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SHIP SPEED
The speed of a ship is stated in knots,
a knot being 1 nautical mile per hour. When
a ship travels at 20 nautical miles an hour,
its speed is said to be 20 knots (but never
20 knots per hour). A statute (or land) mile
is 5,280 feet. A nautical mile is about 6,080
feet, or roughly 2,000 yards. A ship traveling
at 20 knots is, therefore, traveling at the
rate of about 23 miles per hour.
SHIP CLASS
Ships are said to be of a particular class. Do
not confuse this characteristic with type, which
is shown by a ship’s designation. The Forrestal,
for example, was the first of several aircraft
carriers of the same general advanced type and
configuration to be completed. The next three
carriers completed after the Forrestal were of the
same type and class. Later multipurpose aircraft
carriers (CVs) or multipurpose aircraft carriers
(nuclear propulsion) (CVNs) of other types were
different classes (such as the Kitty Hawk class and
the Nimitz class).
SHIP CATEGORIES
Ships of the U.S. Navy are divided into four
categories: combatant ships, auxiliary ships,
combatant craft, and support craft. Tables 19-1
and 19-2 show the classifications of naval ships
and craft.
COMBATANT SHIPS
Combatant ships, depending on size and type,
may have missions other than simply ‘‘slugg-
ing it out” with an enemy ship. Combatant
ships are of two types: warships and other
combatants.
WARSHIPS
Most warships are built primarily to attack an
enemy with gunfire, missiles, or other weapons.
There are exceptions, however, which you will see
as we go along. The warship category includes the
following:
1. Aircraft carriers
2. Surface combatants
a. Battleships
b. Cruisers
c. Destroyers
d. Frigates
3. Submarines
Aircraft Carriers
Aircraft carriers are of three kinds:
multipurpose aircraft carriers (CVs), multipurpose
aircraft carriers (nuclear propulsion) (CVNs), and
training carriers (AVTs).
The job of the CV or CVN is to carry, launch,
retrieve, and handle combat aircraft quickly and
effectively. The aircraft carrier can approach the
enemy at high speed, launch planes for the attack
and recover them, and retire before its position
can be determined. The aircraft carrier is an
excellent long-range offensive weapon that is the
center of the modern naval task force or task
group. Figure 19-1 shows a Nimitz-class carrier.
Carriers built before 1950 displace from 33,000
to 51,000 tons. Those built in the 1950s (Forrestal-
class) displace 60,000 tons. The Nimitz-class
nuclear-powered CVNs displace about 93,400 tons
(combat load). You can see that as new carriers
are built, they become heavier and, in general,
larger.
The wartime complement (including the CAG,
or carrier air group) of each new carrier is about
6,000, including officers and enlisted personnel-
an increase of from 500 to 1,000 persons over the
older ships. The CVs operate from 70 to 100
planes, depending on the size and type of aircraft.
Flight decks are roughly 1,000 feet long and from
200 to 250 feet wide. In addition to planes,
armament consists of various types of guided
missiles.
Carriers have angled flight decks and steam
catapults and are able to launch and recover
planes simultaneously. They have a large hangar
deck for plane stowage, four deck-edge elevators
to rapidly move aircraft between the hangar and
flight decks, extensive repair shops, storerooms,
and fast-fueling equipment. They are noted for
their speed (all carriers can proceed at over 30
knots), endurance, plane-carrying capacity, and
maintenance capability. They are also noted for
their sea-keeping ability (ability to successfully and
safely execute a mission at sea despite adverse
environmental factors).
19-2
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