Shipbucket

So I would love exploring a concept similar to the USS United States (CVA-58) for my AU at some point. While I have my ideas for the carrier kinda well squared away, I still have a major point of thought: with a towerless carrier, you need a control ship to have radar and flight ops control. So what does this control ship look like? Is it redundant, with multiple destroyer-leader sized ships packed with radar, control facilities and not much else or should the control ship be heavy-cruiser sized, designed to resist air attack and submarine attack?

Ignoring the larger problems of a totally flat carrier with no tower, has anyone put thought into what the control ship would look like?

My ideas are this. Such a massive carrier is probably going to be able to avoid the aging and limited ranged battleships. Even if a battleship did charge such a carrier, the carrier would be able to put some powerful aircraft into the air to deal with it. The threat is going to be enemy aircraft and submarines, not surface gunfire. The carrier itself would be able to hold some huge sonar systems on its massive hull, while the control ship could emphasize anti-air firepower.

Now CVA-58 had guns and I would imagine the control ship would have some really strong emphasis on AA guns. I think we are almost looking at a heavy cruiser version of the Atlanta class, armed with huge numbers of 6" dual purpose AA guns and 3" guns.

I would really like to hear thoughts on this. I am not exactly looking for the 'optimal' option, but multiple realistic options.

Hi krases.

I'm sorry to disappoint you, but my first, initial thoughts on this were in fact, a whole load of questions. sorry matey

But to get the ball rolling, may I please ask what year, or even what decade are you thinking about

Have you thought about night combat? what happens if your radarless, gunless carrier is caught just as the sun is setting? You might be able to launch aircraft, but could you retrieve them? Guide them home?

What about inclement weather, when launching aircraft is not an option? Rough Seas and/or strong winds? Driving snow, or fog?

Personally, I think a pure flat top would be a very, VERY bad idea.

Andy.

_________________
https://discord.gg/5PHq8Dk
My artwork is posted here: https://www.deviantart.com/adenandy/gallery/all

Oh, around the same time period the CVE United States was being built. So late 1940's to 1950.

I dont quite get the second question. The same way a regular carrier does?

I imagine its escorting ships will protect it. This ship is designed to have at least one command ship with it.

I dont think it was that bad of an idea, as the United States was actually laid down and was being built before it was outmoded by none of the above mentioned problems.

The idea of a completely radarless carrier is a very bad idea, a real no starter in fact. The main reason of course is not just carrier operations, but ship operations. You need to navigate, and if I understood you correctly, your carrier is a monster, which will have trouble in confined waters,such as ports for instance, and how would you do it at night?
CV-58 America had a small conning position which was retractable, when flying operations were going on it was lowered, and all other times it was raised.
The command and control ship will need to be large, maybe heavy cruiser size (USS Northampton comes to mind, or the proposed conversion of the Hawaii). This ship will have to be big so it can maintain speed even in the roughest weather, and will have to have a very reliable link to the carrier, for transferring data about enemy aircraft or surface or sub surface units.

_________________
Thank you Kim for the crest

"Never fear to try on something new. Remember that the Titanic was built by professionals, and the Ark by an amateur"

The flattop doesn't have to be radarless, it can have the same facilities as the USS United States and I was going into this discussion assuming it would. My mistake for not making that more clear.

One idea for a command ship would be a converted battleship designed to provide AA cover. Such as this one: