naval warfare 3rd WW, battle for the Mediterranean (Cold war period)

[Jaroslav]

Understanding the Soviet Navy :
a handbook

https://archive.org/download/understandingsov00bath/understandingsov00bath.pdf

[Jaroslav]

Weaponeering Assistant

Weaponeering Assistant is an Excel spreadsheet that helps you design suitable loadouts for your strike missions in DVG's Hornet Leader: Carrier Air Operations. When you enter the characteristics of your target and desired ordnance, WA will tell you how many weapons are statistically required to destroy the target (or whether the weapon is capable of destroying the target at all), the probabilities of each hit multiple, the "bang per pound" for your selected weapon against this particular target, and the weight points necessary to load those weapons on your aircraft. It also automatically calculates the hit/miss effects for each possible die roll outcome, taking into account all of the necessary modifiers.

Version 0.95 adds an enemy fighter activity page, which helps you estimate how many hostile fighters are likely to make an appearance during the mission based on the theater fighter composition; a loadout page, which helps to distribute the appropriate weapons to the aircraft in your flight and applies pilot skill modifiers to all of your weapon effects calculations; and a flight page, which gives you a summary of your armed aircraft together with firepower distribution figures.

Version 0.96 corrects a bug in the Weapon Effect Profile formula for small, dispersed, vehicular targets.

Download Weaponeering Assistant v0.96.

http://www.rjlee.org/resources/Weaponeering-Assistant-v0.96.xlsx

 

https://www.rjlee.org/weaponeerasst/

[Jaroslav]

Training and Supply Centres of the Soviet Navy

[Jaroslav]

The evolving Soviet Navy

https://archive.org/download/evolvingsovietna00mcgr/evolvingsovietna00mcgr.pdf

[Jaroslav]

Soviet High Command
 of the South-West Direction

http://www.easternorbat.com/assets/images/Soviet_High_Command_of_the_South-West_Direction_map_02.png

[Jaroslav]

Armored Box Launcher

The Mark 143 Armored Box Launcher (ABL) is a four-round protected launch container for the BGM-109 Tomahawk Cruise Missile.

...

As well as being fitted on to the United States Navy's Iowa-class battleships, this system was also fitted on the nuclear-powered cruisers, including the USS Long Beach and the Virginia class as well as some Spruance class destroyers (Comte de Grasse, Merrill, Conolly, John Rodgers, Leftwich, Deyo, and Ingersoll). The cruisers and destroyers were fitted with two ABLs each for a total of 8 missiles.

Since then the Armored Box Launcher missile system has been phased out in favor of the more flexible, larger capacity Vertical Launching System (VLS).[1]

The Armored Box Launcher shares one common handicap with the Vertical Launching System: It can not be reloaded at sea. The ship must return to port in order to receive and load her ABLs.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armored_Box_Launcher

[Jaroslav]

Here's a reference regarding USSR SAG composition. From Soviet Naval Tactics by Milan Vego, pg. 234:
“Tactical Organization
The main provisional tactical-sized force of Soviet surface ships tasked with striking enemy formations of major surface combatants, amphibious task forces, convoys, and coastal targets is the ship strike group (KUG). Formed in the course of an operation or of systematic combat actions, these groups include several missile ships and gun-or torpedo-armed ships. Each ship strike group is organized into two or more strike group and on special-purpose group. A missile cruiser usually serves as the flagship……
Until recently the main provisional operational-tactical force has been the detachment of combat ships (OBK), usually composed of six to a dozen ships. However, it appears-although this is not certain-that the Soviets no longer envisage detachments of combat ships in their naval organization. Soviet cruisers and destroyers usually operate in groups of four, and small missile ships in groups of two to four.”

https://forums.matrixgames.com/viewtopic.php?p=3611884#p3611884

[Jaroslav]

DTIC ADA296628: The History of Italian Naval Doctrine

https://archive.org/download/DTIC_ADA296628/DTIC_ADA296628.pdf

[Jaroslav]

DTIC ADA223975: Soviet Airlift Doctrine & Capabilities -- An Outsider's View in 1990

https://archive.org/download/DTIC_ADA223975/DTIC_ADA223975.pdf

[Jaroslav]

DTIC ADA366257: Prowler Integration into USAF Strategic Attack and Air Interdiction Missions

https://archive.org/download/DTIC_ADA366257/DTIC_ADA366257.pdf

[Jaroslav]

DTIC ADA184712: Operational Employment of Airborne Forces: The Soviet Approach and the Implications for NATO

https://archive.org/download/DTIC_ADA184712/DTIC_ADA184712.pdf

[Jaroslav]

DTIC ADA174213: Bolt from the Sky: The Operational Employment of Airborne Forces

https://archive.org/download/DTIC_ADA174213/DTIC_ADA174213.pdf

[Jaroslav]

DTIC ADA093778: The Role of the Air Assault Division on the European Battlefield

https://archive.org/download/DTIC_ADA093778/DTIC_ADA093778.pdf

[Jaroslav]

Foreign Relations of the United States, Soviet Union; Eastern Mediterranean...1955-1957, Volume XXIV...Department of State...U.S.G.P.O. 1989

https://archive.org/download/dos-report_s-11955-57-v24/dos-report_s-11955-57-v24.pdf

[RETAC21]

On 10/7/2025 at 3:23 PM, Jaroslav said:

On this exercise Romanian peoples army planed to made landing on asian side of Turkey. Does anyone know with which devices/ships was this planned? I noticed that Romanian navy didnt have amphibious ships. Soviets would use their ships for their own army. Only one left was Bulgarians with their amphibious ships. Am I correct?

I don't think the Soviets wouldn't provide transport for the allies once they had done so for their own forces.

[Jaroslav]

2 hours ago, RETAC21 said:

I don't think the Soviets wouldn't provide transport for the allies once they had done so for their own forces.

Yes, I agree on that but that means that non Soviet units would / could be in 2nd or follow on echelons

[Jaroslav]

The Soviet Air Assault Brigade: Vertical Dimension of the Operational...

https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA207314.pdf

[Jaroslav]

[Jaroslav]

Bulgaria and Turkey in the Cold War

Potential conflict

Even before the Cyprus conflict, Greece and Turkey were unstable allies, and Bulgarian planning would have taken this into account. Ethnic Turkish groups in Bulgaria (11-15% of the Bulgarian population) were regarded as suspect, although full-scale assimilation campaigns didn't begin until the 1970s and 1980s. In the 1980s, friction between Turkey and Bulgaria over this issue brought both countries close to war, although the US and Soviets would probably have intervened to stop it.

Turkey had to face the Soviet Union directly on its northern border, a frontier some 620km long. Facing Bulgaria in Thrace was the Turkish 1st Army. A 15-20km deep border zone with Turkey along the 279km long border made intelligence estimates difficult to verify. However, there are obvious invasion routes across the border, and amphibious units were based at Ahtopol, close to the border, which could launch attacks on the Straits. There were extensive fortifications on both sides of the border zone, but once breached, the terrain in Turkish Thrace is primarily open plains. However, access was more manageable from the Greek side over the Evros River, which made it difficult to separate Greece from any conflict. The Turkish Corps based at Corlu would have faced the brunt of any attack from Bulgaria. While there are some defensive positions around Edirne and the wooded Yildiz Daglari, the Turkish strategy would likely follow the historical plan of a fighting withdrawal to the 20km wide Catalea position in front of Istanbul. There were additional fortifications defending the Thracian beaches near the Straits from amphibious assault.

We don’t know a great deal about Soviet plans during this period. Soviet and CIA documents from the 1962 exercise Hemus suggest two separate axes of advance towards the Turkish Straits and Greece. These were named the 1st and 2nd Balkan Fronts, with a 3rd Front in Romania as a reserve in Soviet sources, although Bulgarian sources refer to just one combined front. This included an airborne element deploying the 98th Guards Airborne Division from the Odessa Military District and two divisions earmarked for amphibious operations. Soviet Naval Infantry would land, possibly east of Istanbul, followed by a Soviet motor rifle regiment after initial assault landings. Defensive operations involved falling back on the Balkan Mountain range. Offensively, the plans assumed the capture of Thrace, then, after being reinforced from the Kyiv Military District, advanced to Ankara, and then, a sweep to the Syrian border. 

In addition, there is the more complex issue of the deployment of Soviet strategic and nuclear forces in this theatre. By the 1950s, the Soviets had nuclear-capable medium bombers (Tu-4 and Tu-16) with the range to hit targets across the region. By the late 1950s, their inventory included long-range bombers like the Tu-95 Bear.

https://www.balkanhistory.org/bulgaria-turkey-cold-war.html

[Jaroslav]

Spanish aircraft carrier Dédalo R-01

Finally in 1967, after over twelve years in mothballs in the United States, Cabot was chosen and loaned to Spain. The loan was converted to a sale in 1972. Dédalo initially deployed with the Spanish Navy as a helicopter-only antisubmarine warfare carrier operating the SH-3D Sea King and other helicopters from 1967 to 1976. On 8 November 1972[4], a Harrier was successfully tested on the Dédalo's deck, a first in the history of the plane.

It was decided to order and deploy short-take-off-and-vertical-landing (STOVL) AV-8S Matadors (AV-8A Harrier) when Dédalo was overhauled. Since the Harriers' downdraft on vertical landing would have damaged the wooden deck, protective metal sheathing was installed on the rear area of the flight deck.[5] The first batch of six AV-8S single seat and two TAV-8S two seat aircraft were delivered to the Armada Española throughout 1976. A second batch of four AV-8S aircraft was delivered in 1980. Unlike some carriers used for Harrier operations, a ski-jump to assist STOVL takeoff was never installed on Dédalo, limiting the maximum takeoff weight of the Harriers.

She then typically carried an air group of eight AV-8S fighters, four Sea King antisubmarine warfare helicopters and four AB 212ASW Twin Hueys although Sikorsky S-55/CH-19s, AH-1 Cobras, and other specialized helicopters from the Spanish army, air force, and navy flew from her flight deck.[4]

During her Spanish service, Dédalo logged 1,650 days' steaming, covering 300,000 nautical miles (560,000 km), registering 30,000 landings and takeoffs, losing an AV-8A and three AB 212ASW helicopters to accidents.[6]

Disposal

Replaced by the Spanish-built S/VTOL carrier Príncipe de Asturias in 1988, the Dédalo was struck by the Spanish Navy in August 1989.

History
Spain
Name	Dédalo
Laid down	16 March 1942
Launched	4 April 1943
Acquired	30 August 1967 on loan[1] Purchased outright 5 December 1972
Reclassified	PH-01, 30 August 1967 PA-01, 28 September 1976 R-01, 1980
Refit	1976
Stricken	5 August 1989
Fate	Scrapped 2002
Notes	Served in United States Navy 1943–1947 and 1948–1955 as USS Cabot
General characteristics
Displacement	11,000
Length	622.5 ft (189.7 m)
Beam	71.5 ft (21.8 m) (waterline) 109 ft 2 in (33.27 m) (overall)
Draft	26 ft (7.9 m)
Installed power	100,000 shp (75,000 kW)
Propulsion	4 × B&W boilers 4 × General Electric steam turbines 4 × propellers
Speed	32 knots (59 km/h)
Complement	1112
Sensors & processing systems	SPS-6 radar
Armament	26 × Bofors 40 mm guns
Aircraft carried	8 × AV-8S 8 × SH-3D A total of up to 33 fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters
Aviation facilities	Hangar: 70 m × 13 m × 5 m Flight deck: 168 × 22 m, 2 elevators

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_aircraft_carrier_Dédalo

[Jaroslav]

Spanish aircraft carrier Príncipe de Asturias R-11

Originally named Almirante Carrero Blanco, was a light aircraft carrier and former flagship of the Spanish Navy. She was built in Bazán's Shipyards and delivered to the Spanish Navy on 30 May 1988.

The ship was permanently assigned to the Alpha Group, comprising the carrier and six Santa Maria-class frigates (a Spanish version of the USN Oliver Hazard Perry class). Other vessels such as logistic ships, tankers and corvettes were frequently assigned to the Group when required.

The ship supports 12 AV-8B Harrier II Bravo or AV-8B Harrier II Plus aircraft. The carrier also has facilities to support helicopters, usually 6 Sikorsky Sea King SH-3H, 4 Agusta-Bell AB-212 and 2 Sikorsky SH-3 AEW (Airborne Early Warning) helicopters.

The ship supports a maximum of 29 fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft with up to 12 on deck and 17 aircraft in the hangar. The hangar which measures 2,398 m2 is accessed by two flight deck lifts. The 5,100 square metres (55,000 sq ft) flight deck is 176 metres (577 ft) in length. Operating V/STOL aircraft, the carrier has the characteristic "ski-jump" (12° here), with the runway slightly off the longitudinal axis, tilted portside.

History
Spain
Name	Príncipe de Asturias
Namesake	Príncipe de Asturias
Ordered	29 May 1977
Builder	Bazán, Ferrol
Cost	US$285 million (1993)[1]
Laid down	8 October 1979
Launched	22 May 1982
Sponsored by	Queen Sofía of Spain
Commissioned	30 May 1988
Decommissioned	6 February 2013
Homeport	Naval Station Rota
Identification	Pennant number: R-11
Fate	Scrapped Aliaga 29 August 2017
Badge
General characteristics
Class & type	Príncipe de Asturias-class light aircraft carrier
Displacement	15,912 tons standard, 16,700 tons loaded
Length	195.9 m (643 ft)
Beam	24.3 m (80 ft)
Draught	9.4 m (31 ft)
Propulsion	2 × Bazan-General Electric LM2500+ gas turbines in COGAG configuration, one shaft, 46,400 shp
Speed	26 knots (48 km/h; 30 mph)
Range	6,500 nautical miles (12,000 km; 7,500 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Complement	830 (total); 600 ship crew, 230 air crew
Sensors & processing systems	Raytheon SPS-52C/D 3D air search radar, SC Cardion SPS-55 surface search radar, ITT SPN-35A aircraft control radar, FABA SPG-M2B fire control radar, SELEX Sistemi Integrati RTN-11L/X missile approach warning radar, Selex RAN 12 L target designation radar
Electronic warfare & decoys	Nettunel electronic countermeasures unit, SRBOC, Sensytech AN/SLQ-25 Nixie decoy
Armament	4 × FABA Meroka Mod 2B CIWS, 12 × Oerlikon L120 20 mm guns
Aircraft carried	29 fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft
Aviation facilities	12° ski jump 46.5 m (153 ft) in length

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_aircraft_carrier_Príncipe_de_Asturias

[Jaroslav]

Clemenceau-class aircraft carrier

The Clemenceau-class aircraft carriers are a pair of aircraft carriers, Clemenceau and Foch, which served in the French Navy from 1961 until 2000. 

The Clemenceau class was France's first successful aircraft carrier design after World War II. It was the backbone of the French fleet for the duration of its forty years of service.

The draft statute prepared by the Naval General Staff in 1949 asked for four aircraft carriers of 20,000 tons to be available in two phases. At its meeting of 22 August 1949, the Supreme Council of the Navy was even more ambitious where they asked for a six aircraft carrier fleet. On 15 July 1952, the French Navy still wanted between two and five for the French Union (not available to the NATO). According to RCM 12, the final document of the Lisbon Conference of 1952, France should make available to NATO an aircraft carrier on D-day, two on day 30, three on day 180. However, by 1953, the Navy had to be satisfied with two aircraft carriers. The PA 54 Clemenceau, budgeted in 1953, was delayed until November 1955, the PA 55 Foch, budgeted for 1955, was delayed until February 1957. Between 1980 and 1981, she underwent a study to certify the platform before catapulting aircraft carrying missiles, bombs, AM-39 Exocet and tactical nuclear bombs. Both Clemenceau and Foch underwent a modernization and refit, replacing 4 of their 8 100mm guns with 2 Crotale air-defense systems.

The Clemenceau-class aircraft carriers are of conventional CATOBAR design. The flight deck is 165.5 m (543 ft) long by 29.5 m (97 ft) wide; the landing area is angled at 8 degrees off of the ship's axis. The forward aircraft elevator is to starboard, and the rear elevator is positioned on the deck edge to save hangar space. The forward of two 170 ft (52 m) catapults is to port on the bow, the aft catapult is on the angled landing deck. The hangar deck dimensions are 152 m (499 ft) by 22–24 m (72–79 ft) with 7 m (23 ft) overhead.[4]

Air group

Designed from the outset as multi-role fleet carriers, the two Clemenceau-class ships initially in 1961 had an air group with ten aircraft each of the IVM attack version and IVP reconnaissance version of the Dassault Étendard IV strike fighter, a squadron of up to eight Breguet Alizé aircraft were embarked for the antisubmarine warfare mission, and in the air-defense role a squadron of Sud Aviation Aquilon (license-built de Havilland Sea Venom) fighters.[1] They were also used for French amphibious assault operations with up to 30–40 helicopters (normal helicopter wing is 4 helicopters) deployed; just prior to the 1991 Gulf War as part of Operation Salamandre (the air component of Operation Daguet), Clemenceau ferried 30 Aérospatiale Gazelles and 12 Aérospatiale SA 330 Pumas to Saudi Arabia.[5] The planned size of the total air wing was originally 60, but the increasing size of carrier-based aircraft in the late 1950s reduced that number to approximately 40.[1]

The more capable, missile-armed Vought F-8E(FN) Crusader was soon deployed, with a squadron of eight aircraft embarked, starting 2 years later from 1963. The Crusader served with both carriers until Foch was decommissioned in 2000. The Dassault-Breguet Super Étendard entered service on both ships in 1978. The Super Étendard could carry both the Exocet missile and the Air-Sol Moyenne Portee (ASMP) nuclear missile, giving these ships a stand-off nuclear strike ability lacking in the earlier Étendard IV (equipped with free-fall nuclear bombs only).[citation needed]

Clemenceau and Foch were modernized during September 1977 – November 1978 and July 1980 – August 1981 (Foch). This mid-life upgrade cleared them for the new Super Étendard (along with several other upgrades, like the SENIT C3 system). Then they had up to 40 aircraft: 10 F-8FN, 15–16 Super Étendard and 3–4 Étendard IVP, 7 Alizé, 2 Super Frelon and 2 Alouette III. Their hangar measured 152 × 24 × 7 meters (3,648 square meters). Clemenceau's fuel depots were 1,200 mc (JP5) and 400 mc (AVGAS). Foch increased this amount up to 1,800 and 109 respectively.[6]

Clemenceau

Clemenceau under way in 1981
History
France
Name	Clemenceau
Namesake	Georges Clemenceau
Builder	Brest shipyard
Laid down	November 1955
Launched	21 December 1957
Commissioned	22 November 1961
Decommissioned	1 October 1997
Homeport	Brest
Identification	R98
Fate	Scrapped 2009–2010
General characteristics
Class & type	Clemenceau-class aircraft carrier
Displacement	22,000 tons (standard) 32,780 tons (loaded)
Length	265 m (869 ft 5 in)
Beam	51.2 m (168 ft 0 in)
Draught	8.6 m (28 ft 3 in)
Installed power	6 Indret boilers 126,000 shp (94,000 kW)
Propulsion	4 steam turbines
Speed	32 knots (59 km/h; 37 mph)
Capacity	582 air group personnel
Complement	1,338 (aircraft carrier) 984 (helicopter carrier)
Sensors & processing systems	1 DRBV-23B air sentry radar 1 DRBV-50 low altitude or surface sentry radar (later replaced by a DRBV-15) 1 NRBA-50 approach radar 2 DRBI-10 tri-dimensional air sentry radar Multiple DRBN-34 navigation radars Multiple DRBC-31 fire direction radars (later replaced by DRBC-32C radars)
Armament	8 100 mm turrets (of which 4 replaced in the 1990s by 2 SACP Crotale EDIR systems with 52 missiles) 5 12.7 mm machine guns
Aircraft carried	Up to 40 aircraft: 15 Super Étendard 4 Étendard IVP 8 F-8E(FN) Crusader 8 Alizé 2 Dauphin Pedro 2 Super Frelon

Foch

A port quarter view of Foch underway during exercise Dragon Hammer '92
History
France
Name	Foch
Namesake	Ferdinand Foch
Ordered	1955
Laid down	15 November 1957
Launched	18 July 1959
Commissioned	15 July 1963
Decommissioned	15 November 2000
Identification	Pennant number: R99
Fate	Sold to the Brazilian Navy
Notes	See NAe São Paulo for subsequent history
General characteristics
Class & type	Clemenceau-class aircraft carrier
Displacement	24,200 t (23,818 long tons) (standard)
Length	265 m (869 ft 5 in)
Beam	51.2 m (168 ft 0 in)
Draught	8.6 m (28 ft 3 in)
Installed power	6 × Indret boilers 126,000 shp (94,000 kW)
Propulsion	2 shafts; 4 × steam turbines
Speed	32 knots (59 km/h; 37 mph)
Range	7,500 nmi (13,900 km; 8,600 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Complement	1,338
Sensors & processing systems	1 × DRBV-23B air search radar 1 × DRBV-50 low-altitude or surface search radar (later replaced by a DRBV-15) 1 × NRBA-50 approach radar 1 × DRBI-10 tri-dimensional air search radar Several DRBC-31 fire-control radar (later DRBC-32C) DRBN-34 navigation radars
Armament	8 × 100 mm turrets (originally) ; in the 1990s, 4 were replaced by 2 × SACP Crotale EDIR systems, with 52 missiles 5 × 12.7 mm machine guns • 2 × Sadral launchers for 6 Mistral missiles each (added in 1994)
Aircraft carried	About 40 aircraft: 15 × Super Étendard 4 × Étendard IVP 10 × F-8E (FN) Crusader 6 × Alizé 2 × Dauphin Pedro helicopters 2 × Super Frelon helicopters

Grumman F-14A Tomcats of VF-14 fly over French aircraft carrier Foch (R99) in the Caribbean Sea, 1 May 1990.

1 : 100mm cannon ; 2 : Weapons control radar type DRBC-31 ; 3 : Aircraft lift ; 4 : 15 tonne crane ; 5 : Aircraft approach radar type NRBA-50 ; 6 : Altitude radar type DRBI-10 ; 7 : Funnel ; 8 : Proximity radar type DRBV-20 ; 9 : TACAN Antenna; 10 : Combined low altitude and surface-to-air radar type DRBV-50 ; 11 : Proximity radar type DRBV-23 ; 12 : Altitude radar type DRBI-10 ; 13 : Weapons control radar type DRBC-31.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clemenceau-class_aircraft_carrier

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_aircraft_carrier_Clemenceau

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_aircraft_carrier_Foch

[Jaroslav]

Aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi

The ship was equipped with four Otomat Mk2 short range surface-to-surface missile system installed at the stern of the vessel (removed in 2003 to improve the flight deck and satellite communications) and two ILAS three triple tube torpedo launchers. Defences was provided by two eight-cell SAM launchers firing the SARH Aspide missile, and three Oto Melara Twin 40L70 DARDO CIWS.

The ship also had several countermeasures, including two SCLAR twenty-barrel launchers for chaff, decoy, flares, or jammers, the SLQ-25 Nixie and SLAT anti-torpedo systems and ECM systems.

The air arm consisted of a maximum of sixteen AV-8B Harrier IIs and two search and rescue helicopters, or eighteen Agusta helicopters or a mix of helicopters and fighters. The flight deck had the characteristic off-axis design with a 6.5-degree ski-jump for STOL aircraft; it was 174 m (571 ft) long and 30.4 m (100 ft) wide.[6]

A 1937 law gave control of all national fixed-wing air assets to the Italian Air Force, and the navy was only permitted to operate helicopters. At the time of the ship's commissioning of Garibaldi, the Italian Naval Aviation did not receive her Harriers, so it was reclassified as an Incrociatore portaeromobili (Italian for Aircraft carrying cruiser). Until 1988 only Italian helicopters landed on her deck, as well as Royal Navy Sea Harriers during NATO joint maneuvers. The ban on fixed-wing aircraft was lifted in 1989, and the Italian Navy acquired Harrier II fighters to fly from the Giuseppe Garibaldi.[7]

Garibaldi was classed as an anti-submarine warfare carrier (ASW), and was based in Taranto.

In 1999 with the Kosovo War in the Balkans, Italy committed Harrier AV-8B II+ fighters embarked aboard Giuseppe Garibaldi from 13 May to early June 1999. The planes carried out 30 sorties in 63 hours of flight. The aircraft used Mk 82 GBU-16 bombs and AGM-65 Maverick missiles. The Italian naval force, in addition to the aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi with her air group, included the Maestrale-class frigate Zeffiro.

History
Italy
Name	Giuseppe Garibaldi
Namesake	Giuseppe Garibaldi
Builder	Fincantieri, Monafalcone Shipyard, Monfalcone (Gorizia)
Cost	Lire 428 billion (1981) (equivalent to €903.63 million in 2019)
Laid down	26 March 1981[1]
Launched	11 June 1983
Commissioned	30 September 1985
Decommissioned	1 October 2024
Homeport	Taranto
Identification	Pennant number: 551
Motto	Obbedisco ("I Obey")
Status	Retired
General characteristics
Type	ASW aircraft cruiser/aircraft carrier
Displacement	- 10,100 t (9,900 long tons) (standard) - 13,850 t (13,630 long tons) (full load)[2] - 14,150 t (13,930 long tons) (full load, after 2003 MLU)
Length	180.2 m (591 ft)
Beam	33.4 m (110 ft)
Draught	8.2 m (27 ft)
Propulsion	- 4 × General Electric/Avio LM2500 gas turbines, 60,400 kW (81,000 hp) - 6 × diesel engine generators Grandi Motori Trieste B230/12, 9,360 kW (12,550 hp) with electric generator Ansaldo-Elettrital, 1,560 kW (2,090 hp) each
Speed	30 kn (56 km/h; 35 mph)+
Range	7,000 nmi (13,000 km; 8,100 mi) at 20 kn (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Complement	- 830, of which: 550 Crew up to 180 for Fleet Air Arm up to 100 C4 staff
Sensors & processing systems	- Selenia MM/SPS-768 (RAN 3L) long-range radar - Selenia SPS-774 (RAN-10S) early warning radar - Hughes AN/SPS-52C early warning, E band radar - Selenia SPS-702 CORA surface search radar - 2 × GEM Elettronica SPN-749 navigation radar - Selenia SPN-728 approach radar - 3 × Selenia RTN-30X fire control radar, for Albatross/Aspide - 3 × Selenia RTN-20X fire control radar, for CIWS 40/70 mm - Raytheon DE 1160 LF hull sonar (replaced by WASS DMS-2000 in 2003) - Selenia CMS SADOC-3 - TACAN Face Standard URN-25
Electronic warfare & decoys	- Elettronica Spa SLQ-732 jamming system - 2 × OTO Melara SCLAR decoy launcher - AN/SLQ-25 Nixie towed torpedo decoy
Armament	2 × Mk.29 octuple launcher for Sea Sparrow/Selenia Aspide SAM 3 × Oto Melara Twin 40L70 DARDO 2 × 324 mm triple torpedo tubes 4 × Otomat Mk 2 SSMs (removed in 2003)
Aircraft carried	up to 18 AV-8B Harrier II fighter/bombers Augusta SH-3D or AgustaWestland AW101 helicopters (ASW, ASH and AEW)
Notes	flight deck is length 174.0 m (570.9 ft) and 30.0 m (98.4 ft) wide

A starboard bow view of the Italian light aircraft carrier ITS GIUSEPPE GARIBALDI (C-551) underway during the NATO Southern Region exercise DRAGON HAMMER '90. Underway in the background are the Spanish aircraft carrier SPS PRINCIPE DE ASTURIAS (R-11), left, and the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVN 69). Date: 03. May 1990.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_aircraft_carrier_Giuseppe_Garibaldi

[Jaroslav]

Forrestal-class aircraft carrier

The Forrestal class was the first completed class of "supercarriers" of the Navy, so called because of their then-extraordinarily high tonnage (75,000 tons, 25% larger than the post-World War II-era Midway class), full integration of the angled deck, very large island, and most importantly their extremely strong air wing (80–100 jet aircraft, compared to 65–75 for the Midway class and fewer than 50 for the Essex class). Forrestal-class ships were the first examples of supercarriers and thus not quite a perfected design; their elevators in particular were badly arranged for aircraft handling. The portside elevator, a relic of the original axial-deck design, was especially poorly sited, as it was located at the fore end of the angled deck, in the landing path as well as the launch path of aircraft from the No. 3 and No. 4 catapults. The subsequent Kitty Hawk class moved the portside elevator to the aft end of the angle and reversed the position of the island and the second starboard elevator, vastly improving aircraft handling. The sponson-mounted guns suffered from poor range and complicated firing arcs, and were located in very wet and thus nearly useless positions in the bow and stern. They were removed after only a few years and were later replaced by missiles and much later by close-in weapon systems (CIWS). The aft guns in Forrestal lasted until the fire in 1967, then were removed and eventually replaced by missiles in the mid-70s. 

Forrestal and Saratoga were designed under project SCB 80 and laid down as axial deck carriers and converted to angled deck ships while under construction; Ranger and Independence were laid down as angled deck ships and had various minor improvements compared to the first two. The most visible differences were between the first pair and second pair: Forrestal and Saratoga were completed with two island masts, an open fantail, and a larger flight deck segment forward of the port aircraft elevator; Ranger and Independence had a single island mast, a more closed fantail (as seen in all carriers since), and a smaller flight deck segment forward of the port aircraft elevator.

USS Forrestal

USS Forrestal on 31 May 1962
History
United States
Name	Forrestal
Namesake	James Forrestal
Ordered	12 July 1951
Builder	Newport News Shipbuilding
Cost	US$217 million[2]
Laid down	14 July 1952
Launched	11 December 1954
Acquired	29 September 1955
Commissioned	1 October 1955
Decommissioned	11 September 1993
Reclassified	CVA-59, 1 Oct 1952 CV-59, 30 June 1975 AVT-59, 4 February 1992
Stricken	11 September 1993
Identification	Callsign: NJVF [3] Hull number: CVB-59
Motto	First in Defense
Fate	Scrapped, 15 December 2015
Badge
General characteristics
Class & type	Forrestal-class aircraft carrier
Displacement	59,650 long tons (60,610 t) standard 81,101 long tons (82,402 t) full load
Length	990 ft (300 m) at waterline 1,067 ft (325 m) overall
Beam	129 ft 4 in (39.42 m) at waterline 238 ft (73 m) extreme width
Draft	37 ft (11 m)
Propulsion	4 Westinghouse geared Steam turbines, 8 Babcock & Wilcox boilers, 4 shafts; 260,000 shp (190 MW)
Speed	33 knots (61 km/h; 38 mph)
Complement	552 officers, 4,988 enlisted
Armament	8 × 5"/54 Mk 42 guns (removed) Mk 29 NATO Sea Sparrow, Mk 15 Phalanx CIWS
Aircraft carried	approx. 85 aircraft (F-14, F-4, A-4, A-5, A-6, A-7, E-2, S-3B, EA-6B, C-2, SH-3, A-3B, KC-130 (test flight))

USS Saratoga (CV-60)

USS Saratoga underway in 1992
History
United States
Name	Saratoga
Namesake	Battles of Saratoga USS Saratoga (CV-3)
Ordered	23 July 1952
Builder	New York Naval Shipyard
Cost	$209.7 million[1]
Laid down	16 December 1952
Launched	8 October 1955
Acquired	14 April 1956
Commissioned	14 April 1956
Decommissioned	20 August 1994
Reclassified	CVA-60, 1 October 1952 CV-60, 30 June 1972
Stricken	20 August 1994
Identification	Callsign: NJRS Hull number: CVB-60
Nickname(s)	Sara
Fate	Scrapped, 31 March 2019[2]
Badge
General characteristics
Class & type	Forrestal-class aircraft carrier
Displacement	81,101 long tons (82,402 t) full, 61,235 long tons (62,218 t) light, 19,866 long tons (20,185 t) dead
Length	1,063 ft (324 m)
Beam	130 ft (40 m) waterline, 252 ft (77 m) extreme
Draft	37 ft (11 m)
Propulsion	4 Westinghouse geared turbines, 4 shafts, 280,000 shp (210,000 kW) 8 Babcock & Wilcox boilers
Speed	35 kn (65 km/h; 40 mph)
Complement	552 officers, 4988 men
Sensors & processing systems	AN/SPS-48 3D air search radar AN/SPS-48 2D air search radar AN/SPS-10 surface search radar
Electronic warfare & decoys	Mark 36 SRBOC
Armament	8 × 5"/54 caliber Mark 42 guns (127 mm) (removed) NATO Sea Sparrow Phalanx CIWS
Aircraft carried	70–90

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forrestal-class_aircraft_carrier

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Forrestal

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Saratoga_(CV-60)

[Jaroslav]

Moskva-class helicopter carrier

The Moskva class, Soviet designation Project 1123 Kondor (condor) was the first class of operational helicopter carriers (helicopter cruisers in the Soviet classification) built by the Soviet Union for the Soviet Navy.[3]

These ships were laid down at Nikolayev South (Shipyard No.444). The lead vessel was launched in 1965 and named Moskva (Russian: Москва, lit. 'Moscow'); she entered service two years later. Moskva was followed by Leningrad (Russian: Ленинград, lit. 'Leningrad', which was commissioned in late 1968; there were no further vessels built. Both were conventionally powered.

The Moskvas were not true "aircraft carriers" in that they did not carry any fixed-wing aircraft; the air wing was composed entirely of helicopters. They were designed primarily as anti-submarine warfare (ASW) vessels, and her weapons and sensor suite was optimized against the nuclear submarine threat. Their strategic role was to form the flagships of an ASW task force.[4]

Design

The operational requirement was issued by Admiral Sergey Gorshkov in 1959. The aim of the ships was to counter NATO Polaris submarines and act as a flagship for anti-submarine warfare. Initially it was hoped to operate ten helicopters from an 8000-ton ship. The design evolved into a larger vessel capable of operating up to 14 helicopters with self defence armament.[4]

Armament

Shipboard ASW armament included a twin SUW-N-1 launcher capable of delivering a FRAS-1 projectile carrying a 450-millimetre (18 in) torpedo (or a 10 kiloton nuclear warhead); a pair of RBU-6000 ASW mortars; and a set of torpedo tubes. For self-defence, the Moskvas had two twin SA-N-3 surface-to-air missile (SAM) launchers with reloads for a total of 48 surface-to-air missiles, along with two twin 57 mm (2.2 in) /80 guns.[4]

Both vessels were part of the Black Sea Fleet.

Moskva off the coast of Morocco in January, 1970
History
→ Soviet Union
Name	Moskva
Namesake	Moskva
Builder	Soviet Union Nikolayev South Shipyard
Launched	January 14, 1965[1]
Commissioned	December 25, 1967[1]
Decommissioned	1996[1]
Fate	Scrapped
General characteristics
Class & type	Moskva-class helicopter carrier
Displacement	11,920 tons (standard)[1] 15,280 tons (loaded)[1]
Length	189.0 m (620.1 ft)[1]
Beam	34.0 m (111.5 ft)[1]
Draught	7.7 m (25.3 ft)[1]
Propulsion	geared steam turbines, two shaft, 4 pressure-fired boilers; 100,000 shp (75,000 kW)
Speed	31 knots (57 km/h)
Range	14,000 nautical miles (26,000 km) at 12 knots (22 km/h)
Complement	850
Armament	M-11 Shtorm' SAM 2 twin launchers, 2 × twin 57 mm guns, 1 × SUW-N-1 launcher for FRAS-1 anti submarine missiles, 2 × RBU-6000 ASW rockets, 10 × 553 mm torpedo tubes (2 × 5)
Aircraft carried	14 Ka-25 'Hormone' helicopters

 

Leningrad underway in 1990
History
Soviet Union
Name	Leningrad
Namesake	Leningrad
Builder	Nikolayev South (Shipyard No.444)
Laid down	15 January 1965 [1]
Launched	31 July 1966 [1]
Commissioned	2 June 1969 [1]
Decommissioned	24 June 1991
Fate	Scrapped 1995
General characteristics
Class & type	Moskva-class helicopter carrier
Displacement	11,920 tons (standard)[1] 15,280 tons (loaded)[1]
Length	189.0 m (620 ft 1 in)[1]
Beam	34.0 m (111 ft 7 in)[1]
Draught	7.7 m (25 ft 3 in)[1]
Propulsion	2 shaft steam turbines, 4 pressure fire boilers, 100,000 hp (75,000 kW)
Speed	31 knots (57 km/h; 36 mph)
Range	14,000 nmi (26,000 km; 16,000 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Complement	850
Armament	SA-N-3 'Goblet' SAM 2 twin launchers, 2 × twin 57 mm guns, 1 × SUW-N-1 launcher for FRAS-1 anti submarine missiles, 2 × RBU-6000 ASW rockets, 10 × 553 mm torpedo tubes (2 × 5)
Aircraft carried	14 Ka-27 'Helix' helicopters

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moskva-class_helicopter_carrier

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_helicopter_carrier_Moskva

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_helicopter_carrier_Leningrad