 |
|
|
|
| After the Vietnam War there was much talk in the US Navy of a high-low fleet make up. |
|
 |
The Perry class was the low end for the ASW/Antiair and the Spruance was the high end. |
 |
For carriers it was the new Nimitz class and the low end was to be Sea Control Ships which would operate a small number of antisubmarine helicopters and S/VTOL fighters. |
 |
Because of the Cold War most in the US Navy community saw the scarce dollars best spent on the super carriers. |
 |
No SCS were ever built although there was experiments with the Iwo Jima and the UK, Spain, Italy and Russia construct SCS. |
 |
The US Navy commissioned various engineering studies of SCS. |
 |
One design was bought by Spain and used in the construction of their one SCS the "Principe de Asturias". |
 |
Finally, while not practical during the Cold War, many think that today SCS would be ideal for the missions the US Navy has. |
 |
For example using a Nimitz carrier to keep an eye on the pirates and terrorists based in Somalia is a bit much. |
 |
A SCS would be perfect for the role. |
 |
Below are three great drawings/art work based on the US Navy's study of SCS concept. |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
A Sea Control Ship (SCS) is a type of small aircraft carrier designed and conceptualized by the United States Navy under Chief of Naval Operations Elmo Zumwalt in the 1970s. The SCS was designed due to severe cuts in Navy spending, requiring a cheap, flexible platform that could provide convoy escorts and deliver limited air power to the field without tying up an enormous aircraft carrier during times of conflict. US Navy Sea Control Ships were initially intended to carry a mix of Rockwell XFV-12[2] fighters and anti-submarine warfare helicopters. Link |
 |
DRAWINGS First Design Considered for SCS |
