The Independence Class of WWII light carriers (622-ft, 14,220 tons) carried an airwing of 35 aircraft, just as a reference point. Her contemporary fleet carrier, the Essex Class, carried between 90-100 aircraft.
Today’s standard CVN, the Nimitz Class can take up to 90 or so, but usually deploys with less, somewhere around 70 or so if you include helos.
So, with that in mind – let’s look at the top of the post at this beautiful shot last week of the USS America (LHA 6) (844-ft and 44,971 tons).
Yes kiddies, that is 13 F-35B. The America and the only other of her class, the Tripoli, could if needed take 20 F-35B and 2 helos for an airwing of 22.
More strike assets, dare I say, “distributed” amongst a variety of platforms, providing flexibility, risk mitigation, and options.
Nice concept.
