Aircraft Carriers of the World

[sandeepdg]

Hello, guys !! Here is a brief account of the main aircraft carriers operated by a select group of nations in the world today..........

United States of America ......

Theodore Roosevelt Class Aircraft Carriers:

1) USS Theodore Roosevelt
2) USS Abraham Lincoln
3) USS George Washington
4) USS John C. Stennis
5) USS Harry S. Truman (ex - USS United States)
6) USS Ronald Reagan
7) USS George H.W. Bush

Length: 332.85 m (1092 ft)
Beam: 78.33 m (flight deck) / 40.85 m (hull)
Displacement: 96000 - 101000 tons
Propulsion: 2 x Westinghouse A4W nuclear reactors
4 x steam turbines
4 x shafts
EW & Decoys: SLQ-32A Countermeasures Suite
SLQ-25A Nixie torpedo countermeasures
Speed: 30+ Knots (56+ km/hr)
Range: Essentially unlimited distance / refueled once in 20 yrs.
Aircraft Carried: 90 fixed wing & helicopters
(Current wings are of 64 aircraft, 48 tactical, 16 support)
Crew: 3410 approx. + 2890 flight crew approx.
Armament: 16-24 RIM-7 Sea Sparrow Missiles
3 or 4 20mm Phalanx CIWS (close-in weapon system)
RIM-116 Rolling Airframe missiles
Aircraft: F-14A Tomcat/ F/A-18 C/D Hornet/ F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet/
EA-18G Growler/ EA-6B Prowler/ E-2 Hawkeye/ C-2 Greyhound/
SH-60 Seahawk/ UH-60 Blackhawk/ T-45 Goshawk

Nimitz Class Aircraft Carriers:

1) USS Nimitz
2) USS Dwight D. Eisenhower
3) USS Carl Vinson

Displacement: 94000 tons
Crew: 3560 approx. + 2626 flight crew
Rest all specifications are the same.....

United Kingdom......

Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers: (Under development to be commissioned by 2014-2018)

1) HMS Queen Elizabeth
2) HMS Prince of Wales

Length: 280 m (920 ft)
Beam: 39 m
Displacement: 55000-65000 tons
Propulsion: Integrated Full Electric Propulsion
(36 MW Rolls-Royce Marine Trent Gas Turbine)
Speed: 25+ Knots (46 km/hr)
Range: 10000 nautical miles (18600 km)
Aircraft Carried: 50 (40 aircraft wings on operational basis)
Crew: 600 approx. + 600 aircrew approx.
Aircraft: 36 F-35 Lightning II/ 4 AWACS

Invincible Class Aircraft Carriers:

1) HMS Invincible
2) HMS Illustrious
3) HMS Ark Royal

Length: 210 m
Beam: 36 m (120 ft)
Displacement: 20710 tons
Propulsion: 4 x Rolls-Royce Olympus TM3B gas turbines providing 97000 hp
2 x shafts
Speed: 28 Knots (52 km/hr)
Range: 7000 nautical miles (13000 km)
Aircraft Carried: 20+
Crew: 685 approx. + 366 aircrew
Armament: 2 x 20mm anti-aircraft guns, 3 Phalanx CIWS
Aircraft: Sea Harrier FA.2/ Harrier GR-7/ Sea King HAS.5
anti-submarine helicopters

Russia.....

1) Admiral Kuznetsov

Length: 306 m (1005 ft)
Beam: 72.3 m (237.2 ft)
Displacement: 65000 tons
Propulsion: Steam turbines, 8 boilers, 4 shafts, 200,000 hp
Speed: 32 Knots (59 km/hr)
Range: 3850 nautical miles (7130 km)
Aircraft Carried: 30 - 44 including 20-24 helicopters
Crew: 1960 approx. + 620 air crew
Armament: 8 x AK-630 AA guns, 8 x Kashtan CIWS,
12 X P-700 Granit SSM, 18 x 8-cell 3K95 Kinzhai SAM VLS,
RBU-12000 UDAV-1 ASW roket launchers (60 rockets)
Aircraft: Sukhoi SU-33/ Sukhoi SU-25/ Kamov Ka-27 helicopters/
Mig 29K


France.....

Charles De Gaulle Class Aircraft Carrier:

1) FS Charles de Gaulle

Length: 265 m (871 ft)
Beam: 64.36 m (211.2 ft)
Displacement: 42000 tons
Propulsion: 2 x K15 pressurized water reactor, 150 MW each,
4 x diesel electric turbines, 2 x shafts
Speed: 27 knots (50 km/hr)
Range: Essentially unlimited distance.... refueled once in 20 yrs.
Aircraft Carried: 40
Crew: 1400 approx. + 550 aircrew
EW & Decoys: Detector,Countermeasure suite,Maigret interceptor, torpedo
countermeasures
Armament: 4 x 8 Aster 15 SAM, 2 x 6 Mistral short range missiles,
8 x 20mm Giat cannons
Aircraft: RAFALE/ Super Eternard/ E-2C Hawkeye/
SA365 Dauphin helicopters

Italy......

1) NMM Giuseppe Garibaldi

Length: 180 m (594 ft)
Beam: 30.4 m (100.3 ft)
Displacement: 13850 tons
Propulsion: 4 x GE gas turbines providing 82000 hp,
6 x diesel generators, (9.36 KW)
Speed: 20 knots (37 km/hr)
Range: 7000 miles (13000 km)
Aircraft Carried: 16
Crew: 550 approx. + 230 air crew approx.
EW & Decoys: jamming system, decoy launcher, anti-torpedo system,
torpedo decoys
Armament: 2 x Mk.29 octuple launcher for Sparrow/Selenia SAM,
2 x 324 mm torpedo tubes, 3 x DARDO CIWS
Aircraft: AV-8B Harrier II, Agusta SH-3H/ EH101 helicopters
for ASW, ASH, AEW purposes

Spain..........

Principe De Asturias Class Aircraft Carrier:

1) Principe De Asturias

Length: 195.9 m (643 ft)
Beam: 32 m approx. (106 ft)
Displacement: 16900 tons
Propulsion: 2 x GE gas turbines, 46400 shp, 1 shaft
Speed: 26 knots (48 km/hr)
Range: 6500 nautical miles (12000 km)
Aircraft Carried: 29
Crew: 572 approx. + 200 aircrew
EW & Decoys: Electronic countermeasures and torpedo decoys
Armament: 4 x Meroka CIWS, 12 X Oerlikon 120mm guns
Aircraft: AV-8B Harrier II/ Sea King SH-3H/ Agusta AB-212/ Sikorsky SH-3 AEW
Helicopters

India.........

INS Viraat:

Length: 226.5 m (743 ft)
Beam: 48.78 m (160 ft)
Displacement: 28700 tons
Propulsion: 2 x Parsons steam turbines, 76000 shp
Speed: 28 knots (52 km/hr)
Range: 6500 nautical miles (10500 km)
Aircraft Carried: 18-30
Crew: 1350 approx.
EW & Decoys: 1 x BEL Ajanta ESM, 2 x Corvus chaff launchers
Armament: 16 x Barak SAM VL cells, 2 x 40mm Bofors Mk 3 AA
4 x 30mm AK-230M AA
Aircraft: Sea Harrier MK.51/52/ Sea King Mk.42/ Ka-28 Helix ASW
Helicopters, HAL Chetak

Brazil.........

Sao Paulo:

Length: 265 m (870 ft)
Beam: 31.7 m (104 ft)
Displacement: 32700 tons
Propulsion: 4 x steam turbines producing 126000 hp
Speed: 32 knots (59 km/hr)
Range: 7500 nautical miles (13900 km)
Aircraft Carried: 39
Crew: 1920 approx.
EW & Decoys: Various types of air sentry, fire & navigational radars
Armament: 4 x 100mm turrets, 2 x Crotale Anti-missile systems,
5 x 12.7mm machine guns

I have updated the thread....... look forward to all your valuable additions.....

 

[Quickgun Murugan]

What does Russia, France operate?

 

[ppgj]

What does Russia, France operate?

sandeep has listed them above.

 

[bengalraider]

Italy

Name: Cavour
Builder: Fincantieri
Laid down: July 17, 2001
Launched: July 20, 2004
Commissioned: March 27, 2008
In service: early 2009
Homeport: Taranto
Motto: In Arduis Servare Mentem
Status: In trials and system fittings
General characteristics
Displacement: 27,500 tons
Length: 244 m
Beam: 39 m
Draught: 8,7 m
Propulsion: 4 × General Electric/Avio LM2500+ gas turbines providing 88.000 hp
6 × Diesel generators (13.200 KW)
Speed: 28+ knots
Range: 7,000 nautical miles (13,000 km) at 16 knots (30 km/h)
Complement: 451 Crew
203 Fleet Air Arm
140 C4 staff
325 Marines (standard)
Armament: 4 × A43 SYLVER VLS for 32 Aster-15 SAM
2 × Oto Melara 76/62 mm Super Rapido gun
3 × Oerlikon Contraves 25/80 mm AA gun
Aircraft carried:
20-24 [1]
Boeing AV-8B Harrier II Plus or Lockheed Martin F-35B
General purpose helicopters
EH101 AEW/HEW airborne surveillance helicopters
Notes: Pennant 550

 

[bengalraider]

One More from the Italian navy

Name: Giuseppe Garibaldi
Builder: Fincantieri
Laid down: March 1981
Launched: 11 June 1983
Commissioned: 30 September 1985
Homeport: Taranto
Motto: "Obbedisco"
Status: Active in service as of 2009
Badge:
General characteristics
Displacement: 10,000 tons (standard)
13,850 tons (loaded)
Length: 180.2 m
Beam: 30.4 m
Draught: 8.2 m
Propulsion: 4 × General Electric/Avio LM2500 gas turbines providing 82,000 hp
6 × Diesel generators (9.360 KW)
Speed: 30+ knots
Range: 7,000 nautical miles (13,000 km) at 20 knots (37 km/h)
Complement: 630 Crew
100 Fleet Air Arm
100 C4 staff
Sensors and
processing systems: MM/SPS-768 (RAN 3L) long-range radar
SPS-774 (RAN-10S) early warning radar
AN/SPS-52C early warning radar
SPS-702 CORA surface search radar
SPN-749 navigation radar
SPN-728 approach radar
RTN-30 fire control radar
RTN-10X fire control radar
DE 1160 LF hull sonar
Electronic warfare
and decoys: SLQ-732 jamming system
SCLAR decoy launcher
SLAT anti-torpedo system
SLQ-25 Nixie towed torpedo decoy
Armament: 2 × Mk.29 octuple launcher for Sea Sparrow/Selenia Aspide SAM
3 × Oto Melara Twin 40L70 DARDO
2 × 324 mm triple torpedo tubes
4 × Otomat Mk 2 SSMs (removed)
Aircraft carried:
AV-8B Harrier II fighter/bombers
Augusta SH-3D or AgustaWestland EH101 helicopters (ASW, ASH and AEW)
Notes: Pennant 551

 

[bengalraider]

Spain

Namesake: Prince of Asturias
Ordered: 29 May 1977
Builder: Bazán, Ferrol
Laid down: 8 October 1979
Launched: 22 May 1982
Sponsored by: Queen Sofía of Spain
Commissioned: 30 May 1988
Homeport: Rota naval air base
Status: Active
General characteristics
Displacement: 15,912 tons standard,
16,700 tons loaded
Length: 195.9 metres (643 ft)
Beam: 24.3 metres (80 ft)
Draught: 9.4 metres (31 ft)
Propulsion: 2 × General Electric LM2500+ gas turbines in COGAG configuration, one shaft, 46,400 shp
Speed: 26 knots (48 km/h)
Range: 6,500 nautical miles (12,000 km) at 20 knots (37 km/h)
Complement: 763 (total); 600 ship crew, 230 air crew
Sensors and
processing systems: Raytheon SPS-52C/D 3D air search radar, ISC Cardion SPS-55 surface search radar, ITT SPN-35A aircraft control radar, FABA SPG-M2B fire control radar, SELEX Sistemi Integrati RTN-11L/X missile approach warning radar, Selex RAN 12 L target designation radar
Electronic warfare
and decoys: Nettunel electronic countermeasures unit, Super RBOC, Sensytech AN/SLQ-25 Nixie decoy
Armament: 4 x FABA Meroka Mod 2B CIWS, 12 × Oerlikon L120 20 mm guns
Aircraft carried: 29 fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft
Aviation facilities: 12° ski jump 46.5 m in length

 

[bengalraider]

Brazil

The EX-french navy Foch, we should have bought this ship

Name: São Paulo (A12)
Namesake: State of São Paulo
Launched: 1959 by France
Commissioned: 15 November 2000
Fate: Undergoing an extensive upgrade. Scheduled to be operational by October 2009.
Notes: see Foch (R 99) for prior history
General characteristics
Class and type: Clemenceau-class aircraft carrier
Displacement: 24,200 tonnes
32,800 tonnes (full load)
Length: 265 metres (870 ft)
Beam: 31.7 metres (104 ft)
Draught: 8.60 metres (28.2 ft)
Propulsion: 6 Indret boilers, 4 steam turbines producing 126,000 hp, 2 propellers
Speed: 32 knots (59 km/h)
Range: 7,500 nautical miles (13,900 km) at 18 knots
Complement: 1,338 men (1,920 including the air group). 984 men if only helicopters are carried.
Electronic warfare
and decoys:
DRBV-23B air sentry radar
DRBV-50 low-altitude or surface sentry radar (later replaced by a DRBV-15)
NRBA-50 approach radar
DRBI-10 tri-dimensional air sentry radar
several DRBC-31 fire radar (later DRBC-32C)
DRBN-34 navigation radars
Armament: four 100 mm turrets, two SACP Crotale EDIR systems, five 12.7 mm machine guns, 4 dual Simbad launchers
Aircraft carried: 39 aircraft: 22 jets and 17 helicopters[1]. Composed of A-4KU Skyhawks, AS 532 SC Cougars, HB 350 & HB.355 Ecureuils, and SH-3 Sea Kings

 

[bengalraider]

The Japanese

This is a helicopter carrier
Builders: IHI Marine United
Operators: Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Preceded by: Haruna class
Building: 1
Planned: 2
Active: 1
General characteristics
Type: Helicopter carrier
Displacement: 13,950 tons standard;
18,000 tons full load
Length: 197 m
Beam: 33 m
Draft: 7 m
Propulsion: COGAG, two shafts, 100,000 hp
Speed: 30+ knots (56 km/h)
Complement: 360 (Hyuga)
371 (18DDH)
Sensors and
processing systems: ATECS command system
FCS-3 fire control and air search radar
OPS-20 surface search radar
OQS-XX bow mounted sonar
Armament:
16 cells Mk 41 VLS
16 ESSM
12 ASROC
2 × 20 mm Phalanx CIWS
2 × triple 324 mm torpedo tubes
12.7mm MG
Aircraft carried: Up to 11. Usual air wing is 3xSH-60K, 1xMCH-101
Aviation facilities: Flight deck and enclosed hangar

 

[bengalraider]

The Thai

Name: HTMS Chakri Naruebet
Operator: Royal Thai Navy
Laid down: 12 July 1994
Launched: 20 January 1996
Commissioned: 10 August 1997
Homeport: Sattahip
Motto: Occupy The Sky, Occupy The Sea, Chakri Naruebet. (ครองเวหา ครองนที จักรีนฤเบศร)
Fate: Active
Badge:
General characteristics
Displacement: 10,000 tons standard
11,485 tons loaded
Length: 182.6 m (599.1 ft)
Beam: 30.5 m (100.1 ft)
Draught: 6.2 m (19.76 ft)
Propulsion: 2 diesels, 11,200 bhp (8,350 kW)
2 Bazan GE LM2500 gas turbines, 2 shafts, 44,250 hp (32,997 kW)
Speed: 26.4 knots (49 km/h)
Range: Est. 10,000 nautical miles (20,000 km) at 12 knots (22 km/h)
Complement: 675 (maximum);
62 officers
146 aircrew
4 Royal family
450 troops (normal)
Sensors and
processing systems: Raytheon AN/SPS-52C 3-D medium range air search radar, Kelvin Hughes navigation and helicopter control radar, Kelvin Hughes I-band navigation radar
Armament: 3 x Mistral SAM launchers, 2 x 12.7 mm MG
Aircraft carried: 174.6 m x 27.5 m flight deck with a 12° ski jump
6 AV-8S Harriers, 6 S-70B Seahawks

 

[gokulakannan]

All the details are provided here

List of aircraft carrier by countries: - link

List of aircraft carrier by configuration: -link

List of aircraft carrier in service: - link

Timeline for aircraft carrier service: - link

 

[gokulakannan]

Countries currently operating carriers in blue; historic operators of carriers in light blue

 

[AkhandBharat]

Wow, I had no idea Thailand operates an AC! Its like a mini-AC with a displacement of 10000 tonnes.

 

[K Factor]

I had one debatable question here. Can LHDs or helicopter carriers like the Japanese one be actually called or compared or considered the same as conventional fixed wing aircraft carriers?

 

[bengalraider]

I had one debatable question here. Can LHDs or helicopter carriers like the Japanese one be actually called or compared or considered the same as conventional fixed wing aircraft carriers?

No they cannot, at the moment as they are unable to deploy air-dominance assets like the harrier or the hornet however i believe that with the coming of the F-35 V/STOL, these small carriers shall also prove their worth.

 

[K Factor]

No they cannot, at the moment as they are unable to deploy air-dominance assets like the harrier or the hornet however i believe that with the coming of the F-35 V/STOL, these small carriers shall also prove their worth.

I was thinking with the F-35B in mind. If say Japan (IF) buys and deploys F-35Bs on its LHDs, will the current designation change? The Japanese helicopter carrier is capable of operating F-35Bs.

 

[bengalraider]

I was thinking with the F-35B in mind. If say Japan (IF) buys and deploys F-35Bs on its LHDs, will the current designation change? The Japanese helicopter carrier is capable of operating F-35Bs.

Well, a carrier deploying fixed wing aircraft would not be only a helicopter carrier now would it?

 

[K Factor]

Well, a carrier deploying fixed wing aircraft would not be only a helicopter carrier now would it?

Yes, but the aircraft carrier itself would not change based on whether it carries helicopters or STOVL aircraft. So why call it a helicopter carrier now, if we can/may have to call it an aircraft carrier later. This is kind of silly isn't it?

Personally I think its a diplomatic thing by Japan, not calling it an aircraft carrier and calling it a LHD, because regional big brother China will feel that Japan is trying to project power by operating AC.

 

[bengalraider]

Yes, but the aircraft carrier itself would not change based on whether it carries helicopters or STOVL aircraft. So why call it a helicopter carrier now, if we can/may have to call it an aircraft carrier later. This is kind of silly isn't it?

Personally I think its a diplomatic thing by Japan, not calling it an aircraft carrier and calling it a LHD, because regional big brother China will feel that Japan is trying to project power by operating AC.

Actually Japan calls it a "helicopter carrying destroyer"(This is a attempt to camouflage it's carrier status). you are partially correct it is not only China but the entire Asia-pacific region that has serious objections against the Japanese navy resuming usage of aircraft carriers. this is due to the carnage heaped on these nations by the Imperial Japanese navy carriers during WW2.Even the Americans remember the damage wreaked on them by the IJN carriers. Even domestically the concept of carriers is not popular in japan ,The post-war surrender treaty specifically forbade japan from operating offensive weapons of any sort, many Japanese consider the aircraft carrier as an offensive weapon.

 

[sandeepdg]

I had one debatable question here. Can LHDs or helicopter carriers like the Japanese one be actually called or compared or considered the same as conventional fixed wing aircraft carriers?

I have left out all of the LHDs as none fo them as of now carry fixed wing aircraft, since the first South Korean Dokdo class amphibious assault ship was launched recently in 2007, and carries 10 helicopters as of now. The first Japanese Hyagu class helicopter landing ship was commissioned only in March this year and F-35 B would not be available to Japan 2014-2015, and also since Japan does not operates VTOL aircraft like the Harrier like India does as of now. The Thai AC HTMS Chakri Naruebet which can accommodate around 6 Harrier AV-8S, is currently facing problems regarding spare parts for these 30 yr. old Harriers in its inventory, and hence they have rarely been deployed in recent times. Also, since main anti-aircraft systems were never installed on this ship, it is rarely put to sea. So, as of now the vessels that i mentioned are only the true-blue carriers...... Though a lot will change in the coming 5-6 yrs. when both Japan and South Korea will be able to operate the F-35B from their under development advanced amphibious assault ships.

 

[bengalraider]

I have left out all of the LHDs as none fo them as of now carry fixed wing aircraft, since the first South Korean Dokdo class amphibious assault ship was launched recently in 2007, and carries 10 helicopters as of now. The first Japanese Hyagu class helicopter landing ship was commissioned only in March this year and F-35 B would not be available to Japan 2014-2015, and also since Japan does not operates VTOL aircraft like the Harrier like India does as of now. The Thai AC HTMS Chakri Naruebet which can accommodate around 6 Harrier AV-8S, is currently facing problems regarding spare parts for these 30 yr. old Harriers in its inventory, and hence they have rarely been deployed in recent times. Also, since main anti-aircraft systems were never installed on this ship, it is rarely put to sea. So, as of now the vessels that i mentioned are only the true-blue carriers...... Though a lot will change in the coming 5-6 yrs. when both Japan and South Korea will be able to operate the F-35B from their under development advanced amphibious assault ships.

What about the USN LHD's i believe the USMC still operates the harrier from them.