Until now, there were five ships named USS America; among other things, it did not sail during the American Revolution, but was later given to France as a 74-gun ship of the line, and was converted for naval service during the American Civil War in the 19th century. This latter vessel should not be confused with the USS American, a former whaling ship deliberately sunk by Confederate forces to obstruct shipping in the main channel of the harbor in Charleston, South Carolina.
In addition, there was the German ocean liner SS America, which was seized by the United States government and renamed USS America (ID-3006), serving as a troop transport. In truth, however, only one warship was actually named USS America: a Kitty Hawk-class aircraft carrier, CV-66, which has the dubious distinction of being the only supercarrier to be expended as a target ship. Today, the United States Navy operates the USS America (LHA-6), an amphibious assault ship at 45,000 tons full load that is larger than many aircraft carriers in service with many foreign navies.
To further confuse matters, in the entire history of the United States Navy, there has only been one ship named the USS United States that entered service, and indeed it was one of the original six frigates. Navy of the first half of the century.
Three other ships were also to be named USS United States, including a Lexington-class battlecruiser, which was canceled due to the Washington Treaty when it was a little more than 10 percent complete; as well as the eighth aircraft carrier of the Nimitz class – consequently, the one named USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75).
Then there was the USS United States (CVA-58), which was intended to lead a new class of supercarriers developed after World War II. However, his design was seen as ambitious and avant-garde, but likely not entirely practical. As a result, just five days after the keel was laid, the program was cancelled.
A True Flat Top – No Islands
In July 1948, President Harry S. Truman approved the construction of five new “supercarriers” with funds provided by the Naval Appropriations Act of 1949. The carrier was a complete departure from the World War II-era flattops and in a way. It evoked the “streamline moderne” of the Art Deco architecture and design movement that became common with post-war automobiles and airplanes.
The proposed 65,000-ton carrier (83,000 tons fully loaded) would have a hollow deck designed to launch and recover large 100,000-kilogram aircraft, while also carrying the five-ton nuclear weapons of the era. . The ship would be 1,000 meters long, without an island, and equipped with four aircraft elevators and four catapults.
The empty deck was intended to provide more space for the large bombers, although these would have to be secured to the flight deck, as it would be impossible to carry them to hang on an elevator. In addition, a small hanger was provided for the fighter escort, and as the design evolved, more space was given to the fighters. The carrier’s air wing was planned to consist of a dozen bombers and nearly fifty fighters.
While the primary mission was to carry long-range bombers, the USS United States class was to provide tactical air support for airborne and amphibious forces, as well as conduct sea control operations.
Designed as a conventional transport, it would require eight Foster-Wheeler boilers and four Westinghouse turbines, capable of producing 280,000 hp, while the four screws would allow the massive ship to reach a speed of over 33 knots.
Construction costs were estimated to be around $190 million ($2.05 billion in 2020 dollars), and crew costs to support the massive warship would bring the total price tag to over $1.265 billion.
The design was not without some problems, however.
The lack of an island meant the ship had no radar position, but also other command and control capabilities. A small turret-like platform could help direct movement on the flight deck, but radar, navigation, war planning and other operations would be left to a specially outfitted command ship cruiser. Instead of being the flagship of a strike group, the USS United States and the other carriers were floating airport or arsenal ships.
Problems such as smoke and other emissions from the power plants and how they would be diverted from the flight deck had to be solved. There was also the unsolved problem of how the sea bombers were to remain on the flight deck for the duration of the voyage.
In the end, it was not an enemy adversary that ultimately “sunk” the project, but the United States Air Force, which saw the carrier as a representation of the Navy’s nuclear ambitions. The Joint Chiefs of Staff seemed to agree that the primary role of the carrier would only serve to duplicate the role of the Air Force. A few days after the lead ship’s keel was laid, the program was cancelled.
Secretary of the Navy John Sullivan immediately resigned, while the ensuing “Revolt of the Admirals” succeeded in removing Admiral Louis Denfeld as Chief of Operations.
It did not mark the end of the supercarrier, and instead five years later the United States Navy moved forward with the conventional USS Forrestal class. In addition, as nuclear weapons became smaller in size, it was determined that a massive warship designed for carriers was no longer necessary. In the 1950s, nuclear weapons were sent to sea on the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt, a much smaller carrier than the planned USS United States.
Expert Biography: Editor-in-Chief since 1945, Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer who has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers and websites with more than 3,000 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He writes regularly on military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu.
How often does aircraft carrier need to fuel?
Jet fuel consumption and range, so all 50+ F-14s fueled, is about 4.4 × 105 kg of fuel. Dividing the fuel capacity of the carrier by the fuel capacity of the fighter fleet, we find that a typical aircraft carrier can refuel each fighter about 20 times before running out of fuel supplies.
How much fuel does an airplane take? A Navy aircraft carrier can hold over a million gallons of fuel, or roughly the equivalent of 2 Olympic swimming pools. To see also : Appeal by Secretary Blinken with Colombian President-elect Petro – United States Department of State.
How much fuel does an aircraft carrier use per hour?
Most outboard engines are designed for top speeds of 20 to 25 knots per hour, which is between 23 and 28 miles per hour. A Panamax container ship can consume 63,000 liters of marine fuel per day at this rate.
How long can an aircraft carrier go without refueling?
Due to the use of nuclear power, the ships are able to operate continuously for more than 20 years without refueling and are expected to have a service life of more than 50 years. This may interest you : Cristiano Ronaldo’s last chance to leave Manchester United this summer is with Borussia Dortmund.
What is the oldest known shipwreck?
Ancient Shipwreck – Journal of Archaeology. This may interest you : Latinos unite against the United States. A Greek merchant ship found more than a mile below the surface of the Black Sea has been radiocarbon dated to 2,400 years old, making it the oldest known intact ship in the world.
What is the most famous shipwreck of all time? The supposedly “Unsinkable” ship RMS Titanic set off on her maiden voyage on April 10, 1912, and sank less than three hours after hitting an iceberg just before midnight on April 14. Claiming 1,514 lives, it is often remembered as one of the most famous and tragic shipwrecks in history.
Where is the world’s oldest intact shipwreck?
A more than 2,400-year-old Greek merchant ship has been found lying on its side off the coast of Bulgaria. The 23-meter (75-foot) wreck, discovered by an Anglo-Bulgarian team in the Black Sea, is being officially recognized as the world’s oldest known intact ship.
What is the oldest shipwreck found in the Black Sea?
The discovery of the ancient Greek shipwreck ‘Odysseus’, believed to be the oldest of its kind ever found, at the bottom of the Black Sea, could change our understanding of shipbuilding and seafaring in the ancient world.
What is the shallowest shipwreck in the world?
Key West, Florida – Named for the Tile Wreck and the cargo it was carrying when the USS Alligator sank in Key West, the Tile Wreck is in very shallow water, resting only 5-15 feet below the surface to reach down. and touch Not far away is a navy ship known as the USS Alligator.
What is the deepest known shipwreck? The world’s deepest ship was found four miles underwater in the Philippines. U.S.S. Samuel B Roberts, also known as “Sammy B”, was discovered in the Philippine Sea last week by a team of explorers at a depth of 22,916 meters. The vessel is the deepest ever discovered, according to the Associated Press.
What is the most mysterious shipwreck?
One of the ocean’s most infamous mysteries is that of the Waratah, a 500-foot-long steamship that disappeared in July 1909 with 211 passengers aboard.
Is Titanic the deepest shipwreck?
To put things into perspective, the famous Titanic sank at a depth of about 12,600 feet. Explorers have discovered a World War II-era US Navy destroyer in the Philippines that has become the deepest wreck ever found. Destroyer, USS Samuel B.
Can tsunami destroy aircraft carrier?
Aircraft carriers, like most ships at sea, are not at risk from a tsunami. Although a tsunami can travel in the open ocean at a speed of 700 km/h, it is only a wave with an amplitude of only one meter. In fact, anyone on an aircraft carrier would hardly notice.
What can destroy aircraft carriers? The most significant threats to carriers are cruise missiles, torpedoes, ballistic missiles and mines. But cruise missiles are unlikely to penetrate the battle group’s integrated air defenses, and few potential adversaries are able to effectively use submarines or torpedoes.
Can a wave sink an aircraft carrier?
A rogue wave can cause serious damage to non-structural parts of the vessel. However, due to the way the Carrier was designed and constructed with 100 individual watertight compartments, it would not sink….
Can a submarine survive a tsunami?
A fleet of around 10 specially designed submarine shelters. Some small, strong titanium submarines could survive stronger impacts and tsunami waves, but larger submarines with thinner hulls might be better suited for long-term survival in a polluted world.
