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Vulnerability of the STOVL Carrier
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How vulnerable is the carrier today, or moreover tomorrow or in fifteen years hence when a new RAN carrier would still be a relatively young member of the fleet?
Having had the recent pleasure of seeing the USS America in action off the West Australian coast it is easy to see how the pro-carrier lobby consistently draws operational comparisons with the megacarriers of the USN. Indeed the US Navy does not simply operate aircraft carriers as such, but more importantly, operates Carrier Battle Groups. A CBG consists of a carrier, one or two escorting cruisers, several patrol frigates and destroyers and their oilers. Hunter Killer submarines also operate covertly with the CBG as do land-based maritime patrol aircraft where available. It is also worth mentioning that this formidable array of defensive firepower is nowadays often backed up by not one but two supercarriers in a CBG.
A US carrier is almost unassailable using conventional weapons. A US carrier can launch within minutes (if they are not already on patrol) a defensive cover of F-14 Tomcats to intercept incoming hostile bombers. Grumman EA-6B Prowlers can provide sufficient ECM jamming that an attacking force would have an almost impossible time designating cruise missiles to their correct targets – the CBG mirrored in a Soviet Backfire’s radar scope as six or seven defined blips can become hundreds in a split second thanks to the electronic prowess of the Prowler. Likewise, E-2C Hawkeyes can gain accurate navigational cross reference on incoming targets even in an intense ECM environment in order to provide intercept scenarios for the Tomcats and outer fleet patrol frigates with the medium-range SAMs. A sub-surface threat, the most feared by a CBG commander, can be countered ably by perimeter LAMPS ASW helos operating from the patrol frigates and carrier-based S-3 Viking sub-hunters. The addition of a friendly attack submarine and land-based Orion aircraft can also provide a timely measure of assistance here. Finally, an attack of all-weather A-6E Intruders escorted by Prowlers will render a death blow to any surface combatants intrepid enough to take on a USN CBG.
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