Capt. Jerry Hendrix: First choice for the new Secretary of the Navy ?

murfthesurf

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When I first listened to Capt. Jerry Hendrix (Ret.) on the John Batchelor Show last year , my thought was 'I sure wish this guy could fix these problems he outlined. The problem is simply a repeat of 1921, nothing but pure common sense ....

I learned today that Capt. Jerry Hendrix is a first choice for Secretary of the Navy!

Per the interview above and his paper, "The Retreat from Range : The Rise and Fall of Carrier Aviation" , Capt. Hendrix warns that the 75 year old problem for Aircraft Carriers and the average un-refueled combat range of Carrier Air Wings that started in 1942 (with the advent of Kamikazes) is still in play today and what impact this the YUGE ramification means for the future of the US Navy's mission versus limited budgets.

In 1943, USS Essex's Air Wing had an average 'un-refueled combat range of 758 Nautical Miles.

In 1956, USS Forrestal's Air Wing had an average 'un-refueled combat range of 1,210 Nautical Miles.

In 1986, USS Nimitz's Air Wing had an average 'un-refueled combat range of 908 Nautical Miles.

In 2006, USS Nimitz's Air Wing has an avg. 'un-refueled combat range of 496 Nautical Miles.

So, 75 years later, the threat of new land-based anti-ship missiles (an un-manned 'Kamikaze'), has DECREASED the effective 'un-refueled combat range operations of today's Air Wings operating from $14 billion dollar Super Carriers by -35% less than that of the 1943 Essex Class carrier ?? !!

Think of the Battleships and what Billy Mitchell proved in 1921 ..hopefully, Capt. Jerry Hendrix is this generation's version of General Mitchell, but instead of repeating Gen. Mitchell's battles to show the vulnerability of the Battlehip when facing the new threat of Air Power against ships at Sea, Dr. Hendrix may be able to make his changes as the Secretary of the Navy!

Captain Jerry Hendrix On What Ramping Up Shipbuilding Looks Like

(I have no doubt some on the Forum know of the debate much more than I . )
 
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In 1956, USS Forrestal's Air Wing had an average 'un-refueled combat range of 1,210 Nautical Miles.

Can anyone verify this? I like numbers. I am assuming combat range includes return trip, which means the aircraft would had to have range of 2400 nm, give or take. Cross reference with likely aircrafts from that period?

A1 Skyraider, according to Wiki, 1144 nm, no combat radius given
A4 Skyhawk, according to Wiki, 1700 nm range, 625 nm combat radius
F4 Phantom, according to Wiki, 367 nm combat radius

So my question is what Aircraft had combat range of 1210 nm back in 1956?
 
LG,

In 1956, the CV-59 had the F2H3 Banshee which could carry 3k pounds nearly 1,500 nm. Note the outer fuel tanks on the wings.

F2H-2N+93NA.jpg


This Paper is almost like a great book,very easy reading. Just click where it says "Download the PDF" after you click this link-----> - "The Retreat from Range : The Rise and Fall of Carrier Aviation" ,

BTW, the F-4 Phantom's first full carrier deployment was between August 1962 and March 1963 aboard CV-59; it's fuel guzzling was responsible for the greatest drop in Air Wing reach....

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Why is effective 'safe' range for a Navy Carrier's flight operations so important? Look at all of the Artificial Islands that the PRC has created in the South Pacific. These new islands have pushed out the 1,000 mile range of the PRC anti-ship missiles another 275+miles !

For the Philippines Islands, defense from these artificial bases can be done by 1 million dollar missiles instead of 14 Billion dollar CV's . This gives further evidence that smaller CV platforms with different Air Wing make ups than traditionally required, will be some of the answers for the future, IMHO.
 
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