TMO,

Well-put.

Any country with sufficient resources can field a fleet of CVs. Using these CVs effectively is entirely another matter. It required the better part of three decades of ship construction, learning, and doctrine development during the early 20th century before the UK, the US, and Japan were able to prosecute effective large-scale CV operations, and this was back in the days of much simpler technology. The ship construction part is relatively easy when compared with those factors associated with people, especially the development of the requisite "corporate knowledge" and its wise use.

These infrastructure demands are so great that even the US has trouble sustaining a viable and up-to-date CV capability. Russia, China, and India are certainly welcome to try, but it will take, again, decades before they approach any definition of parity with the US.

--
Mike Kanze

"I wrote the story myself. It's all about a girl who lost her reputation but never missed it."

- Mae West


"TMOliver" wrote in message ...

"Starshiy" wrote ...



Yes, but Russia has still an acces to the Black Sea !!!

No matter the access to the sea or the number of available deep water ports,
there's more to carrier aviation than a flat deck (and cats and arresting
gear for most technologies)....

First comes the need for several decks, since training and maintaining
aviators requires substantial practice, and a CV on station far from home or
one in the year for regularly required overhauls aren't available for
CARQUALS, an absolute requirement for anybody hoping to become an
operational pilot.

Then omitted from these discussions so far has been the need for a vast
shore establishment and "pipeline" for the training of aviators and the
provision of a/c.

All the extras don't become apparent and are little considered by those who
haven't watched the B&A crane offload down birds alongside the carrier
berths at Mayport, then watch the yellow tugs head off with them in tow
towards the hangar across the way. That's when one suddenly realizes that
dismantling an a/c to make it fit on a flatbed, and then pulling it across
urban Jacksonville out to now defunct NAS Cecil Field for repair was not
feasible or acceptable on grounds of time and cost.

Given the teething problems, the blind alleys and the cumulative lack of
success displayed by the USSR and Russia in attempting to build and operate
anything even close to a successful CV, restarting a long dormant program
will not be easy (and will certainly be slow).

Ready cash (or the lack of it willingly appropriated by civilian leadership)
is a crucial ingredient, but the requisite shore-based facilities - even at
minimal levels - are likely to be slow and as costly to develop as are the
ships and air groups themselves.

TMO