[Back]
[Index]
[Next]
United States Naval Reserve Intelligence Program
|
[Back] |
[Index] |
[Next] |
Ready-for-Sea Handbook United States Naval Reserve Intelligence Program |
MODULE 2—CARRIER BATTLEGROUP & Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) PLATFORMS AND MISSIONS
2-*
A. Carrier Battlegroup (CVBG) 2-*
B. Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) 2-*
C. Battlegroup Platforms 2-*
D. Carrier Battlegroups Elements 2-*
E. Aircraft Carriers 2-*
1. Nimitz Class (CVN) 2-*
2. Enterprise Class (CVN) 2-*
3. Kitty Hawk and John F. Kennedy Class (CV) 2-*
F. CRUISERS 2-*
1. Ticonderoga (AEGIS) Class (CG) 2-*
2. California Class (CGN) 2-*
3. Intelligence-related spaces aboard Cruisers 2-*
G. Destroyers 2-*
1. Arleigh Burke Class (DDG) 2-*
2. Spruance Class (DDG) 2-*
3. Kidd Class (DDG) 2-*
H. FRIGATES 2-*
1. Oliver Hazard Perry Class (FFG) 2-*
I. Amphibious Warfare ships 2-*
1. Blue Ridge Class (LCC) 2-*
2. Iwo Jima Class (LPH) 2-*
3. Tarawa Class (LHA) 2-*
4. Wasp Class (LHD) 2-*
J. Fast Attack Submarines 2-*
1. Los Angeles & Improved Los Angeles Class (SSN) 2-*
2. Sturgeon Class (SSN) 2-*
K. AUXILIARIES 2-*
1. Sacramento Class (AOE) 2-*
L. AIR WINGS 2-*
M. CARRIER AIR WING PLATFORMS AND MISSIONS 2-*
1. F/A-18C/D/E/F HORNET 2-*
3. F-14 TOMCAT 2-*
4. E-2C HAWKEYE 2-*
5. S-3A/B and ES-3B VIKING 2-*
6. EA-6B PROWLER 2-*
7. SH-60 SEA HAWK (and Variants) 2-*
8. Other Associated Aircraft 2-*
N. Naval Aircraft Trends 2-*
1. Fixed Wing 2-*
2. Rotary Wing 2-*MODULE 2—CARRIER BATTLEGROUP & Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) PLATFORMS AND MISSIONS
Modern carrier battlegroups (
CVBGs) and Amphibious Ready Groups (ARGs) incorporate a diverse mix of platforms to carry out their power projection missions. The typical breakdown for a current carrier battlegroup includes one carrier (CV or CVN), two cruisers (CGs and/or CGNs), three destroyers (DDs and/or DDGs) or frigates (FFs and/or FFGs) and one auxiliary (AE, AOE, or AOR). Some battlegroups also include a fast attack submarine (SSN) operating in a support role. The ultimate content of the battlegroup will depend on the specific mission of the Task Force. Additionally, nuclear powered carriers (CVNs) are often coupled with the most up to date air warfare (AW) and undersea warfare (USW) platforms (surface or subsurface). Nuclear cruisers normally will be attached to nuclear carriers.The modern carrier battlegroup forms a potent power-projection platform. As will be discussed forthwith, the embarked carrier air wing employs a diverse mix of offensive and defensive aircraft capable of carrying out intense and sustained combat operations against targets ashore and on the sea. The assets of the battlegroup itself maintain sophisticated combat systems for conducting local combat actions in defense of the carrier.
B. Amphibious Ready Group (ARG)
Amphibious Ready Groups consist of anywhere from five to twenty-plus amphibious warfare ships carrying between one to fifty thousand marines, depending on the mission. The combined Marine troops and air wing form Marine Air/Ground Task Forces (
MAGTFs) of varying sizes (see below). MAGTFs include their own command staffs, ground troops, close air support (AV-8B Harriers and assault helicopters) and service/maintenance support.The most basic
ARG is the Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) consisting of three to five ships and a Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) of two thousand marines with enough supplies for fifteen days of combat. Advantages of the PHIBRON/MEU team include quick response and forward deployment. This makes them ideal for evacuation of U.S. personnel abroad facing hostile conditions (see below) or amphibious raids. The next operational level up is the Amphibious Group (PHIBGRU) consisting of sixteen to twenty-four ships and a Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB) of fifteen thousand marines equipped for thirty days of combat. This group is capable of larger, extended operations. The ships in the PHIBGRU include Maritime Pre-positioning Ships (MPS) loaded with ammunition, supplies and material. Finally, there is the Amphibious Task Force (ATF) consisting of twenty ships and a full Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) of twenty-five to fifty thousand marines capable of sixty days sustained combat operations. This is the largest, most powerful MAGTF.Typical
ARG missions include non-combatant evacuation (NEO), in extremis hostage rescue (IHR), tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel (TRAP), and maritime interdiction force operations (MIFO). A Navy/Marine Corps PHIBGRU performed a NEO to evacuate U.S. citizenry from Liberia during the 1991 civil war. U.S. Navy warships performed an extended MIFO in support of United Nations economic sanctions against Iraq during operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm also in 1991-2.Typical platforms found in the battlegroup include:
Carrier (CV/CVN)—The carrier’s primary mission is air power projection, either to targets ashore or at sea. The carrier is the center around which the other ships in the battlegroup evolve. CVN indicates a nuclear powered carrier.
Cruiser (CG/CGN)—Cruisers attached to a battlegroup primarily perform air-warfare (AW) missions to protect the carrier and other ships from air threats. Cruisers are also equipped with missiles for surface-warfare (SUW), and Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System (LAMPS) helicopters for undersea-warfare (USW). CGN indicates a nuclear powered cruiser.
Destroyer (
DD/DDG)—Most modern destroyers are optimized for a particular warfare task, such as USW, AW or SUW; typically, they also have some capability to conduct the other two as well. DDG indicates the destroyer can fire guided missiles.
Frigate (
FF/FFG)—The main mission of the frigates is USW, although they usually have some capability for conducting AW and SUW. FFG indicates the frigate can fire guided missiles.D. Carrier Battlegroups Elements
Eleven carrier battlegroups and one training carrier operate in the fleet. At the core of each group, reporting directly to the battlegroup commander, is a permanently assigned carrier (
CV or CVN), carrier air wing (CVW), a carrier group (CARGRU), a cruiser/destroyer group (CRUDESGRU), and a tactical destroyer squadron (TACDESRON). Submarine support for each battlegroup usually consists of one or two nuclear powered attack submarines (SSNs). The summary of a typical carrier battlegroup follows below:
Ship Type
Primary Mission
Typical Number in Battlegroup
Aircraft Carrier Power Projection 1
Cruiser AW 1-2
Destroyer USW/SUW/AW 2-3
Frigate USW/SUW/AW 2-3
Submarine USW 1
Auxiliary Support 1
E. Aircraft Carriers
CVN) Displacement: 72,916 tons light, 96,000 - 102,000 full load.
Length: 1040 feet along the flight deck (317 meters).
Beam: 252 feet (76.8 meters).
Speed: 30+ knots (34.5+ miles per hour).
Power Plant: Two nuclear reactors, four geared steam turbines, four shafts (thirteen to fifteen years between re-fuelings or 800,000 to 1,000,000 miles).
Complement: 3,200 regular ship’s compliment + 2,480 aircrew.
Defense: Four
NATO Sea Sparrow, three to four 20mm Vulcan Phalanx (CIWS).Air wing: 80 aircraft including F-14s; F/A-18s; EA-6Bs; E-2Cs; S-3A/Bs; SH-60Fs, HH-60Hs.
Nimitz
CVN
-68 (LANTFLT)Dwight D. Eisenhower
CVN
-69 (LANTFLT)Carl Vinson
CVN
-70 (PACFLT)Theodore Roosevelt
CVN
-71 (LANTFLT)Abraham Lincoln
CVN
-72 (PACFLT)George Washington
CVN
-73 (PACFLT)John C. Stennis
CVN-
74 (PACFLT)Harry S. Truman
CVN-
75 (LANTFLT)Ronald Reagan
CVN-
76 (Building)The Nimitz class nuclear powered aircraft carrier is the largest, most powerful, capable aircraft carrier class in the world. The general arrangement of these ships is similar to the previous Kitty Hawk class with respect to flight deck, hangar, elevators, and island structure, e.g., the island is aft of the Number 1 and 2 elevators, with the Number 4 elevator on the port side aft of the angled deck and opposite the Number 3 elevator (see illustration below). The angled deck is canted to port at 9°3’ and is almost 800 feet long. The general excellence of the Nimitz design precluded major changes to later ships in the class.
CVN-71 and subsequent ships incorporate improved magazine protection; CVN-73 and later ships feature improved topside ballistic protection; CVN-74 and later ships are constructed with HSLA-100 steel. There are eight ships of this class commissioned in various states of readiness, and one under construction.
Figure 3.1. Nimitz Class
CVN Top View.*Figure 3.2. Nimitz Class CVN Side View.
The
U.S.S. John C. Stennis (CVN-74), the seventh of the class, was commissioned in 1996. The eighth of the class and the newest aircraft carrier in the U.S. Navy, the U.S.S. Harry S. Truman (CVN-75), was commissioned in July 1998. The final ship of the class, U.S.S. Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) is also under construction and is scheduled to be commissioned in 2008.Displacement: 73,502 light; 75,700 standard; 93,970 full load
Length: 1,040 feet along the flight deck (317 meters).
Beam: 133 feet (39.9 meters).
Speed: 30+ knots (34.5 miles per hour).
Power Plant: Eight nuclear reactors, four geared steam turbines, and four shafts.
Complement: 3,215 regular ship’s compliment + 2,480 aircrew.
Defense: Three
NATO Sea Sparrow, three 20mm Vulcan Phalanx (CIWS).Air wing: 75 aircraft, including F-14; F/A-18; EA-6B; E-2C; S-3A/B; SH-60F; HH-60H.
There is one ship in this class:
Enterprise
CVN
-65 (LANTFLT)
Figure 3.3. Enterprise Class
CVN Top View.
Figure 3.4. Enterprise Class
CVN Side View.Built to a modified Forrestal class design,
Enterprise was the world’s second nuclear-powered warship (the cruiser Long Beach (CGN-9) was completed a few months earlier). The first of the eight reactors installed achieved initial criticality on 2 December 1960, shortly after the carrier was launched. After three years of operation during which she steamed more than 207,000 miles, Enterprise was refueled from November 1964 to July 1965. Her second set of cores provided about 300,000 miles steaming. Refueled again in 1970 the third set of cores lasted for eight years until replaced in 1979-82 overhaul. There are two reactors for each of the ship’s four shafts. The eight reactors feed 32 heat exchangers. Aviation facilities include four deck edge lifts, two forward and one each side abaft the island. There are four 295 foot C-13 Mod 1 catapults. Hangars cover 216,000 sq. ft with 25-ft deck head. The Enterprise carries 8,500 tons of aviation fuel (12 days flight operations). She recently completed a fourth refueling.CV) Displacement: 60,100 tons light, 81,773 full load.
Length: 1,063 feet along the flight deck (323.8 meters).
Beam: 130 feet (39 meters).
Speed: 30+ knots (34.5 miles per hour).
Power Plant: Eight boilers, four geared steam turbines, four shafts, and 280,000 shaft horsepower.
Complement: 3,150 regular ship’s compliment + 2,480 aircrew.
Defense: Three
NATO Sea Sparrow, three 20mm Vulcan Phalanx (CIWS).Air wing: 75 aircraft including F-14; F-18; EA-6B; E-2C, S-3A/B; SH-3G/H or SH-60F
There are three ships in this class:
Kitty Hawk
CV
-63 (PACFLT)John F. Kennedy
CV
-67 (LANTFLT)Constellation
CV
-64 (PACFLT)
Figure 3.5. Kitty Hawk Class
CV Top View.
Figure 3.6. Kitty Hawk Class
CV Side View.These carriers are based on an improved Forrestal class design featuring improved elevator and flight deck arrangement. Both
Kitty Hawk (CV-63) and Constellation (CV-64) were modernized recently under the service life extension program (SLEP), which extends their projected service life fifteen years beyond their original thirty year service life. America (CV-66) will not be upgraded and probably will be decommissioned in 1996. These ships are larger than those of the Forrestal class and have two elevators forward of the island structure and portside elevator on the stern quarter rather than at the forward end of the angled flight deck.Note: The
John F. Kennedy has a number of modifications not inherent to the Kitty Hawk class and is therefore referred to as its own class.AEGIS) Class (CG) Displacement
: 7,015 tons light, 9,590 full load.Length: 567 feet (172.8 meters).
Beam: 55 feet (16.75 meters).
Speed: 30+ knots (34.5 miles per hour).
Power Plant: Four General Electric LM 2500 gas turbine engines; two shafts, 80,000 shaft horsepower total.
Complement: 364 (24 officers + 340 enlisted).
Weapons: Tomahawk land attack and anti-ship missiles, eight Harpoon SSMs, ASROCs, SM-2MR SAMs, two 20mm Vulcan Phalanx (CIWS), two Mk 45 127mm (5 inch) DP guns, six MK-46 torpedoes (two triple launchers).
Figure 3.8. Ticonderoga (
AEGIS) Class CG Side View.Note: this view shows the external twin Mk 26 Mod 1 launchers on
CG-47through CG-51.Ticonderoga class guided missile cruisers are the world’s most capable air warfare (
AW) ships, developed to provide extensive carrier battlegroup defense against aircraft and anti-ship missiles. There are twenty-seven ships of this class active in varying states of readiness (CG-47 through CG-73) and are the only remaining U.S. Navy cruisers remaining in active service. Built to a modified Spruance class destroyer design, they are equipped with the state-of-the-art SPY-1 phased array radar system that forms part of the AEGIS AW weapon system. For this reason, they often are referred to as AEGIS class cruisers and form the backbone of the AW mission for battlegroups they are assigned to. Additionally, these ships have major undersea warfare (USW) and strike capabilities. The wide array of weaponry carried, including surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), surface-to-surface missiles (SSMs), anti-submarine rockets (ASROCs), five-inch deck guns, 20mm Phalanx, and embarked LAMPS III helicopter, make these ships among the most versatile in the Navy.The first six ships of the class (
CG-47 through CG-52) have two external twin Mk 26 Mod 1 launchers for the Standard SM-2MR SAM. Subsequent ships have two 61-cell Mk 41 vertical launch system (VLS) capable of firing the SM-2MR, the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM), and anti-submarine rockets (ASROC).At least eight ships of this class fired in excess of one hundred Tomahawk land attack missiles at targets in Iraq during Operation Desert Storm and the period immediately after. One of these ships, the
U.S.S. Princeton (CG-59), struck an Iraqi bottom-laid influence mine on 19 February 1991. Although she took damage to her hull, her AEGIS weapon system remained operational. She was subsequently towed to Dubai, UAE for repairs.
Ticonderoga
CG-47
Monterey
CG-61
Yorktown
CG-48
Chancellorsville
CG-62
Vincennes
CG-49
Cowpens
CG-63
Valley Forge
CG-50
Gettysburg
CG-64
Thomas S. Gates
CG-51
Chosin
CG-65
Bunker Hill
CG-52
Hue City
CG-66
Mobile Bay
CG-53
Shiloh
CG-67
Antietam
CG-54
Anzio
CG-68
Leyte Gulf
CG-55
Vicksburg
CG-69
San Jacinto
CG-56
Lake Erie
CG-70
Lake Champlain
CG-57
Cape St. George
CG-71
Philippine Sea
CG-58
Vella Gulf
CG-72
Princeton
CG-59
Port Royal
CG-73
Normandy
CG-60
Displacement: 10,450 tons (full load).
Power Plant: Two General Electric nuclear reactors, two geared turbines, and two shafts.
Length: 596 feet (181.8 meters).
Beam: 61 feet (18.6 meters).
Speed: 30+ knots (34.5+ miles per hour).
Complement: ~584 (~40 officers + ~544 enlisted).
Aircraft: Helicopter landing capability: landing area only, no support facilities.
Weapons: Four Harpoon
SSMs, eighty SM-1MR SAMs, two 20mm Vulcan Phalanx (CIWS), two Mk 45 127 mm (5 inch) DP guns, eight ASROCs, four MK-32 torpedoes (single launcher).
California
CGN
-36 (PACFLT)South Carolina
CGN
-37 (LANTFLT)
Figure 3.10. California Class
CGN Side View.This was the first class of nuclear-propelled surface warships intended for series production. These ships essentially are nuclear-propelled version of guided missile designs proposed in the early 1960s. They have the older
SM-1 series SAM on single arm, Mk13 Mod 3 launchers (fore and aft), two 5 inch guns (fore and aft), anti-ship capability with Harpoon SSMs, and USW capability with ASROCs, These do not carry TLAMs. Both of the remaining two ships of this class remain in commission, but are being held in a reserve status in a stand down status.Some cruisers have the Ship’s Special Exploitation Space (
SESS) capability, which allows them to conduct cryptologic support mission for the battlegroup. Enlisted Cryptologic (CT) specialists who form a cryptologic direct support element (DSE) man the SESS. Cruisers do not have dedicated onboard intelligence centers.DDG) Displacement
: 6,625 tons light, 8,315 full load.Length: 466 feet (142 meters).
Beam: 59 feet (18 meters).
Speed: 31 knots (35.7 mph, 57.1 kph).
Power Plant: Four General Electric LM 2500-30 gas turbines; two shafts, 100,000 total shaft horsepower.
Complement: ~323 (23 officers + 300 enlisted).
Aircraft: None. LAMPS III electronics installed on landing deck for coordinated DDG 51/helo USW operations.
Weapons: 90-cell VLS for TLAM, ASROC, SM-2MR. Eight Harpoon SSMs, two 20mm Vulcan Phalanx (CIWS), one Mk 45 127mm (5 inch) DP Gun, six MK-32 torpedo (two triple launchers).
Figure 3. 11. Arleigh Burke Class DDG Side View.
Arleigh Burke
DDG-
-51 (PACFLT)John Paul Jones
DDG-
53 (PACFLT)Curtis Wilbur
DDG-
54 (PACFLT)Stout
DDG-
55 (LANTFLT)John S. McCain
DDG-
56 (PACFLT)Mitscher
DDG-
57 (LANTFLT)Laboon
DDG-
58 (LANTFLT)Russell
DDG-
59 (PACFLT)Paul Hamilton
DDG-
60 (PACFLT)Ramage
DDG-
61 (LANTFLT)Fitzgerald
DDG-
62 (PACFLT)Stethem
DDG-
63 (PACFLT)Carney
DDG-64
(LANTFLT)Benfold
DDG-65
(PACFLT)Gonzalez
DDG-66
(PACFLT)Cole
DDG-67
(LANTFLT)The Sullivians
DDG-68
(LANTFLT)Milius
DDG-69
(PACFLT)Hopper
DDG-70
(PACFLT)Ross
DDG-71
(LANTFLT)Mahan
DDG-72
(LANTFLT)Decatur
DDG-73 (Under Construction)
Mc Faul
DDG-74
(LANTFLT)Donald Cook
DDG-75 (Under Construction)
There are twenty-two ships in commission with seven more building (a total of forty ships are planned). The Arleigh Burke class will form the backbone of the U.S. destroyer fleet for the twenty-first century. The class features the
AEGIS AW system and an all steel hull construction following lessons learned from the devastating Exocet SSM attacks on the H.M.S. Sheffield, during the Falklands War, and the U.S.S. Stark (FFG-31) in 1987 in the Persian Gulf. Additionally, all hull exterior surfaces employ stealth design techniques such as angled construction to minimize radar cross section. It is also the first class of U.S. Navy ship with an integrated system for defense against the fallout associated with NBC warfare. Like their larger Ticonderoga class cousins, this class also employs the SPY-1D phased array radar fire control system for use with up to ninety SM-2MR surface-to-air missiles. The class also is equipped to handle, fuel and rearm SH-60B/F helicopters but do not have any on board hanger capacity. Later ships of the Flight II variant in this class (DDG-68+) will include a number of combat capability improvements such as the Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS), Tactical Information Exchange Subsystem (TADIXS), upgraded sonar, and the SM-2MR Block-4 SAM.Displacement: 5,770 tons light, 8,040 full load.
Length: 563 feet (171.6 meters).
Beam: 55 feet (16.8 meters).
Speed: 33 knots (38 mph, 60.8 kph).
Power Plant: Four General Electric
LM 2500 gas turbines, two shafts, 80,000 shaft horsepower.Complement: 383 (30 officers + 353 enlisted).
Aircraft: Two SH-60 Seahawk
LAMPS III helicopters.Weapons: Eight
TLAM (two quad launchers) in seven ships, 61-cell VLS for TLAM and ASROC in twenty-four ships, eight Harpoon SSMs (two quad Mk 141 canisters), twenty-four NATO Sea Sparrow, two 20mm Vulcan Phalanx (CIWS), two Mk 45 127mm (5 inch) DP Guns, six MK-32 torpedoes (two triple launchers).Figure 3.12. Spruance Class DDG--Side View.
Note: this view shows the external Mk 16
ASROC launcher aft of the forward 5-inch gun (replaced on later units with Mk 41 VLS).
Spruance
DD
-963 (LANTFLT)Connolly
DD
-979 (LANTFLT)Paul F. Foster
DD
-964 (PACFLT)Moosbruger
DD
-980 (LANTFLT)Kinkaid
DD
-965 (PACFLT)John Hancock
DD
-981 (LANTFLT)Hewitt
DD
-966 (LANTFLT)Nicholson
DD
-982 (LANTFLT)Elliot
DD
-967 (PACFLT)John Rodgers
DD
-983 (LANTFLT)Arthur W. Radford
DD
-968 (LANTFLT)Leftwich
DD
-984 (PACFLT)Peterson
DD
-969 (LANTFLT)Cushing
DD
-985 (PACFLT)Caron
DD
-970 (LANTFLT)Harry W. Hill
DD
-986 (PACFLT)David R. Ray
DD
-971 (PACFLT)O’Bannon
DD
-987 (LANTFLT)Oldendorf
DD
-972 (PACFLT)Thorn
DD
-988 (LANTFLT)John Young
DD
-973 (PACFLT)Deyo
DD
-989 (LANTFLT)Comte De Grasse
DD
-974 (LANTFLT)Ingersoll
DD
-990 (PACFLT)O’Brien
DD
-975 (PACFLT)Fife
DD
-991 (PACFLT)Merrill
DD
-976 (PACFLT)Fletcher
DD
-992 (PACFLT)Briscoe
DD
-977 (LANTFLT)Hayler
DD
-997 (LANTFLT)Stump
DD
-978 (LANTFLT)Spruance class
DDGs originally were built as specialized USW ships, with only point defense missiles in the AW role. They have subsequently been provided with anti-ship and strike capability using Harpoon SSMs and TLAM, respectively. Other improvements include the installation of a Mk 41 vertical launch system (VLS) capable of firing SM-2MRs, TLAM, and ASROCs, upgrade of the electronic warfare suite to SLQ 32V(2), LAMPS III recovery system, the Halon 1301 fire fighting system and improved anti-missile and target acquisition systems.Of note,
SM-2MR surface-to-air missiles fired by Mk 41 VLS equipped vessels can be controlled by separate AEGIS fitted vessels such as Ticonderoga class CGs and Arleigh Burke class DD-s, thus further increasing battlegroup AW capability.Five ships of this class fired over one hundred
TLAMs at targets in Iraq during Operation Desert Storm. The U.S.S. Paul F. Foster (DDG-964) fired the first TLAM and hence the "opening shot" of the Gulf War on 17 January 1991. The U.S.S. Fife (DDG-991) fired sixty TLAMs, virtually emptying her sixty-one cell Mk 41 VLS.Displacement: 6,950 tons light, 9,574 full load.
Length: 563 feet (171.8 meters).
Beam: 55 feet (16.8 meters).
Speed: 33 knots (38 mph, 60.8 kph).
Power Plant: Four General Electric
LM 2500 gas turbines, two shafts, 80,000 shaft horsepower.Complement: 363 (31 officers + 332 enlisted).
Aircraft: One
SH-2F LAMPS.Weapons: Eight Harpoon
SSM (two quad launchers), sixty-eight SM-2MR SAM (two twin Mk 26 Mod 0/1 launchers) ASROC, two 20mm Vulcan Phalanx (CIWS), two Mk 45 127mm (5 inch) DP Guns, six MK-32 torpedo (two triple launchers).Figure 3.13. Kidd “Ayatollah” Class DDG--Side View.
Chandler
DDG
-996 (PACFLT)Originally designed for the Royal Iranian Navy, the
U.S. Navy acquired the ships in July 1979 after the fall of the shah (for this reason they are often referred to as the "Ayatollah class"). The fours ships of this class are the most powerful multi-purpose destroyers in the fleet. Specific capabilities include AW (using SM-2MR SAMs), USW (using LAMPS-I helicopter, ASROCs, torpedoes, and sonar), and SUW (using octuple Harpoon launcher and two Mk 45 five inch guns). Additionally, these ships feature advanced air-intake and filtration systems in order to handle dust and sand prevailing in Persian Gulf operating area as well as greater air-conditioning capacity. The Kidd features a distinctive pale gray paint scheme for operations in the Persian Gulf. Both the Kidd and Scott took part in Operation Desert Storm. Only one ship of this class remains active U.S. Navy service. The remaining three ships of this class, the USS Kidd (DDG-993), USS Callaghan (DDG-994), and USS Scott (DDG-995) are scheduled for transfer to a foreign navy under the Security Assistance Program (SAP).FFG) Displacement: 2,750 tons light, 3,638 full load.
Length: 445-453 feet (133.5-135.6 meters).
Beam: 45 feet (13.7 meters).
Speed: 29 plus knots (33.4+ miles per hour).
Power Plant: Two General Electric LM 2500 gas turbine engines; 1 shaft, 41,000 shaft horsepower total.
Complement: 300 (13 officers + 287 enlisted).
Aircraft: One
SH-2F LAMPS (FFG- 7, 9-27,30, 31,34), two SH-60B LAMPS III (FFG- 8,28,29,32,33,36-61).Weapons: Up to forty Harpoon and
SM-1MR (one single Mk 13 Mod 4 launcher), one 20 mm Vulcan Phalanx (CIWS), one OTO Melara 76mm gun, six MK-46 torpedoes (two triple launchers).
Figure 3.14. Oliver Hazard Perry Class
FFG Side View.There are a total of fifty-one ships built for this class, but only 39 ships remain in active naval service. Ten of these ships are part of the Naval Reserve force. The Perry class
FFG forms a capable USW platform with the LAMPS-III helicopter onboard. The Mk 13 Mod 4 missile launcher provides secondary AW and SUW capability. Ships of this class are often referred to as "FFG-7" (pronounced FIG-7) after the lead ship, U.S.S. Oliver Hazard Perry (FFG-7). Of note, two ships of this class suffered heavy damage while patrolling in the Persian Gulf. On 17 May 1987, two Iraqi fired Exocet SSMs hit the U.S.S. Stark (FFG-31), one of which detonated near berthing spaces resulting in heavy loss of life. On 14 April 1988 the U.S.S. Samuel B. Roberts (FFG-58) struck a mine which detonated an estimated 250 pounds of TNT. The explosion heavily damaged propulsion systems and blew a nine-foot hole under the keel. In both attacks, the ships suffered intense fires aggravated by the all aluminum construction of the hull. Nevertheless, exceptional damage control efforts carried out by their crews kept both ships on the surface and enabled them to reach friendly ports in the Persian Gulf. The Stark returned to the United States on her own power and underwent repairs. The Roberts was transported to the United States on the Dutch-flag heavy-lift ship, Mighty Servant 2.
McInerney
FFG
-8Curts
FFG
-38 (Naval Reserves)Wadsworth
FFG
-9 (Naval Reserve)Doyle
FFG
-39Duncan
FFG
-10 Disposed of through SAPHalyburton
FFG
-40Clark
FFG
-11 (Naval Reserve)McClusky
FFG
-41George Phillip
FFG
-12 (Naval Reserve)Klarkring
FFG
-42Samuel Eliot Morrison
FFG
-13 (Naval Reserve)Thach
FFG
-43John H. Sides
FFG
-14 (Naval Reserve)De Wert
FFG
-45Estocin
FFG
-15 (Naval Reserve)Rentz
FFG
-46Clifton Sprague
FFG
-16 Disposed of through SAPNicholas
FFG
-47John A. Moore
FFG
-19 (Naval Reserve)Vandergrift
FFG
-48Antrim
FFG
-20 Disposed of through SAPRobert G. Bradley
FFG
-49Flatley
FFG
-21 Disposed of through SAPTaylor
FFG
-50Fahrion
FFG
-22 Disposed of through SAPGary
FFG
-51Lewis B. Puller
FFG
-23 Disposed of through SAPCarr
FFG
-52Jack Williams
FFG
-24 Disposed of through SAPHawes
FFG
-53Copeland
FFG
-25 Disposed of through SAPFord
FFG
-54Gallery
FFG
-26Elrod
FFG
-55Boone
FFG
-28 (Naval Reserve)Simpson
FFG
-56Stephen W. Groves
FFG
-29 (Naval Reserves)Reuben James
FFG
-57Stark
FFG
-31Samuel B. Roberts
FFG
-58John L. Hall
FFG
-32Kauffman
FFG
-59Jarrett
FFG
-33Rodney M. Davis
FFG
-60Underwood
FFG
-36Ingraham
FFG
-61Commelin
FFG
-37LCC) Displacement: 18,874 tons (16,987 metric tons) full load.
Length: 636 feet (190 meters)
Speed: 23 knots (26.5 miles, 42.4 km, per hour).
Power Plant: Two boilers, one geared turbine, one shaft; 22,000 horsepower.
Complement:
LCC-19; 780 (19 officers) + 170 flag staff. LCC-20; 777 (50 officers) + 193 flag staff.Weapons: Four 76.2 mm
DP guns, two Mk 25 Sea Sparrow launchers, two 20 mm Mk 15 Vulcan Phalanx.Aircraft:
none embarked, stern helicopter deck capable of accommodating any helicopter except CH-53.Figure 3.17. Blue Ridge Class LCC Side View.
The
LCC is an amphibious command ship. There are two ships in this class. LCC 19 is the flagship of the forward deployed Seventh Fleet in the western Pacific. LCC 20 is flagship of the Second Fleet in the Atlantic. 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-53. The LCC is based on the Iwo Jima class described above. 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.
Blue Ridge
LCC
-19 (PACFLT)Mount Whitney
LCC
-20 (LANTFLT)Displacement: 11,000 tons light, 17,515-18,300 tons full load.
Length: 611 feet.
Speed: ~5,000 nautical mile range at 23 knots.
Power Plant: Conventional steam plants (two boilers).
Complement: 685 (47 officers) + 2,090 Marines (190 officers).
Weapons: Four 76.2 mm
DP guns, two Mk 25 Sea Sparrow launchers, two 20 mm Mk 15 Vulcan Phalanx, four to eight 12.7 mm machine guns.Aircraft:
embarked CH-46 Sea Knights, CH-53 Sea Stallions, UH-1 Iroquois and AH-1 Sea Cobras (can also carry RH-53/
