Submarine Aircraft Carrier

Sabir

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During second world war some countries operated such submarines to lunch sea-planes. But is it possible today to build such thing for large fighter planes. Advantage is you can carry air attack far from your mainland without any warning. And you do not need large fleet of bodyguards for it. But the disadvantage is the mammoth has to be on surface for so long for air-operation that it has to give away its tactical capability of being submerged. However I think such thing is possible for smaller UAVs or sudden amphibious strike say in a naval base. Here is the link from wiki....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submarine_aircraft_carrier#World_War_II_.2F_Post_WWII_examples

A model I found in internet seems interesting-



http://hubpages.com/hub/Chinese-Navys-strategic-nuclear-submarine-Aircraft-carrier-design
 

jackprince

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Best advantage of the enemy against Submarine AC .. enemy doesn't have to submerge it.. only have to make sure it never surfaces ;) :D
 

SilentScope

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I think it could be very powerful if it was possible to design the submarine so that it can launch planes while underwater. The only problem is that most countries with advanced sonar will be able to detect and a submarine carrier would be too expensive to risk using it.
 

Dark Sorrow

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It would still need escorts, you can't send such a strategic weapon unguarded. What if enemy sub-marines are on the hunt as well as ASW units. The size and shape will make it a big burden. Planes also will be carried in less ammount.
 

SilentScope

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It would still need escorts, you can't send such a strategic weapon unguarded. What if enemy sub-marines are on the hunt as well as ASW units. The size and shape will make it a big burden. Planes also will be carried in less ammount.
If you had escorts then there would be no point in making a submarine aircraft carrier instead of an aircraft carrier since you lose the element of surprise.
 

Dark Sorrow

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You can't send such a strategic weapon unguarded. Looking at its size, shape and contents it won't a chance against enemy sub-marines and enemy ASW assets.
 

Kunal Biswas

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I think it is very possible in future as UACV will dominate airspace, the size of such carrier would be much smaller compare to the above one..
 

SHASH2K2

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US military researchers are reportedly working on a new type of air/sea craft that blends the abilities of a submarine with the capabilities of a modern strike aircraft.

As per information published by the New Scientist, DARPA (the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency), research into a flying submarine has been ongoing since 2008 and now is at the design proposal stage, with multiple external sources now putting forward designs.

The proposal covers a new multi-terrain-going platform incorporating stealth technologies, which would reduce its radar signature. Stealth technologies form a part of many past and present US military aircraft, including the (now-retired) F-117A Nighthawk (the Stealth Fighter) and the B-2 Spirit: the Stealth Bomber.
Flying Sub

A typical mission would see the flying sub approach a target by flying at minimal height over the waves, then descending beneath the surface of the water to carry out the strike.

One major challenge involved in developing a strike platform with air and sea capabilities is the opposing design philosophies attached to both. For example, while aircraft need to keep their weight down to be able to fly with minimal engine power, submarines rely on density and strength to be able to operate in water. This raises obvious questions over the form that this envisaged new combat type will take.

Power represents another potential problem area. If the craft uses standard jet engines, they would need to be in contact with the air – meaning the platform could only ever operate at very minimal water depth. Conversely, batteries could be used, but these would add weight.
Air Submarine

According to one source, the use of carbon fibre technologies could offer a solution to the conflicting requirements of air/sea operations and allow an air submarine to be created.

Graham Hawkes is the creator of the Super Falcon submarine design that features small wings, allowing it to reach depths of 300 metres below the surface. An expansion of the wings and the addition of jet engines could allow it to reach a maximum airborne speed of 560 miles per hour, and an underwater cruising speed closer to 11 miles per hour.

"Think about it as flying under water", Mr Hawkes told the New Scientist, adding: "It can be done: it just needs a lot of work."

Armed Forces International will present further coverage of the US military's work in the field of flying submarine technologies as future facts emerge.
 

neo29

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Interesting designs but whats gonna hold the thousands of tons of submarine?? It may be only possible if a submarine of small sizes holding at most 2 3 men. If u have seen the movie "GI Joe : Rise of the Cobra" you may know what i mean. Small sized underwater fighting machines may be the future of naval warfare.
 

Armand2REP

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I have always been in favour of light stealth carriers, but a submarine carrier it will never be. The goal of a carrier is to control the airspace above it, when it submerges it will not control its airspace making it extremely vulnerable. Not to mention the cost would prohibit such an option.
 

sandeepdg

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Interesting concepts for sure !! But a bit far fetched, I would say, considering such a submarine would be sitting duck against modern ASW platforms. Its hardly feasible anyway, since it will not be able to carry more than a few aircraft, so its clearly not worth the effort. Rather a submarine carrying stealth UCAVs would be a far better option in terms of the stealth advantages that it is going to give for launching surprise aerial attacks deep inside enemy territory with a devastating payload.
 

debasree

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it is absurd idea ,if this vessale sink with it goes down billons of dollars of aircraft & numerous lives and it is totally impossible to salvage this type of gigantic ship.
 

rockstar

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What about air borne air craft carrier?

Like mother ship releases small jets/ UAVs for operations??
 

ace009

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I think it is a fascinating idea for carrying several dozens of stealth UAVs for recon/strike missions. The submarine carrier need not stay above water for long - just pip up, send out the drones and submerge. Move over a hundred clicks, pip up again a few hours later and retrieve the recon/ strike UAVs. The UAVs can be smaller and harder to detect since their range is compensated for by the sumarine carrier. Also, the carrier itself can be a full-fledged attack sub with stealth features. It need to have a separate bay to carry UAVs (instead of SLBMs) and a short runway deck (which maybe internal when underwater).
How about placing the carrier 300/ 400 kms from the enemy coast and sending out stealth drones with 600/700 km strike range?

However such a submarine carrier might be a risky asset if we are talking about a full-fledged A/C carrier.
 

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