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I've been playing around in the Editor looking some form of sub comms with intermittent reporting as well as very hypothetical situation with the US using the USS America as an ASW carrier. (Think USS Essex & USS Bennington in the early 60's)

So I decided I'd wrap them both up in a small scenario. Before putting it out to Beta I'd like some input on the air wing to include on the America.
Once I've tweaked the air wing and a few other bits I'll post it up for beta. I want to do a 'shallow' and 'deep' water version. One with modern SS & SSK's and the other against SSN, SSGN


Scenario setting:
A hypothetical situation where in the nr future (2018) the US finally decides that an amphibious carrier without a well deck isn't the best option.
Faced with the ever increasing threat posed by the growing number of small, quiet and well armed conventional submarines the US converts the USS America from an air optimised amphibious carrier LHA to an ASW optimised carrier CVA operating the hypothetical ASW variant of the Osprey along with a reduced F35B wing. (let's assume the flight deck heat issues are resolved!). There is also the ever present and resurgent threat from Russian submarines in the N. Atlantic.


I'm looking for a bit of input on the numbers of aircraft to include.
Working on this as a starting point http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/budget/fy2008/dot-e/navy/2008lha6.pdf
"LHA 6 is a large-deck amphibious ship designed to support a notional mix of 12 MV-22s, six F-35B Joint Strike Fighters (Short Take-Off, Vertical Landing variant), four CH-53Es, seven AH-1s/UH-1s, and two embarked H-60 Search and Rescue (SAR) aircraft, or an F-35B load-out of 20 aircraft and two
H-60 SAR aircraft"

Given what I'm using her for I've dropped the CH-53's / AH-1 & UH-1's could go and currently have:
6x F-35B Lightning II
4x SH60B Seahawk
20x SV-22D Osprey (ASW Variant)
4x MV-22B Osprey (configured as tankers or possibly COD if needed)

This is already higher than her real world (LHA) load, even with the increased Osprey numers the editor would still allow more aircraft.
The Editor would actually allow an additional 32 SV-22D's or F-35's which seems a bit excessive and unrealistic (even for a hypothetical scenario!)

I think a few extra F-35's would be welcome for local CAP given that any SSK hunting would be within range of land based aircraft.
And I was considering adding a couple more helo's for close in ASW .... however she will have escorts with helo's and the main objective is to get them at longer range. Also wondering about AEW!

Any thoughts much appreciated ?


She will have some supporting DDG's and there will be 2 friendly subs operating some way ahead.
The scenario will be an ASW training exercise for the America and these subs will not engage any contacts (unless in self defence) even if classified as Hostile.

The subs will operate on an approx 6hr reporting schedule. During that time they will share contacts and the player will be able to issue orders to change course, speed, depth etc. They will be in contact for approx 1hr (with some variation) before dropping comms. Once comms drop they will continue their patrol and any contacts only reported by the subs will start to get increasing uncertainty regions around them.
Of course they will only share 'current' contacts.
For example,if they had a contact 3hrs ago but lost it then it won't get shared, only what they currently hold - not ideal but seems to be working out OK.

Please - Don't let this generate yet another 'sub comms' thread .... I'm simply adding a bit of limited reporting using the tools we already have! It adds a little extra fog of war!

Any suggestions greatly appreciated also interested in any thoughts on present day usefulness of an ASW carrier ... but I'll post another thread for that in the general forum.

ALGrant

I would switch out the SH60B and replace with the MH-60R, has both a dipping sonar and SBs, the full squadron (14 I think) would be dispersed amongst the escorts with the core on the CVA.

Probably some MH-60S for flexibility as well, full Sqn is 12 I think. Perhaps a composite MH-60 Sqn with 12-14x 'S' & 'R' in total including the escorting DDGs complement.


B

Thanks Gunner,

The MH-60R seems like an obvious change and one I should really have gone for straight away.

as for AEW.... you could use a couple of brit aew helo assets.... i have done that in make believe before....

Your AEW assets could be from an E-3B/C deployed to Iceland or Goose Bay, maybe add in some tanker support to stretch the range a bit if needed.

You can custom edit MV-22Bs to have AEW loadouts. Just add the sensors on the British Merlin AEW helo (Searchwater AEW, IIRC) onto one (or more) in-flight MV-22s (and maybe ESM sensors from E-2Ds if you like) and order them to land. As long as you don't mess with their loadouts, they should be ready later. I call my variants the EV-22E Electric Osprey, though I suppose you can name them whatever you want. [:'(]

This concept, although much bigger, reminds me of the proposed class of Zumwalt Sea Control Ships which would have provided continuous airborne cover for a group of ASW & AEW helicopters.

Trials took place on the USS Guam with AV-8A Harriers and Sea Kings for two years from 1972 but the project was abandoned after Congress refused funding due to limited size, capability and speed.