USS Ford

[TheVTCGuy]

Here is a Bloomberg report stating the newest US Aircraft Carrier, the USS Ford, is not ready for combat.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/video...industry-video

This is a story that hits near and dear to my heart, as I spent a LOT of time on aircraft carriers, from the USS Saratoga, (oil powered launched in (I think) 1958, to the USS Carl Vinson, CVN-70, Nuclear powered. I also spent some time (and flying on and off) USS Enterprise (CVN-65) and USS Constellation. (CV-64).

I was following the Ford very closely, as I was interested in the next class and it’s improvements. For example, the replacement of steam catapults by the electro-magnetic system. The upgraded landing wire arrangement, even the new design of the island, providing a quarter mile more of flight deck.

The ship is fascinating to an ex Naval Aviator like myself, but it costs 13 BILLION dollars, and they are having all kinds of issues (according to Bloomberg). And to add to the argument, the increased capability of anti-Aircraft carrier weapons, like Chinas hypersonic “Carrier Killer.” Now, a CVN is heavily defended, and very hard to kill, but remember the USS Stark? And anti-ship missiles are cheap, you could fire about 1,000 of them for the price of a carrier, maybe more.

I would like to hear other Vets, especially Navy, on Carriers. Are they, as some contend, obsolete? Are they the Battleships of the 1930s, considered to be the main weapon of the Navy and quickly proven to be second-place to a newer weapon (the carrier).

I really have mixed feelings. I have over 200 traps, 2,500 flight hours and 60+ combat missions off of carriers, so feel a connection for sure, but wonder if we are mis-aiming our countries resources (again, like battleships of the 30s).

What do you guys think?