Aircraft carriers are seagoing platforms to both launch and recover aircraft acting as a naval airbase. They are used in surface warfare to both launch aircraft attacking enemy ships or submarines as well as use a fighter screen to intercept enemy combat aircraft, to support ground operations by launching ground attack missions, as well as for support during natural disasters or a time of crisis. Oftentimes for nations, they are a sign of prestige and used to impress potential allies or deter enemies.
There are several different types of aircraft carriers, with the main types operated being:
- Aircraft Carrier
- Aircraft Cruiser
- Amphibious Assault Ship
- Anti-Submarine Warfare Ship
- Fleet Carrier
- Helicopter Carrier
- Light Aircraft Carrier
Modern aircraft carriers are divided into four separate categories based on the way aircraft launch and are recovered:
- Catapult-Assist Take-Off Barrier-Arrested Recovery (CATOBAR)
- Short Take-Off Barrier-Arrested Recovery (STOBAR)
- Short Take-Off Vertical-Landing (STOVL)
- Helicopter Carrier
List of Aircraft Carriers By Nation on Doomsday[]
The following is a list of all known aircraft carriers in the world as of September 25-26, 1983 and their approximate locations based on the best available evidence.
| Country | Aircraft Carrier | Class | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina | ARA Veinticinco de Mayo (V-2) | Colossus | Stationed in home port of Port Belgrano Naval Base as multiple mechanical failures had reduced the effectiveness of the vessel |
| Brazil | Minas Gerais | Colossus | Likely located at the Naval Base of Rio de Janeiro, as September 1983 was the only operable and combat ready aircraft carrier of a South American country. |
| France | Clemenceau | Clemenceau | Likely was in home port of Toulon, France given there was a discussion about sending it to relieve the Foche. |
| France | Foche | Clemenceau | Was stationed along with two support ships off Beirut, Lebanon providing support to French peacekeeping forces in Beirut. |
| India | INS Vikrant | Majestic | Located at the home port of Bombay and not involved in any operation. |
| Italy | Giuseppe Garibaldi | Garibaldi | Was based out of Taranto, Italy, having been launched on June 4, 1983 and scheduled to be commissioned on Sept. 30, 1985. Still under construction at the Fincantieri shipyards of Monfalcone, near Trieste. |
| Spain | Dedalo | Independence | Was based out of Rota, Spain, likely in the vicinity of Gibraltar. |
| Union of Soviet Socialist Republics | Baku | Kiev | Although launched in 1982, it had not yet been commissioned and was likely still at the shipyard in Mykolaiv, Ukraine. |
| Union of Soviet Socialist Republics | Kiev | Kiev | Undergoing an overhaul at Mykolaiv, Ukraine on Black Sea since Dec. 1982. |
| Union of Soviet Socialist Republics | Minsk | Kiev | Likely in the Black Sea Fleet |
| Union of Soviet Socialist Republics | Novorossiysk | Kiev | Likely in northern Pacific Ocean, serving with Soviet Pacific Fleet out of Vladivostok. |
| United Kingdom | HMS Hermes | Centaur | Left England on Sept. 17, 1983 along with carrier Illustrious and escort ships with mission to sail to Mediterranean Sea and participate in naval exercises. They were likely in the Mediterranean Seaa as they were to participate in the exercise Display Determination which began Sept. 24. |
| United Kingdom | HMS Invincible | Invincible | Left England on Sep. 1, 1983 and entered the Mediterranean Sea on Sep. 10 with her escorts, planning to pass through the Suez Canal about Sept. 22 and head to Pacific Ocean for a seven month tour. |
| United Kingdom | HMS Illustrious | Invincible | Left England on Sept. 17, 1983 along with carrier Hermes and escort ships with mission to sail to Mediterranean Sea and participate in naval exercises. They were likely in the Mediterranean Sea as they were to participate in the exercise Display Determination which began Sept. 24. |
| United States | USS America (CVN-66) | Kitty Hawk | Under repair in Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Virginia (VA), having arrived on July 8, 1983 for a four month period of repairs and alternations, scheduled to be completed at the end of October 1983. |
| United States | USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) | Nimitz | Anchored off the coast of Hong Kong, having arrived on September 21, 1983, intending to be there for five day port of call before departing for Japan to participate in the ANNUALEX 58G exercises. |
| United States | USS Constellation (CVN-64) | Kitty Hawk | Undergoing a fourteen month complex overhaul at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington, which began after its arrival in December 1982. |
| United States | USS Coral Sea (CVN-43) | Midway | At Norfolk Naval Base, VA, having arrived on September 16, 1983, after completing an around the world trip. |
| United States | USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) | Nimitz | Stationed off Beirut, Lebanon, providing assistance to American peacekeeping forces in the city. |
| United States | USS Enterprise (CVN-65) | Enterprise | Was off the coast of California (CA), scheduled to return to its home port of Alameda Naval Air Station, CA on September 26, 1983 after a six-day sea trial, completing its four-month Selected Restricted Availability (SRA). |
| United States | USS Forrestal (CVN-59) | Forrestal | At the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania undergoing a 28-month service life extension program overhaul designed to extend the life of the ship. The ship had arrived on January 18, 1983. |
| United States | USS Independence (CVN-62) | Forrestal | Arrived back at Norfolk Naval Base, VA on December 22, 1982 and was still in port. |
| United States | USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) | JFK | Was at the Norfolk Naval Base, VA, scheduled to depart on the morning of September 27, 1983. |
| United States | USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) | Kitty Hawk | Had arrived at its home port of San Diego, CA on September 19, 1983, departing on September 22 to engage in a composite training unit exercise off the coast of southern CA, a rehearsal each US Navy Carrier Strike Group performed before departing for deployment. |
| United States | USS Lexington (AVT-16) | Essex | |
| United States | USS Midway (CVN-41) | Midway | Based in Japan since 1973, was undergoing renovation at the US Naval Base in Yokosuka, Japan. |
| United States | USS Nimitz (CVN-68) | Nimitz | Undergoing a complex overhaul at the Norfolk Naval Yard, VA, which had begun in June 1983 and was not scheduled to end until July 1984. |
| United States | USS Ranger (CVN-61) | Forrestal | Was at Subic Bay, Philippines along with its battle group, en route to the Arabian Sea. |
| United States | USS Saratoga (CVN-60) | Forrestal | In dry dock at its home port of Mayport, Florida, as it was undergoing a massive inspection to determine why its faulty steam system had not been repaired properly during its overhaul in 1982 in the Philadelphia Shipyards. |
Doomsday[]
On Doomsday, virtually every single aircraft carrier operated by NATO or the Warsaw Pact and their allies were targeted both to prevent a secondary wave of attacks as well as cripple the navies. Attack submarines from the navies of NATO and a mixture of attack submarines, nuclear missiles, and nuclear bombers targeted the Soviet aircraft carriers.
| Country | Aircraft Carrier | Class | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina | ARA Veinticinco de Mayo (V-2) | Colossus | Survived, refitted with commercial ship engines in 1984 and redeployed to support the liberation of the Islas Malvinas |
| Brazil | Minas Gerais | Colossus | Survived, deployed to support Brazilian naval operations and screen refugee vessels for hostiles |
| France | Clemenceau | Clemenceau | Destroyed in nuclear strike on Toulon Naval Base, France |
| France | Foche | Clemenceau | Damaged in nuclear strike targeting the Multinational Force in Lebanon naval fleet. Torpedoed in the weeks after by an unknown Soviet submarine in the Gulf of Analya. |
| India | INS Vikrant | Majestic | Survived, deployed to counter Pakistan Navy operations in the Arabian Sea. |
| Italy | Giuseppe Garibaldi | Garibaldi | Survived, |
| Spain | Dedalo | Independence | Destroyed in nuclear strike on Gibraltar |
| Union of Soviet Socialist Republics | Baku | Kiev | Destroyed in nuclear strike on the Mykolayiv Shipyard in Mykolaiv, Ukraine |
| Union of Soviet Socialist Republics | Kiev | Kiev | Destroyed in nuclear strike on the Mykolayiv Shipyard in Mykolaiv, Ukraine |
| Union of Soviet Socialist Republics | Minsk | Kiev | Destroyed in nuclear strike targeting Soviet naval fleets |
| Union of Soviet Socialist Republics | Novorossiysk | Kiev | Disappeared from Soviet records in 1985, likely sunk in naval battles between the Japanese Maritime Defense Forces or US Navy and Soviet Navy |
| United Kingdom | HMS Hermes | Centaur | Destroyed in nuclear strike off the coast of Italy, targeting NATO aircraft carrier fleets |
| United Kingdom | HMS Invincible | Invincible | Destroyed in nuclear strike off the coast of Italy, targeting NATO aircraft carrier fleets |
| United Kingdom | HMS Illustrious | Invincible | Destroyed in nuclear strike off the coast of Italy, targeting NATO aircraft carrier fleets |
| United States | USS America (CVN-66) | Kitty Hawk | Destroyed in nuclear strike on Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Virginia (VA), |
| United States | USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) | Nimitz | Survived Doomsday with the Carrier Group Three and Carrier Air Wing Fifteen. Avoided Soviet submarines and regrouped with other United States naval and civilian assets in the Pacific Ocean between September 1983 and June 1984 |
| United States | USS Constellation (CVN-64) | Kitty Hawk | Destroyed in nuclear strike targeting Bremerton, Washington and the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard |
| United States | USS Coral Sea (CVN-43) | Midway | Destroyed in nuclear strike targeting Norfolk Naval Base, Virginia |
| United States | USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) | Nimitz | Destroyed in nuclear strike targeting the Multinational Force in Lebanon |
| United States | USS Enterprise (CVN-65) | Enterprise | Presumed destroyed in nuclear strike targeting United States Navy carrier battle groups |
| United States | USS Forrestal (CVN-59) | Forrestal | Destroyed in nuclear strikes targeting Philadelphia |
| United States | USS Independence (CVN-62) | Forrestal | Destroyed in nuclear strike targeting Norfolk Naval Base, Virginia |
| United States | USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) | JFK | Survived, regrouped with surviving naval and civilian vessels before traveling to the United States Virgin Islands. |
| United States | USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) | Kitty Hawk | Presumed destroyed in nuclear strike targeting United States Navy carrier battle groups |
| United States | USS Lexington (AVT-16) | Essex | |
| United States | USS Midway (CVN-41) | Midway | Presumed destroyed by Soviet Navy between September 25th, 1983 and June 1st, 1984 |
| United States | USS Nimitz (CVN-68) | Nimitz | Destroyed in nuclear strikes targeting Newport News |
| United States | USS Ranger (CVN-61) | Forrestal | Destroyed in nuclear strike targeting United States Navy carrier battle groups |
| United States | USS Saratoga (CVN-60) | Forrestal | Destroyed in nuclear strike targeting Jacksonville, Florida |
Post Doomsday[]
Australia[]
Immediately after Doomsday, the Royal Australian Navy recommissioned the HMAS Melbourne into service as the flagship of the navy. When the HMS Hermes arrived in Australia, the vessel was put under the command of the Australian Navy until communication with the United Kingdom was restored. The two vessels saw action near the Aleutian Islands prior to the Sitka Accords, supporting joint combat operations and providing air cover to ground forces.
Later, the HMAS Melbourne was deployed to Indonesia as the flagship of a small combined Australian, American, British, and New Zealander flotilla to evacuate civilians from the war torn country.
Argentina[]
While the ARA Veinticicino de Mayo was in dry dock for repairs after suffering mechanical failures, the Argentine Navy prioritized returning the vessel to service. The Navy removed engines from a civilian tanker and restored the aircraft carrier to service. However, this was only a stop-gap solution as the vessel was limited to 18 knots and was considered to be underpowered.
Brazil[]
The Minas Gerais was deployed on Doomsday with a small support flotilla by the junta to guard the waters around the nation from possible Soviet submarines looking to target national shipping as well as prevent piracy from becoming a problem. While the vessel provided critical support in the first few years after Doomsday, continued problems with the steam catapults relegated the vessel into the role of a Landing Helicopter Assault, frequently deploying with a mixed air group of Super Lynx multi-purpose helicopters and SA 330 Puma utility helicopters.
France[]
The French Navy saw both the Clemenceau and the Foche destroyed on Doomsday with the former being severely damaged in a nuclear strike on the Multinational Forces in Lebanon and later being torpedoed by a Soviet submarine and the latter being destroyed in dry dock while undergoing a refit at the Saint Nazaire shipyards.
Italy[]
The Giuseppe Garibaldi had been launched only three and a half months prior to Doomsday and was still undergoing final fit out in the Monfalcone shipyards. While not commissioned, the Italian Navy ordered all ships from port anticipating a nuclear strike to destroy anti-submarine warfare assets. The vessel departed and barely managed to escape destruction, transmitting out to make contact with surviving NATO and Italian Navy assets. Having not completed fitting out, the ship lacked any aircraft and the defensive weaponry, while being fitted, lacked any munitions.
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics[]
The USSR, while operating four aircraft carriers (referred to in Soviet naval doctrine as aircraft carrying cruisers to allow transit via the Bosporus Strait due to the Montreux Convention banning aircraft carriers), saw all four lost on Doomsday with the Baku and Kiev lost in dry dock when the Mykolaiv Shipyards were destroyed by a nuclear strike. The Minsk, operating in the Black Sea was deployed to engage the Multinational Force in Lebanon in the Mediterranean Sea, and was presumably lost to either enemy submarines or strike aircraft from the Foch. The Novorossiysk was operating in the North Pacific and likely was lost in engagements with either the Japanese Navy or United States Navy, though no records of the ship’s loss were available and the vessel disappeared from the USSR’s ship list in 1985.
Additionally, while not yet commissioned, the hull of the first Project 1143.5 aircraft carrying cruiser was under construction in Mykolaiv and was also lost on Doomsday.
United Kingdom[]
The British government in exile managed to keep the HMS Invincible in operations for the evacuation to South Africa, but once there, it was a ship without a mission. With the military focused on operations to secure the war torn country, the navy was left with little resources, and the aircraft were removed for air support to ground troops who were fighting to salvage the remaining nation. While talks on a mission to liberate the Falkland Islands from Argentina kept the aircraft carrier on active service, the dwindling air wing and focus on South Africa set these plans back every year. After sitting in port throughout most of the 1980's and 1990's, it was decided to sell the vessel. The Brazilian Navy, which was searching for a suitable replacement for the Minas Geras, approached the Royal Navy to purchase the ship.
The remaining air wing and most of the weapons onboard the ship were removed prior to the sale, however, Brazilian technicians were permitted to inspect and copy designs of the Harrier S/VTOL attack aircraft.
United States[]
The United States government managed to survive and form an emergency government in Canberra, Australia. There was much relief when the USS Carl Vinson made contact with authorities in Tahiti, as it was feared that all carrier task forces had been destroyed on Doomsday. It managed to form up with a flotilla near the Marshall Islands, and steamed into the harbor at Melbourne after the famous Gathering Order was given.
Over the next decade, the ship served as an exploratory platform for the surviving American government to send assistance to authorities in Hawaii, Alaska, and the various smaller Pacific islands. When it was decided to dissolve the APA, remaining military assets, including the Vinson were merged into the new Commonwealth of Australia and New Zealand Navy as the ANZS Commonwealth.
The USS John F. Kennedy was able to escape Norfolk, Virginia, on Doomsday but did not gather in Australia, instead remaining close to U.S. territory in the Caribbean. It became the flagship of the United States Atlantic Remnant based in the United States Virgin Islands, however the inability for ports in the Virgin Islands to complete repairs resulted in the vessel being anchored in port at Charlotte Amalie from 1986 until the vessel was scrapped in 2016.
Recent Years[]
Argentina[]
The Argentine Navy, since the retirement of the ARA Vienticico de Mayo, has not operated an aircraft carrier. However, it is currently in discussions with Brazil to begin constructing an indigenous designed fleet carrier. It jointly unveiled a model with Brazil in 2018 at a naval show in Sao Paulo and the class has been referred to domestically as the Rio de la Plata-class.
The new aircraft carrier will be capable of CATOBAR operation with up to and will be armed with two domestically manufactured Sea Dart surface to air missile launchers and four 40 mm multi-purpose autocannons. The vessels will each be capable of carrying up to forty aircraft, with the proposed air group consisting of 24 jets and 16 helicopters. Argentina has announced plans to build one vessel in conjunction with Brazil.
Brazil[]
The Brazilian Navy operates the São Paulo, the former HMS Invincible, which was purchased to replace the Minas Geras in 1992. The ship is the flagship for the Brazilian Navy and is the only operational aircraft carrier in South America and the South American Confederation. While the São Paulo was sold to Brazil without the air wing, upon arrival to the city of São Paulo, the Navy embarked the vessel with AS355 utility helicopters and AS532 utility helicopters refitted for anti-submarine warfare. However, work on a S/VTOL multi-role aircraft began as part of the deal permitted Brazilian Air Force and Navy technicians to review one of the Sea Harrier FRS1 strike fighters and copy plans based off maintenance and repair manuals.
By the turn of the millennia, a collaboration between Avibras, Embraer, and the Brazilian Navy resulted in the Albatross BVT01 S/VTOL strike fighter. Two dozen of the aircraft were built to provide the vessel with a complete compliment of aircraft for strike missions.
The Brazilian Navy has announced plans to replace the São Paulo and expand the fleet with an indigenous designed fleet carrier. It jointly unveiled a model with Argentina in 2018 at a naval show in the city of São Paulo with the class been referred to domestically as the Rio de la Plata-class.
The new aircraft carrier will be capable of CATOBAR operation with up to and will be armed with two domestically manufactured Sea Dart surface to air missile launchers and four 40 mm multi-purpose autocannons. The vessels will each be capable of carrying up to forty aircraft, with the proposed air group consisting of 24 jets and 16 helicopters. Brazil has announced plans to build two vessels in conjunction with Argentina. The vessels will be capable of supporting both the Albatross strike fighters and the remaining inventory of A-4 Skyhawk attack aircraft.
Celtic Alliance[]
In March of 2009, the Celtic Alliance announced plans to commission what was deemed a multi-purpose amphibious vessel and outside analysts in Brazil, Australia and New Zealand, Mexico, and Sicily deemed to be an amphibious assault ship capable of acting as a light carrier. The vessels are Éire-class multi-purpose amphibious vessels and the Celtic Alliance Navy has commissioned one vessel, with one each under construction for the Canadian Navy and the Spanish Navy. The Commonwealth of Australia and New Zealand has expressed interest in the vessel to augment their fleet carriers.
Each Éire-class amphibious vessel is capable of supporting up to twelve AV-8 Harrier Jump jets and eight multi-purpose utility helicopters to serve in anti-submarine warfare, airborne early warning and control, rescue, or transportation roles. The vessels are lightly armed with two 20 mm auto cannons for both air and naval defense and four .50 calibre heavy machine guns. The vessels are reliant on fleet support to defend the vessel against more robust assailants.
Commonwealth of Australia and New Zealand[]
The Commonwealth of Australia and New Zealand gained the former USS Carl Vinson as the ANZS Commonwealth in 1995 and the former HMS Hermes as the ANZS Tasman Sea in 1996 as well as the HMAS Melbourne as the ANZS Jervis Bay, which had been brought into service as the flagship of the Australian Navy after Doomsday. While initially lacking any surviving shipyard capabilities to support any of the large vessels, the Commonwealth built a new shipyard in Darwin, capable of supporting the large aircraft carriers.
In 1998, the ANZS Jervis Bay was retired from active service due to the age and poor condition of the vessel and it was scrapped in 2009 after several efforts to return it to service failed due to the deteriorating conditions.
While the range of the ANZS Commonwealth allowed the vessel to operate for longer missions further from friendly supply lanes compared to the ANZS Tasman Sea, the inability to refuel nuclear powered vessels proved to be problematic for the Commonwealth Navy. While an unpopular move in New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Micronesia, the federal government authorized the development of a refueling facility to maintain the existing fleet of nuclear powered vessels.
The ANZS Commonwealth embarks with a mixed air group of two fighter squadrons of F-14A Tomcat multirole fighter, one attack squadron of A-4G Skyhawk attack aircraft, one anti-submarine warfare squadron of S-2 Tracker anti-submarine warfare aircraft with several refitted to support as refueling aircraft, one anti-submarine warfare helicopter squadron of SH-3 Sea King anti-submarine warfare helicopters, one early warning and control squadron of E-2C Hawkeye airborne early warning and control aircraft, one electronics warfare squadron of EA-3B Skywarrior electronics warfare aircraft, and one utility squadron of SH-3 Sea King utility helicopters.
The ANZS Tasman Sea embarks with a mixed air group composed of two attack squadrons of Sea Harrier attack aircraft, one anti-submarine warfare helicopter squadron of WS-61 Sea King HAS.5 anti-submarine warfare helicopters, and one transportation squadron of SH-3 Sea King utility helicopters.
India[]
While the INS Vikrant was not targeted on Doomsday, the Pakistan Navy sent a dedicated squadron of destroyers, frigates, and submarines to sink the ship in the reignited Kashmir War between India and Pakistan. To spare the vessel from destruction, the Indian Navy sent the aircraft carrier to the Bay of Bengal for the duration of the war.
The Indian Navy had six Sea Harrier FRS Mk 51 fighters and two T Mk 60 trainers on order from the United Kingdom, with the first three Sea Harriers due for delivery in December, 1983. Doomsday cancelled these plans as the United Kingdom was heavily impacted by nuclear strikes. While the Sea Hawk was due for retirement (being replaced by the Harrier), Doomsday resulted in the aircraft being refurbished by Hindustan Aeronautical between 1984 and 1985.
The INS Vikrant had an air group of one Hawker Sea Hawk fighter jets for fleet defence, one squadron of Bréguet Br.1050 Alizé anti-submarine warfare aircraft, Westland Sea King anti-submarine warfare helicopters, and HAL Chetak utility helicopters.
The carrier saw operations in support of anti-piracy efforts off the coast of East Africa as Somalia and Kenya collapsed in civil war. Additionally, it was deployed to support air operations against Pakistan during the various border skirmishes.
In 1987, the ship entered dry dock for refit and modernization, adding additional weapons for defense and repairing structural fatigue in the flight deck and hull. The Indian Navy planned to operate the carrier through 2007, though planning had begun on a replacement vessel.
The vessel reentered service in 1991 with four twin 9K32 Strela-2 short range surface to air missile launchers and two AK-630 close in weapons systems. The hull had been completely overhauled and was deemed acceptable for at least another decade and a half of service life.
In 1998, the Indian Navy began to plan for the vessel’s replacement as well as the possible procurement of a second carrier, to provide for deployments in the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea, as well as abroad. While the country had not produced an aircraft carrier, the Navy recognized without a foreign supplier and the age of the Vikrant, a domestic vessel would need to be developed.
Coordination between various shipyards and the Navy resulted in the Vikramaditya-class aircraft carrier. The class is a 38,000 ton CATOBAR aircraft carrier, capable of deploying 22 fixed wing combat aircraft and eight rotary wing aircraft in anti-submarine, airborne early warning, and carrier onboard delivery roles.
The carriers are armed defensively, with a Barak 1 surface to air missile system, four AK-630 close in weapons systems, and two Oerlikon 20 mm autocannons.
Two ships were commissioned; the first, INS Vikramaditya in 2009 and the second, INS Vikrant in 2016.
Italy[]
The Giuseppe Garibaldi was launched a few months before Doomsday, however, remained in Monfalcone for fitting out before commissioning. On Doomsday, the ship was not prepared to participate in combat operations. Instead, the vessel left port to head away from fighting in the eastern Mediterranean. The vessel docked on the island of Sicily in Palermo.
Union of Siberian Socialist Republics[]
Socialist Siberia did not manage to inherit any carriers from the former Soviet Union, but it did have the plans for various types of these vessels. In recent years, it has commissioned two Kreml-class aircraft carrying cruisers, the Kreml and the Soyuz, both operating from the Pacific Fleet. A third vessel is believed to be under construction in Magadan to act as the flagship of the recently reconstituted Northern Fleet.
Each Kreml-class aircraft carrier is based off the pre-Doomsday Kiev-class aircraft carrying cruiser, however the forward missile tubes have been removed from the updated design and replace with a 14 degree ski jump. The vessels are armed with four AK-630 close-in weapons systems, two 4K60 surface to air missile launchers, four 9K33 Oca short range surface to air missile launchers, and one RPK-1 Vikhr anti-submarine rocket launcher. They carry a two fighter squadrons of Yak-38 short take-off/landing fighter aircraft, one attack squadron of Su-25 Grach attack aircraft, one anti-submarine warfare squadron of Mi-14 anti-submarine warfare helicopters, and one helicopter transportation squadron of Mi-8 helicopters.
United States[]
The US Atlantic Remnant continued to utilize the USS John F. Kennedy although by the mid-1980's, the vessel was nearly inoperable due to the lack of maintenance and limited available fuel supplies. When the Atlantic Remnant reunited with the United States in 2014, the armed forces and government in Torrington gained an important military asset. However, it quickly became clear that the vessel was barely afloat and would not be capable of sustaining deployments without a complete overhaul. While heatedly debated in the halls of Congress, a decision was made in 2016 to scrap the vessel, and the ship was sold to a Mexican ship scrapper.
The United States does not operate any aircraft carrying vessels as of 2022, however the Navy maintains amphibious warfare capabilities that can transport helicopters for light infantry mobilization.
Future[]
Various navies around the world have shown interests in either obtaining or constructing their own aircraft carriers. Several navies with carriers have additional vessels planned either to boost their numbers or replace the aging ships currently in their inventory. However the practicality of this remains yet to be seen as many nation’s carriers are nearing derelict status and the inability to properly sustain replenishment fleets, shipyards, and other naval assets have rendered many to be mere shows of force rather than credible combat vessels.
Canada[]
The Canadian Navy has an order for one Érie-class multi-purpose amphibious vessel with the Celtic Alliance, to be named the HMCS Protector. However, a 2021 Defence Review by the Canadian Parliament has caused the armed forces to analyze the viability of the vessel and the Labor Party has called for the ship to be cancelled. The light carrier is currently under construction at the Dublin Shipyards in the Celtic Alliance.
Celtic Alliance[]
The Celtic Alliance Navy has considered ordering a second Érie-class multi-purpose amphibious vessel to compliment the current vessel and provide the ability to respond to multiple crises at once. However, the maintenance and resupply requirements of the existing vessel have cause heavy criticism from various parties in the Celtic Alliance Parliament which have prevented an additional vessel from being ordered. The existing vessel has been considered to be decommissioned and either sold to a friendly nation or scrapped.
Commonwealth of Australia and New Zealand[]
The Commonwealth of Australia and New Zealand has begun reviewing future replacement of the two operational aircraft carriers in the Navy with both vessels requiring replacement by 2030. ANZS Commonwealth has been in operation since 1980 with a planned lifespan of 50 years for decommissioning in 2030, while the ANZS Tasman Sea has been in operation since 1953 though being a conventionally powered aircraft carrier, the lifespan is limited by the structural integrity and condition of the ship.
Serious consideration has been made whether to replace the pair of aircraft carriers currently operated with a conventionally powered design or a new nuclear powered vessel. Between 2004 and early 2009, the ANZS Commonwealth was in port for refueling and overhaul, leaving the Commonwealth Navy with a single aircraft carrier that was primarily in the vicinity of Malta to defend neutral shipping. The ANZS Tasman Sea underwent a complete overhaul in 2011 to extend the life of the vessel to 2030, to give the Commonwealth time to decide on the future replacement vessels.
In consideration are the option to build two nuclear powered fleet carriers, two conventional coal or oil powered fleet carriers, or procure two Érie-class amphibious vessels. A final decision is expected by late 2022.
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