"Aren't you retiring the Royal Ark?" Nathan asked.
Nathan really didn't know much about the British navy during this period. After all, he had been fighting in Hokkaido, so there was so much attention.
Hearing Nathan’s words, Major General Wuhuad at the back also looked helpless: “Yes, it was originally going to be retired, but if the Royal Ark is retired, then we don’t have the conventional way of operating fixed-wing carrier-based aircraft. The aircraft carrier is now, and we want to keep this aircraft carrier."
On May 3, 1943, at the height of World War II, the British Navy's R09 "Unhindered" started construction at the Cammer-Ryder/Campbell-Ryder shipyard to commemorate the "Royal Ark" aircraft carrier that was sunk in 1941. It was renamed "Ark Royal" in January 1946 and launched on May 3, 1950.
Because World War II was over at that time, the progress was quite slow. It was delayed until 55 years before it was considered to be in service. After that, the first modernization was carried out in 56 years, and the second modification was accepted from July 1958 to December 1959. It was refitted for the third time in 1961. The fourth modification was accepted from October 1966 to February 1970, and the fifth modification was accepted from October 1976 to May 1977.
It can be seen that the modification of this aircraft carrier takes up most of the time, and now, the age of this aircraft carrier is more than 35 years, and it is indeed very old.
It's a pity that if the newer Eagle had not retired, it would be fine. The Eagle could have served for more than ten years. Damn those politicians, they are so caring about the army that committed suicide.
"The Ark Royal has a displacement of 50,000 tons. Such an aircraft carrier can operate heavy carrier-based aircraft." Nathan said: "However, its deck is too small. To operate a carrier-based aircraft, the deck is more The bigger the better."
In terms of tonnage, the Royal Ark, compared to the Essex-class aircraft carrier that has been completely decommissioned and sealed up by the United States, is larger, but its deck is not large.
The Ark Royal is 245 meters long and 34.3 meters wide, while the Essex-class aircraft carrier, in its state before decommissioning, has reached 272.6 meters in length and 58 meters in width.
The wider the deck, the easier it is of course to operate.
Since the Essex-class aircraft carrier was built in a relatively long time and belonged to the aircraft carrier of World War II, this aircraft carrier has almost all withdrawn from active service. However, it has a longer size, and it is definitely easier to take off and land. It is easier to operate the Tomcat fighter on this carrier than on the Royal Ark.
Hearing what Nathan said, both of them smiled bitterly. Do you think we don't want to? We also want to have a large aircraft carrier, like the United States, built one after another, maintaining the scale of more than a dozen ships.
We have no money in our pockets!
Needless to say, the Royal Ark, the two even thought about their plans to let the Tomcat fighters try to take off and land on the newly built Invincible-class aircraft carrier when they arrived.
Can the invincible class of small cargo of 20,000 ton class use the jump deck and Tomcat fighters to fly
This proposal, I haven't said yet, just let Nathan try the Royal Ark, Nathan is already unwilling, and put forward his own point of view, the deck is too small and inconvenient.
The two were very uncomfortable, but Nathan didn't care about their feelings, and continued: "If you try, it's okay, but I think there is a better way, let me think about it."
Nathan took a step, walked back and forth, and said to the two of them: "We have just retired a few aircraft carriers recently. These aircraft carriers were sealed up after they were retired. Now, these aircraft carriers must still be unsealed at any time. , I think, you should just operate this kind of aircraft carrier!"
The two came to find Nathan, in fact, they just came to ask Nathan to try if he could take off and land on the Royal Ark. At the same time, they also planned to take a look and see how much price they could order a batch of Tomcats.
The two of them didn't think about bringing more aircraft carriers back. The United Kingdom doesn't have that strength!
"By the way, it should be called Oriskane and Goodman Richard. These two ships have only been sealed for two years. I think they can be put into use immediately after being unsealed."
Nathan solved everything, and the two of them only had a wry smile. Admiral John said: "Nathan, we have no money."
We don't have that much money, how can we buy aircraft carriers
"Those aircraft carriers, do you still need money?" Nathan's reaction caused the two of them to be stunned: "These two aircraft carriers were originally retired. Depending on the relationship between us and the UK, I think they will be given directly to them. You are all right. Well, this matter, I think it will work."
Nathan is here, put it plainly, and give it to the UK!
In Congress, Nathan proposed to give them warships. This is all right. Anyway, those retired are useless. When they are finally dismantled, they may not be enough for the labor cost of dismantling.
On the contrary, if it is given to the United Kingdom, then the United Kingdom will definitely need to purchase a batch of carrier-based aircraft! The more Tomcats the UK orders, the more welcome the US Navy.
And, it's just right.
The orders placed by those BS people can simply be transferred to the UK.
As for the British without money, Nathan had already thought about it a long time ago. He has already foreshadowed it several times. Now, let the politicians talk about it.
You say send it? is it possible? The two felt that there was no such good thing.
"In this way, General Thomas and I have a good relationship. I can ask him personally. He is a veteran in the Navy. As long as he agrees, it will be easy." Nathan said: "This one Let’s do it next. Now, let’s talk about Tomcats. Why did you suddenly decide to buy Tomcats?"
The British sent pilots to fly Tomcats. This is just a pure exchange activity. It does not mean that the British will buy them. After all, in history, the British have sent several batches of Sea Harrier pilots to fly Tomcats.
And now, the British actually decided
You know, the Falklands War has not yet begun!
"That's it, our politicians, after reasoning, feel that the next war may come. If it is far away, it may be a year or two, if it is near, it may be a few months." General John said: "So We must prepare for the next war. Once the mainland of Europe falls, we will be an island like World War II. It is precisely because of this opportunity that our navy can allocate more budgets."
The two smiled bitterly, but Nathan was surprised.
They actually see farther? It seems that not all British men are chanting peace and suicide with their own army. They are also far-sighted. (End of this chapter)