How many carrier battle groups

There may be other ships that travel with the group. For example, there may be troop ships, amphibious ships for the marines, cargo ships carrying tanks and other equipment, mine sweepers, etc. It all depends on the mission. The defensive role is an around-the-clock operation. Carrier battle groups must be constantly vigilant against attack from the air, from the sea and from underwater.

To accomplish its mission, a carrier air wing typically consists of nine squadrons, with 70 to 80 total aircraft. The more notable aircraft include:. To provide a defensive view of the area, the destroyers have powerful radar systems that look upward to search for incoming aircraft. The E-2C Hawkeye aircraft launched from the carrier fly overhead and use their radar to look downward, letting them see low-flying aircraft and ships that may be approaching from over the horizon.

The destroyers and frigate use sonar and magnetic sensors to look for submarines approaching from underwater.

The goal is to create a sealed bubble around the carrier, with nothing able to enter the bubble without approval. To learn more about carrier battle groups, aircraft carriers and related topics, check out the links on the follow page.

Sign up for our Newsletter! Mobile Newsletter banner close. Mobile Newsletter chat close. Mobile Newsletter chat dots. Mobile Newsletter chat avatar. Mobile Newsletter chat subscribe. The LCC is an amphibious command ship. There are two ships in this class. The ships have a good cruising speed of 20 knots as well as excellent satellite communications and analysis systems as befits command ships. Embarked craft include two LCVP landing craft and one 10 meter personnel launch carried in Welin davits.

There is no helicopter hanger but a rear landing pad can accommodate large helicopters such as the CH Both ships feature air conditioned spaces and fin-stabilizers.

The ships differ from the Iwo Jima class in that they have a large central superstructure vice an island. There are prominent fore and aft communications masts. The LPH is an amphibious assault helicopter carrier.

Like most amphibious assault ships see below the LPH has the general appearance of a conventional aircraft carrier including an island superstructure, straight flight deck and associated aircraft elevators. Unique to the LPH is its folding side elevator located forward to port; and one to starboard, aft of the island. The ship features excellent medical facilities including a bed hospital.

There are seven of these ships active commissioned between and They are named in honor of famous Marine Corps amphibious assaults.

None of these ships remain in U. Naval Service. Power Plant : Two boilers, two geared steam turbines, two shafts, 70, total shaft horsepower. Complement : Ships Company: 58 officers, enlisted; Marine Detachment: 1, plus.

The ship has the general profile of an aircraft carrier with its superstructure starboard, straight flight deck, helicopter elevators to port folding and aft, as well as a large well deck for accommodating landing craft. In addition to aircraft and landing craft, the LHA can carry substantial amounts of palatalized cargo, dry stores, and 1, tons of JP-5 fuel. The boilers are the largest ever installed on a U. Navy warship and are highly automated.

The entire ship is air conditioned. This class also features a bed hospital. There are a total of five ships in this class:. Power Plant : Two boilers, two geared steam turbines, two shafts, 70, shaft horsepower. Like the LHA class, it resembles an aircraft carrier with a straight flight deck, aircraft elevators, and Starboard Island superstructure.

It also has a stern mounted well deck for landing craft. The omission of 5 inch guns for and aft results in a "squared off" flight deck. The ship accommodates three large bed hospitals. LHD- 5 Construct. Fast Attack Submarines 1.

Weapons Complement: Total of 26 weapons can be tube-launched, for example - 8 Tomahawk, 4 Harpoon, 14 torpedoes. There are a total of eighty-five boats active in this class SSN through SSN with four more scheduled for commissioning. They are equipped with a Vertical Launch System VLS , placing 12 Tomahawk-capable launch tubes forward and external to the pressure hull.

Additionally, dive planes are mounted on the bow vice sail for under-ice operations. The Los Angeles class SSN is the finest attack submarine in the world and features superior quieting technology coupled with versatile weapons systems ranging from traditional torpedoes to land attack cruise missiles.

A number of third world countries are acquiring modern state-of-the-art non-nuclear submarines, potentially posing a threat to deployed carrier battlegroups. The SSN supports battlegroup operations by providing USW detection and sanitization, intelligence collection, special forces delivery, surface warfare, and strike warfare.

Sturgeon Class SSN. Weapons Complement: Total of 23 weapons, for example 4 Harpoon, 4 Tomahawk and 15 torpedoes. Up to 8 Tomahawks can be carried in most of the class in place of other weapons.

There are four of this class still in active naval service. The Sturgeon class is slightly smaller than the Los Angeles class and slightly larger than the older Permit class. Sacramento Class AOE. Cargo Capacity : , barrels of fuel; 2, tons munitions; dry stores; tons refrigerated stores. This type of auxiliary is typical of the ships used by the battlegroup for underway replenishment of petroleum, munitions, provisions, and fleet freight.

This class consists of four units. Sacramento AOE Seattle AOE Camden AOE Detroit AOE As mentioned earlier, the carrier air wing forms the primary offensive capability of the deployed carrier battlegroup. The air wing is a balanced force that performs a multitude of missions for the battlegroup commander. The air wing is a self-contained unit with its own commanding officer and administrative support air wing organization will be discussed in Module 6.

Listed below is a typical carrier air wing CVW. Note that it contains both fixed and variable wing aircraft of different class and capability. Actual CVW compositions may vary. It combines a multi mode air-to-air or air-to-ground capability. In air-to-ground mode the Hornet can deliver up to 9, lb. The pound MK 20 Rockeye contains individual bomblets, which can penetrate six inches of, steel plating.

Launched from a standoff distance of 15 nautical miles, it is an extremely accurate weapon. The AGM Shrike is a pound anti-radiation missile with a 51 pound warhead. For very close encounters e. The Hornet flies with the Navy and Marine Corps team in several variants. The new engines in the Super Hornet improve fuel consumption and extend combat range by 40 percent while also increasing payload capability by 20 percent.

Additionally, the Super Hornet employs low observable construction which make them stealthier to radar detection than the original Hornet. Its primary mission is fleet air defense from hostile aircraft. Carrying 20, pounds of fuel, the Tomcat has an un-refueled combat radius of nautical miles. Like the Hornet, the Tomcat also has an M Vulcan cannon capable of firing 20 mm shells.

The E-2C Hawkeye is an all weather, twin turbo-prop, early warning command and control aircraft. It is easily recognized by its huge, distinctive rotating radome. Its combat radius extends to over nautical miles roughly five hours of flight time.

It is crewed by two pilots and three naval flight officers NFO s. A typical squadron deploy with five aircraft and seven full crews. The Viking is an all weather, twin engine USW platform. The Viking is crewed by two pilots and two naval flight officers NFO s. On station time is up to 7. The Viking has in-flight refueling capability which can extend its on station time even longer. With the ability to also act as a tanker, the S-3 often supports other aircraft by providing fuel to extend their combat radius.

Maximum speed is knots. While on station, its cruising speed ranges from to knots. Of note, an S-3B successfully sank an Iraqi Hovercraft with iron bombs during. Operation Desert Storm. This variant features a host of sophisticated electronic sensors, including a powerful Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar ISAR for near photographic quality radar imaging.

Top speed is knots with a cruising speed of knots. The Prowler is designed to support both offensive and defensive combat operations. Should the enemy decide to illuminate, the Prowlers can launch a volley of destructive HARMs that will follow hostile electronic signals to their origin.

The following two helicopters are not assigned technically to the carrier air wing but nevertheless play an important role in naval aviation. The CH is a massive, two engine, seven bladed heavy lift helicopter.

The Navy and Marine Corps team operates several variations of this platform. The CH Sea Stallion performs heavy lift, minesweeping and assault missions and is based mostly on large deck amphibious warships.

The Sea Stallion can carry 38 troops in assault mode and four tons of freight in cargo mode. All of these minesweeping systems utilize the AQS mine-hunting sonar system. A three-deck carrier group with nearly 80 fast jets, half of them stealthy. The Chinese navy this summer has escalated its preparations for a possible assault across the Taiwan Strait.

Most alarmingly , the navy has mobilized some of the civilian transport vessels the Chinese military would depend on to carry potentially hundreds of thousands of invading troops. This is a BETA experience. You may opt-out by clicking here. More From Forbes. Nov 11, , am EST. Nov 10, , pm EST. Nov 10, , am EST. Nov 9, , pm EST. Edit Story.