wonder how effective the Phalanx would be against several missiles at once. Im not up to snuff on my naval knowledge and dont want to bring out a weakness or anything. Was wondering how many missiles they could track and surely there are more than one Phalanx turrets on a carrier. The airborne laser used for ballistic missiles...I wonder if these will be adapted for ship defense later on also? If the Phalanx has limited tracking even with an Aegis nearby, the number of missiles would multiply the kill ratio...right?

Prabably an effective way to sink a carrier, or more specifically a USN aircaft carrier is to employ the use of EMP (electro-magnetic pulse) warheads to strike at near distances to the carrier fleet. This EMP can destroy almost all radio communications and electronics on board the ships, including computers if they are switched on. The enemy jets could attack the blind and mute (since no communication and radar can operate) carrier fleet in their own time and target

Exactly.

This EMP has been discussed a lot in Chinese forums in the case of war btw China and Taiwan, to destroy the military communication centers of Taiwan before massive missile attacks.

With EMP and the following massive missile attack there is a good chance to seriously damage or sink the carrier. Real problem is the GPS, if enemy can destroy your satellites before the war starts, then you got a problem.


Subs are alos a good option. Before approaching the carrier, a large group of subs (say 10 SSK's) can first destroy the escorting ships. After the anti-sub ships are first sunk, then the carrier is a sitting duck to be cooked

Btw, Missiles are so cheap to make compared to a big carrier. It is like a group of wolves attacking a big cow

A bit of a delayed reaction here, but I was away.. I find the news of Operation Summer Pulse alarming. Bush is playing with fire, and eventually we're gonna get burned. As far as the sinking the carrier thing, I don't know very much at all, I have to research it. IMO, you would want to sabotage it. Maybe set an explosive in the ships ammo dump, or near the engines, even both. It would be beyond hard to get someone in there without clearance, so maybe a renegade crew member.

Originally Posted by FlyingFrog

I am just a bit confused, do we need to sink a Carrier after all?

What's the purpose of a Carrier? Carring fighter jets right? So the ultimate role to destroy the CBG is to destroy the jets carried on it.

So, it is in fact a air-air war

You have to remember that it's a lot easier to resupply a fully-working Aircraft Carrier with more jets than it is to resupply a fleet with a new AC.


I would say the best way to take out a carrier is with swimmers. Have them swim out to the ship, place the charges on it and it's gone.

how many swimmer do you know, who swim 10, 20 oder 30 kts?
over some miles?

I work on one. Its so full of old oil, fuel, irust and asbestos, its like a ticking time bomb...

Originally Posted by Lilmissflamethrower

I work on one. Its so full of old oil, fuel, irust and asbestos, its like a ticking time bomb...

you do..? That's a great experience! but I suppose an aircraft carrier is still a ship.. and a ship that's like any other big ship, full of 'old oil, rust, fuel, asbestos' down below and inside.

Yes, its a WWII aircraft carrier, the USS Hornet. It is now a museum. It is the stinkiest place on earth, but I love the old bugger...

Originally Posted by Lilmissflamethrower

Yes, its a WWII aircraft carrier, the USS Hornet. It is now a museum. It is the stinkiest place on earth, but I love the old bugger...

It may be an old carrier.. but actually new ships also stink... New ships start to wear out as they get into active service. It may be maintained but it will still age.

When I went to England we visited an old battleship, the HMS Belfast I think it was? It smelled just like my ship!

I can't wear nice clothes to work, I come home all stinky. I have to wash my hair too.

I was bitching about it and one of the board of director people told me, "when you think of that smell, you should think about the men who went out in WWII for 18 months and never touched land, who battled kamakazies, they smelled that smell everyday" Or something to that effect.