvers poorly, and has very weak defensive armament. The Navy is well aware of these flaws, and has already begun soliciting bids for the TBD's eventual replacement. However, this replacement is not expected to enter service for some time, and should the Enterprise begin sailing to war within the next several years, the Devastator will likely remain its standard torpedo and bombing aircraft.
Performance:
Maximum speed: 206 mph (179 knots, 331 km/h) at 8,000 ft (2,400 m)
Cruise speed: 128 mph (111 knots, 206 km/h)
Range: 435 mi (700 km) (378 nmi, 700 km) with Mk XIII Torpedo, 716 mi (623 nmi, 1,152 km) with 1,000 lb (454 kg) bombs
Service ceiling: 19,500 ft (5,945 m)
Rate of climb: 720 ft/min (3.7 m/s)
Armament
Guns:
1 × forward-firing 0.30 in (7.62 mm) or 0.50 (12.7 mm) machine gun
1 × 0.30 in (7.62 mm) machine gun in rear cockpit
Bombs:
1 × Mark XIII torpedo or
1 × 1,000 lb (454 kg) bomb or
2 × 500 lb (227 kg) bombs or
12 × 100 lb (45 kg) bombs
Fighters:
Presently, the Navy's fighter arm is in a period of severe transition. During the 1920s and early 1930s, cloth-covered biplanes with fixed landing gear were the cutting edge of aviation technology-now, navies across the world are racing to implement new technologies such as retractable landing gear, folding wings, all-metal construction, and monoplane designs. Fortunately, the US Navy is right on the forefront of aviation design, baring some unthinkable-and frankly, laughable-developments by the clearly backwards and inferior Empire of Japan.
Grumman F3F
The most modern fighter of the US Navy, the F3F is a symbol of the rapid pace of aviation technology. A development of Grumman's previous FF and F2F designs, the F3F is perhaps the most modern biplane ever built for the US Navy. Its days, however, are limited-with the advent of new monoplane designs like the Brewster F2A Buffalo and the Grumman F4F Wildcat, it is unlikely the F3F will remain in service for much longer. Even so, until those designs mature, the F3F will remain the US Navy's primary carrier-based fighter.
Performance
Maximum speed: 264 mph (229 kn, 425 km/h) at 15,250 ft (4,658 m)
Cruise speed: 150 mph (130 kn, 240 km/h)
Range: 980 mi (850 nmi, 1,600 km)
Service ceiling: 33,200 ft (10,120 m)
Rate of climb: 2,800 ft/min (14 m/s) at sea level
Armament
Guns:
1× 0.30 in (7.62 mm) M1919 machine gun, 500 rounds (left)
1× 0.50 in (12.7 mm) M2 machine gun, 200 rounds (right)
Bombs: 2× 116 lb (52.6 kg) Mk IV bombs, one under each wing
Brewster F2A Buffalo
The first of the Navy's new monoplane fighters, the Brewster Buffalo is likely to enter service within the next year. As a monoplane, its speed and maneuverability greatly outclasses previous biplane designs, and though it retains the same armament of its predecessor with one .50 caliber and one .30 caliber machine gun, future variations are expected to carry a ferocious armament of up to four .50 caliber guns. However, the plane is somewhat overbuilt, and is heavier and less maneuverable than other monoplane designs.
Performance
Maximum speed: 321 mph (517 km/h; 279 kn)
Cruise speed: 161 mph (259 km/h; 140 kn)
Range: 965 mi (839 nmi; 1,553 km)
Service ceiling: 33,200 ft (10,100 m)
Rate of climb: 2,440 ft/min (12.4 m/s)
Armament
Guns:
2 × 0.50 in (12.7 mm) nose-mounted M2 Browning machine guns
2 × 0.50 in (12.7 mm) wing-mounted M2 Browning machine guns
Grumman F4F Wildcat
A development of Grumman's earlier F3F biplane fighter, the F4F Wildcat is currently in testing and will likely not enter service for another year or so. At present, the Wildcat is currently somewhat of a boondoggle, with the XF4F-1 and XF4F-2 variants showing only marginal performance increases over the Brewster Buffalo. However, Grumman's next promised variant, the XF4F-3, has the Navy very intrigued. Planned to be powered by a supercharged variant of Pratt and Whitney's R-1830 Twin Wasp and armed with four .50 caliber machine-guns, should expectations be met the Wildcat promises to offer a significant performance increase over other existing and planned aircraft types-if, of course, these promises are actually met.
Performance
Maximum speed: 331 mph (531 km/h)
Range: 845 mi (1,360 km)
Service ceiling: 39,500 ft (12,000 m)
Rate of climb: 2,303 ft/min (11.7 m/s)
Armament
Guns: 4 × 0.50 in (12.7 mm) AN/M2 Browning machine guns with 450 rounds per gun
Bombs: 2 × 100 lb (45 kg) bombs and/or 2 × 58 gal (220 L) drop tanks
Dive Bombers/Scout Aircraft*
Northrop BT-1
The current primary dive bomber of the US Navy, the BT-1 is, to put it lightly, a bit of a dog. With poor handling at the best of times and very poor handling at low speeds, the type is not particularly well-suited to carrier operations and has already killed several pilots via landing accidents. Presently, Northrop and Douglas (Northrop's parent company) are going through corporate restructuring, but have promised significant increases to the the BT-1's performance through redesigns of the airframe and integration of a new powerplant. Tentatively, should these improvements pan out and the type accepted for further production, these changes are likely to be introduced under the planned name of the SBD Dauntless.
Performance
Maximum speed: 193 knots (222 mph, 357 km/h) at 9,500 ft (2,900 m)
Cruise speed: 167 knots (192 mph, 309 km/h)
Range: 1,000 nmi (1,150 mi 1,852 km)
Service ceiling: 25,300 ft (7,710 m)
Rate of climb: 1,270 ft/min (6.5 m/s)
Armament
Guns:
1 × .50 in (12.7 mm) machine gun
1 × .30 in (7.62 mm) machine gun
Bombs: 1,000 lb (454 kg) bomb under fuselage
Recommendations
The Aircraft Carrier is still a relatively new weapons system, and to an extent it has yet to be truly proven on the battlefield. However, through extensive exercises, the US Navy has been able to come to a number of conclusions regarding the platform's potential, and what elements should be emphasized as particularly important in carrier-based aircraft. The most important of these is simple: Range. Should an enemy fleet be detected, having long-ranged aircraft will enable the Enterprise and other carrier groups to launch strikes sooner, and potentially out of retaliation range of other carriers or air bases. Speed is also critical, as faster aircraft will be able to reach the enemy fleet sooner, and potentially put them out of action before they can begin spotting their own carrier strikes.
Presently, the longest-ranged aircraft in the arsenal is the Northrop BT-1. Though the type has had some severe developmental issues, it cannot be denied that promised developments from Douglas will fix many of the aircraft's present issues, and the long range, good speed, and modern developments (Such as dive brakes) of the type cannot be denied. Granted, bombs are typically less effective at sinking enemy ships than torpedo-however, the Devastator is already growing obsolete, and with its planned replacement still far off on the horizon, we cannot risk going to war with such a dated platform as our primary offensive weapon.
As such, I recommend the following aircraft complement:
1 fighter squadron (VF) composed of 18 fighters
1 bombing squadron (VB) composed of 18 dive bombers
1 scouting squadron (VS) composed of 18 dive bombers*
1 torpedo squadron (VT) composed of 18 torpedo bombers
*Note that these aircraft, while ostensibly assigned for scouting, are also fully capable and intended to be used as an additional dive-bomber squadron.
I appreciate the effort that went into this post.
I am more or less going to vote MAXIMUM ELAN but I will do so in a reasoned way.
I am not really up on my US carrier operations so I will read carefully and probably change what I voted for
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Jun 22, 2017 13:23
