MILNET: Naval War Ships

Since World War II, the had been little decline in the navies of the world. The U.S. for instance has slowly climbed to a 12 to 13 carrier navy, boasting no less than three air wings aboard. Near the end of the cold war, even the Soviet Navy was putting carriers to sea, albeit that these carriers carried more surface weapons such as missiles and guns then their US counterparts, but never-the-less provided the power extension capabilities afforded by the carrier-borne aircaft capability.

In the case of more traditional surface and below surface combatants, both the two super powers the U.S. and the Soviet Union had emmensely powerful and a large number of ships. Also, today's NATO navies have significantly potent vessels including British and French nuclear submarines.

Today, the U.S. has the largest navy, and the most powerful, able to put in into a conflict area within a few weeks maximum. For instance, take a look at the array of weaponry in place in February of 1998 in the Persian Gulf following Iraq's refusal to honor their commitments to UNSCOM. The U.S. was able to move an attack force of 9 air wings (128 combat aircraftand additional support craft such as tankers, combat rescue, EW&C and anti-shipping/anti-submarine warfare aircraft) literally in weeks. The general classes of modern naval vessels are comprised of the following:

Aircraft Carriers

• CV Aircraft Carrier Carries Attack & Air Superiority Fighters as well as helicopters for ASW use, typically uses catapults to place heavy aircraft in the air.
• CVA Attack Carrier Carries VTOL, helicopters or small ground attack aircraft
• CVH Helicopter Carrier Carries helicopters and support equipment for either ASW or ground attack
• CVGH Helicopter & Carries helos and guided missiles for ASW, anti- surface, or ground attack Guided Missile
• CVL Aircraft Carrier Carries light aircraft or helicopters typically without catapults. An example is the British Invicible Class carrier embarking Harrier "jump jets" with its distinguishable upward tilting ramp at the fore of the carrier deck.
• CVN Nuclear Powered Same as CV, but uses nuclear powerplant rather than oil or gas to power steam turbine. An example is the U.S. Nimitz class aircraft carrier. The Nimitz carrier fields some 24 F-18 attack fighters, 24 F-14 air-superiority fighters, 6 anti-submarine warfare aircraft, 3 E-2C Hawkeye EW&C aircraft, as well as air-to-air refuelers, rescue helicopters, and other support aircraft.

Cruisers

• BB Battleship Carries huge guns, i.e. U.S.S. Iowa's 16 inch guns.
• CC Heavy Cruiser typically has a proponderance of ASW and guided missiles (cruise for land or anti- shipping attack), may carry two or more ASW helicopters.
• CG Guided Missile carries a majority of anti-aircraft cruise missiles and some small ASW capability (mostly self defense). Newer AEGIS class CGs powered by COGAS (twin gas powered turbines mounted horizontally in the ships hold with thrust directed to power turbine, exhaust then vectored upward through the twin stacks). An example are the U.S. Aegis class cruisers such as the U.S.S. Ticonderoga or U.S.S. Bunker Hill classes.
• CGN Nuclear Powered same as CG but uses nuclear powerplants rather than COGAS or steam turbines. MILNET believes all the nuclear cruisers in the U.S. fleet have been struck (i.e. no longer at sea and torn down for parts and then scrapped).

Destroyers

• DD Destroyer Smaller than cruiser, much more maneuverable. Typically tasked with ASW, may have one ASW helicopter.
• DDG Guide Missile Tasked with anti-ship and anti-aircraft guided missile attack.

Frigates

• FF Frigate Tasked with anti-submarine warfare, may have one ASW helicopter
• FFG Guided Missile Frigate configured for guided missile attack. An example is the U.S.S. Reuben James.

Submarines

Typically, submarine depths are considered highly classified. Non-actual figures are used to express the relative diving depths for purposes of illustration only:

Name            Cntry   Depth                   Type
Alfa            USSR    1,400 ft (425m)         SSN
Los Angeles     USA     1,475 ft (450m)         SSN
Rubis           France   980 ft (300m)          SSN
Victor III      USSR    1,300 ft (400m)         SSN

Below we list the submarine types:

• SSN Attack Submarine Nuclear powered attack submarine, typically carries somes means for land attack as well as anti-submarine or anti- shipping attack, i.e. tube launched (torpedo tube or dedicated launcher) or vertical launch system.
• SS Attack Submarine Typicaly Diesel-Electric powered patrol submarine
• SSB Ballistic Missile Diesel-Electric powered ballist missile submarine
• SSGN Guided Missile Typically a nuclear powered cruise missile launching submarine of Soviet Navy
• SSBN Nuclear Nuclear powered ballistic missile submarine

Amphibious

Amphibious Vessels are likened to hover craft, landing craft, etc. But these smaller vessels must be carried to their destination. During World War II this was accomplished by using standard cargo vessels, and learning from the difficulties this entailed, western nations quickly began developing special purpose ships with areas open to the water, allowing launch and recovery of the smaller assault craft at water level.

• LHA Amphibous Support Supports amphibious landing operations, typically carries ` amphibious troops and landing craft.
• LPH Amphibious Assault Carries troops, landing craft, and helicopters An example is the U.S.S. Guam, which carriers 2,000 or more Marines, their equipment, and landing craft

milnet@milnet.com
Created: July 26, 1985, Updated: November 8, 1998