HMAS Canberra - Inspirational video

I tend to agree with the argument that since it has a wet dock for launching troops (with helicopter support) it isn’t really an aircraft carrier.

I also agree that it is a pretty damn capable vessel for aircraft operations, and what you call it is definitely an exercise in semantics.

Now if only we could get some STOL JSFs….

More on how she can be operated to shift cargo, launch boats, launch JSF etc:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NAgt3OwMxM&feature=related

Incidentally the gorshkov can carry a mere 22 aircraft.

Just because it’s not a Nimitz does not make it any less an aircraft carrier.

Stated intentions are meaningless. IIRC the admiral who retook the falklands pithily summarised “The only thing that matters is position and capability”

Grail said :

“Aircraft Carrier” is an entirely different role to the “Amphibious Strike Craft” role proposed for these two ships. Just because a ship has the capacity to launch and land a small complement of STOL planes, does not mean it is an aircraft carrier.

The role “Amphibious Assault Ship” involves launching and retrieving air, sea and land forces at sea – for those who were watching closely, this is where the “Amphibious Assault” part of the name comes from.

The HMAS Canberra and HMAS Adelaide are a specific subtype of AAS, aka “Landing Helicopter Dock” which refers to the basic role of handling a complement of helicopters (the design spec for the Canberra class is 6 helicopters), and having a “well deck” which allows recovery of landing boats by submerging a cargo bay at the rear of the ship.

An aircraft carrier will typically carry dozens of aircraft, it’s primary role being to launch and recover aircraft, and guide those aircraft on their sorties/missions. An assault ship will carry up to a dozen aircraft (helicopters and STOLs), while also fulfilling the role of fleet command and troop transport.

So sure, the ship carries aircraft and has a landing deck. Saying that this makes it an aircraft carrier is like saying a WRX is an all-terrain vehicle because it has all-wheel drive.

A F-18 can land on an aircraft carrier, but not a helicopter carrier or an amphibious assault ship. Do you still think the Canberra class ships are aircraft carriers, when it cannot launch or recover an F-18?

Actually using the vehicle decks the Canberras will be able to carry 36 planes. And the elevator runs all the way down.

In contrast the Invincible Class (unarguably an aircraft carrier) could carry 22.

My bad – the design spec is for 6 helipads. The ship is apparently going to be capable of carrying 24 helicopters.

Still, the design is not “aircraft carrier” since it actually “amphibious assault ship”. It boils down to definitions, such as a “two door tray top” being different to “crewcab ute” – they are both utes.

“Aircraft Carrier” is an entirely different role to the “Amphibious Strike Craft” role proposed for these two ships. Just because a ship has the capacity to launch and land a small complement of STOL planes, does not mean it is an aircraft carrier.

The role “Amphibious Assault Ship” involves launching and retrieving air, sea and land forces at sea – for those who were watching closely, this is where the “Amphibious Assault” part of the name comes from.

The HMAS Canberra and HMAS Adelaide are a specific subtype of AAS, aka “Landing Helicopter Dock” which refers to the basic role of handling a complement of helicopters (the design spec for the Canberra class is 6 helicopters), and having a “well deck” which allows recovery of landing boats by submerging a cargo bay at the rear of the ship.

An aircraft carrier will typically carry dozens of aircraft, it’s primary role being to launch and recover aircraft, and guide those aircraft on their sorties/missions. An assault ship will carry up to a dozen aircraft (helicopters and STOLs), while also fulfilling the role of fleet command and troop transport.

So sure, the ship carries aircraft and has a landing deck. Saying that this makes it an aircraft carrier is like saying a WRX is an all-terrain vehicle because it has all-wheel drive.

A F-18 can land on an aircraft carrier, but not a helicopter carrier or an amphibious assault ship. Do you still think the Canberra class ships are aircraft carriers, when it cannot launch or recover an F-18?