Light III.

This is coolbert:

Continuing with that discussion of the American light carrier.

THE SUPER-CARRIER [CVN] AS THAT TERM UNDERSTOOD TOO VULNERABLE AND EXPENSIVE? "

"Does the US Navy have 10 or 19 Aircraft Carriers?"

Ten or nineteen. That is the question?

And the answer is? CVL?

"LHA(R) America Class Amphibious Assault Ship"

"Last week [April 2014] the U.S. Navy accepted USS America, first of the America-class amphibious assault ships, into service . . . When fully operational, America and Tripoli will operate as many as 20 F-35Bs, potentially playing a critical role in what the Navy projects as the future of air superiority."

An image of the USS America [LHA (R)] as might soon be. Carrying F-35 B Lightning, short take-off vertical landing.

THE AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT SHIP AS IN THE CURRENT INVENTORY DEPENDING ON MISSION AUGMENTING IN A MAJOR WAY THE SUPER-CARRIER. THOSE OTHER NINE AIRCRAFT CARRIERS IN REALITY U.S. MARINE ASSAULT SHIPS?

A Wasp-class amphibious assault ship that number and type of warplanes fixed and rotary aircraft  task tailored. Missions to include the "Standard Complement", "Assault", "Sea Control".

"Sea Control"

* 20 AV-8B Harrier II attack aircraft
* 6 SH-60F/HH-60H ASW helicopters

LHA (R) however NOT carrying [?] those embedded and organic warplanes essential to the mission and of the variety:

* EW [Electronic Warfare].
* AEW [Airborne Early Warning].
* Tanker.

Assuming also Osprey if and when carried capable of carrying out the aerial logistics mission.

The much talked about Chinese aircraft carrier [solely one at the present time] Liaoning able to carry about twenty-four combat warplanes of the strike mission variety. Liaoning also evidently NOT having organic EW, AEW and tanker warplanes?

YET more to follow.

coolbert.