Samurai revive carrier-based aviation
Modernization of the second Kaga helicopter carrier has begun. Now it is a complete re-equipment into a light aircraft carrier, which, in general, was originally intended, since its positioning as a PLO helicopter carrier or landing, to put it mildly, did not inspire confidence, since the very concept of a PLO helicopter carrier cruiser or simply converting an ordinary cruiser into a helicopter carrier - wrong.
The cruisers "Moscow" and "Leningrad" had excessively large air groups for anti-aircraft defense purposes, but quite decent missile weapons, both anti-aircraft defense and air defense. Unsuccessful conversions from conventional cruisers had small air groups, an average of 6-10 helicopters, but in reality there were fewer of them on board. However, the fashion for such extravagant ships quickly passed. Although they served for a long time, they performed completely different functions than originally intended.
The scope of work will be greater than at Izumo. They are going to remake the bow of the flight deck into a rectangular shape (at Izumo it is trapezoidal). It is difficult to say what improvements this will bring, perhaps the increase in deck area will facilitate the work of the deck crew.
Nothing was said about the installation of a springboard, as on the British Invincible, as well as about catapults. That is, the Lightings will have to take off in the usual way - from a short takeoff, which immediately reduces the payload. Landing vertically, which lengthens the landing time, compared with an arrester. The time for servicing the Lightning during landing increases, especially in fresh weather. The second, very topical issue is early warning radar. Since the dimensions do not allow to place a "hokai", it means that it will be necessary to purchase British AWACS helicopters, which again worsens the situation for the Japanese.
I won’t even delve into this issue - all comrades who already know all the shortcomings of AWACS helicopters, both Soviet (Russian) and British, in the subject. The only question is, how many will there be - two or three? Alas, the size of the hangar will not allow taking on board many of these "turntables", since space is required for both Lightings and PLO helicopters, they are also search and rescue. Based on the size of the hull and, accordingly, the hangar, the air group, even if the hangar is expanded in the new part, will hardly exceed 20 aircraft.
Expediency
Having discussed news, I would like to comment on the very expediency of such aircraft carriers. It is my deep conviction, which, however, I do not impose on anyone, that the Falklands War showed their complete failure, despite the fact that the Hermes was originally a completely normal aircraft carrier - 24 tons of standard displacement, 000 tons of full displacement, against 29/000 19 tons from his Japanese colleagues. By the way, such a ratio of the standard and full displacement of the Japanese raises certain suspicions - the Japanese "cheated" something during the "Washington" restrictions.
Even he, in the role of the carrier of the Sea Harriers, was not very successful; it is generally better to remain silent about Invincible. The victory in the war for the British was ensured by the geography and the "captive" attitude of the top Argentine military-political leadership. Again, I will not go into the vicissitudes of the "Hundred Day War", a lot has been written and said about this, including it was discussed more than once on this resource.
Well, as a summary - against whom and how will this very “light” aircraft carrier be used?
The French came to the conclusion that their "Charles de Gaulle" does not correspond to reality, so the promising aircraft carrier will already have quite a serious 60 tons of displacement. Chinese and Indian aircraft carriers under construction will have approximately the same displacement. Even the Vikrant, largely an experimental ship, on which the Indians practiced a smooth transition from the Gorshkov to a normal aircraft carrier, and that one is 000 tons.
The question of who and how the Japanese are going to fight remains open. I would like to hear the opinion of all caring comrades, especially since such a strengthening of the Japanese fleet directly and directly concerns Russia.
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