Australia class aircraft carrier

From Themarshallwiki

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The backbone of the [[Royal Australian Navy]] is the Australia class aircraft carriers. These aircraft carriers are based on the French Clemenceau class aircraft carriers, but are altered significantly to fit Australian requirements. The carriers have served for approximately 30 years, and replacement in fifteen years is anticipated.  
+
The backbone of the [[Royal Australian Navy]] is the Australia class aircraft carriers. These aircraft carriers are based on the British Invincible class aircraft carriers, but are altered significantly to fit Australian requirements. The carriers have served for approximately 25 years, and replacement in fifteen years is anticipated.  
=History=
=History=
-
Increasing unreliability, and unavailability of parts for HMAS Melbourne led the RAN to initiate plans for a replacement as early as 1970. In 1972, having determined that no British or American design would fit the RAN's requirements, and that it would be uneconomcial to design a carrier inside Australia, the RAN chose the French Clemenceau class, modified for Australian requirements and systems. The most significant modifications were to the aviation fuel system (to allow for segregation of fuels which was considered necessary for operating turbine ''and'' piston powered aircraft), and to the flight deck to allow for an aircraft as large as the E-2C Hawkeye. The carrier was started in 1974, and construction proceeded quickly for completion in 1978. The HMAS Melbourne was retired in 1978, and Fleet Air Arm personnel trained on the French aircraft carrier Foch, and in the United States for several months.
+
Increasing unreliability, and unavailability of parts for HMAS Melbourne led the RAN to initiate plans for a replacement as early as 1970. The offer of HMS Invincible in 1981 was regarded as too good to miss. The Government decided to acquire Invincible, but the Falklands War intervened, and the offer was withdrawn. The RAN were still interested in operating Harrier carriers, and so two new Invincible class carriers were ordered in 1982.
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The A-4G Skyhawks operated on the Melbourne were to be re-roled as interim attack aircraft. A new attack aircraft was being considered, with the options Vought A-7E Corsair II, and the Dassault Super Etendard. The French believed that the RAN had promised to purchase the Super Etendard, however the RAN felt it could purchase whatever it felt necessary. This led to the first controversy associated with the carriers when the French Government and Dassault sued the Australian Government for breach of contract after the RAN chose the Vought A-7 Corsair. The Australian Government won the case and the Corsair purchase went ahead with the aircraft entering service in 1984. The second ship, HMAS Vengeance, entered service in 1981.
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The carriers Australia ordered were based on HMS Ark Royal (R07) and extensively modified to meet Australian requirements. Many of the electronic systems were replaced by American-designed items to fit in better with the RAN. Most importantly, Sea Dart was omitted. The space (on deck and below deck) was used to increase flight deck and hangar deck space. The latter modification was incorporated into British Invincible class carriers.
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The ships led relatively uneventful lives until 1991, when they participated in the Gulf War. HMAS Australia's new F/A-18 Hornets proved themselves in combat alongside US Navy and US Marine Corps Hornets. The RAN's Hornets flew 300 attack sorties, dropped several hundred conventional and laser guided bombs, and shot down 2 Iraqi MiG-21 Fishbeds, and 1 MiG-23 Flogger.
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This increase of space, combined with the use of smaller Sea Hawk helicopters gives an effective boost to the air groups of the Australian ships. Australian ships typically carry fifteen Harriers, six Sea Hawks ASW helicopters, and three Sea King AEW helicopters.
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The RAN's Hornets are essentially the same as RAAF Hornets, with the different landing system (RAN Hornets retain ACLS, RAAF Hornets use ILS/VOR), and the retention of the catapult launch bar. Most Navy Hornet training is done at RAAF Williamtown by 2OCU and 724 Squadron. Carrier training is done on the CATOBAR area at HMAS Albatross.
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The first of the two entered service in 1986, and was followed by Vengeance in 1987.
The ships have been fired on once, in 1991 an Iraqi Silkworm was fired at HMAS Australia, but was (ironically) shot down by HMAS Sydney.
The ships have been fired on once, in 1991 an Iraqi Silkworm was fired at HMAS Australia, but was (ironically) shot down by HMAS Sydney.
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=Aircraft=
=Aircraft=
-
==1979-1984==
+
==1986-1990==
-
*12 Vought F-8E Crusader
+
*15 BAe Sea Harrier FRS Mk. 21
-
*8 Douglas A-4G Skyhawk
+
*6 Westland Sea King Mk. 50
-
*6 Grumman S-2G Tracker
+
-
*4 Westland Sea King Mk. 50
+
-
*2 Westland Wessex HAS31B
+
-
==1984-1986==
+
==1990-1998==
-
*12 Vought F-8E Crusader
+
*15 BAe Sea Harrier FRS Mk. 21
-
*12 Vought A-7E Corsair
+
-
*6 Grumman S-2G Tracker
+
-
*4 Westland Sea King Mk. 50
+
-
*2 Westland Wessex HAS31B
+
-
 
+
-
==1986-1989==
+
-
 
+
-
*12 Vought F-8E Crusader
+
-
*12 Vought A-7E Corsair
+
-
*6 CAC/Grumman S-2T Turbo Tracker
+
-
*2 CAC/Grumman C-1T Turbo Trader
+
-
*4 Westland Sea King Mk. 50
+
-
*2 Westland Wessex HAS31B
+
-
 
+
-
==1989-2002==
+
-
 
+
-
*24 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18A Hornet
+
-
*6 CAC/Grumman S-2T Turbo Tracker
+
-
*4 CAC/Grumman E-1T Turbo Tracer
+
-
*2 CAC/Grumman C-1T Turbo Trader
+
*6 Sikorsky S-70B-2 Seahawk
*6 Sikorsky S-70B-2 Seahawk
 +
*3 Westland Sea King AEW Mk. 57
==Present Air Group==
==Present Air Group==
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*24 Boeing F/A-18A+ Hornet
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*15 Boeing AV-8B Harrier II Plus
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*6 CAC/Grumman AS-2T Turbo Tracker
+
-
*4 CAC/Grumman E-1T Turbo Tracer
+
-
*2 CAC/Grumman C-1T Turbo Trader
+
*6 Sikorsky S-70B-2 Seahawk
*6 Sikorsky S-70B-2 Seahawk
 +
*3 Westland Sea King AEW Mk. 57
=Ships=
=Ships=
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*HMAS Australia (R22) - Commissioned: 1979
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*HMAS Australia (R22) - Commissioned: 1986
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*HMAS Vengeance (R23) - Commissioned: 1981
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*HMAS Vengeance (R23) - Commissioned: 1987
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|-
|-
| Displacement
| Displacement
-
|
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|20,700 tons (standard)
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*22,000 tons (standard)
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*32,780 tons (loaded)
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|-
|-
| Length
| Length
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| 265 m (869 ft)
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| 209 m (686 ft)
|-
|-
| Machinery
| Machinery
-
|
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|4 x Rolls-Royce Olympus TM3B gas turbine COGAG, providing 97,000 hp on 2 shafts
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*6 x Indret boilers
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-
*4 x steam turbines
+
-
*126,000 shp
+
|-
|-
| Speed
| Speed
-
| 32 knots (59 km/h)
+
| 28 knots (52 km/h)
 +
|-
 +
| Range
 +
| 7000NM
|-
|-
| Armament
| Armament
-
| 4 Phalanx 20mm CIWS
+
| 3 Phalanx 20mm CIWS
|-
|-
|Aviation facilities
|Aviation facilities
|
|
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*Angled flight deck
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*168 m axial flight deck
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*Two steam catapults
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*Bow 13° ski ramp
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*Four-wire arrested landing system
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-
*Fresnel Lens Optical Landing System
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|-
|-
| Aircraft
| Aircraft
|
|
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*Up to 45 (more detail in main text)
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*Up to 30 (more detail in main text)
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*24 Boeing F/A-18 Hornet
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*15 Boeing AV-8B Harrier II Plus
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*6 CAC/Grumman AS-2T Turbo Tracker
+
*6 Sikorsky S-70B-2 Seahawk
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*4 CAC/Grumman E-1T Turbo Tracer
+
*3 Westland Sea King AEW Mk. 57
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*2 CAC/Grumman C-1T Turbo Trader
+
-
*6 S-70B-2 Seahawk
+
|}
|}
=Profile=
=Profile=
-
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk56/Sheriff__001/AUCVClemenceau3.jpg
+
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk56/Sheriff__001/AUCVSInvincible_AUSTRALIA.png
<br>
<br>
HMAS Australia with current aircraft
HMAS Australia with current aircraft
<br>
<br>
-
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk56/Sheriff__001/AUSCVClemenceau_1986A.png
+
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk56/Sheriff__001/AUCVSInvincible_Australia_old.png
<br>
<br>
HMAS Australia with older aircraft
HMAS Australia with older aircraft

Current revision as of 13:38, 31 March 2010

The backbone of the Royal Australian Navy is the Australia class aircraft carriers. These aircraft carriers are based on the British Invincible class aircraft carriers, but are altered significantly to fit Australian requirements. The carriers have served for approximately 25 years, and replacement in fifteen years is anticipated.

Contents

History

Increasing unreliability, and unavailability of parts for HMAS Melbourne led the RAN to initiate plans for a replacement as early as 1970. The offer of HMS Invincible in 1981 was regarded as too good to miss. The Government decided to acquire Invincible, but the Falklands War intervened, and the offer was withdrawn. The RAN were still interested in operating Harrier carriers, and so two new Invincible class carriers were ordered in 1982.

The carriers Australia ordered were based on HMS Ark Royal (R07) and extensively modified to meet Australian requirements. Many of the electronic systems were replaced by American-designed items to fit in better with the RAN. Most importantly, Sea Dart was omitted. The space (on deck and below deck) was used to increase flight deck and hangar deck space. The latter modification was incorporated into British Invincible class carriers.

This increase of space, combined with the use of smaller Sea Hawk helicopters gives an effective boost to the air groups of the Australian ships. Australian ships typically carry fifteen Harriers, six Sea Hawks ASW helicopters, and three Sea King AEW helicopters.

The first of the two entered service in 1986, and was followed by Vengeance in 1987.

The ships have been fired on once, in 1991 an Iraqi Silkworm was fired at HMAS Australia, but was (ironically) shot down by HMAS Sydney.

Australia has stated that it will follow the French example, and replace its ships with two CATOBAR aircraft carriers based on the British CVF design. They have already been named HMAS Melbourne and HMAS Sydney.

Aircraft

1986-1990

  • 15 BAe Sea Harrier FRS Mk. 21
  • 6 Westland Sea King Mk. 50

1990-1998

  • 15 BAe Sea Harrier FRS Mk. 21
  • 6 Sikorsky S-70B-2 Seahawk
  • 3 Westland Sea King AEW Mk. 57

Present Air Group

  • 15 Boeing AV-8B Harrier II Plus
  • 6 Sikorsky S-70B-2 Seahawk
  • 3 Westland Sea King AEW Mk. 57

Ships

  • HMAS Australia (R22) - Commissioned: 1986
  • HMAS Vengeance (R23) - Commissioned: 1987


Specifications

Displacement 20,700 tons (standard)
Length 209 m (686 ft)
Machinery 4 x Rolls-Royce Olympus TM3B gas turbine COGAG, providing 97,000 hp on 2 shafts
Speed 28 knots (52 km/h)
Range 7000NM
Armament 3 Phalanx 20mm CIWS
Aviation facilities
  • 168 m axial flight deck
  • Bow 13° ski ramp
Aircraft
  • Up to 30 (more detail in main text)
  • 15 Boeing AV-8B Harrier II Plus
  • 6 Sikorsky S-70B-2 Seahawk
  • 3 Westland Sea King AEW Mk. 57

Profile

AUCVSInvincible_AUSTRALIA.png
HMAS Australia with current aircraft
AUCVSInvincible_Australia_old.png
HMAS Australia with older aircraft

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