Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 3:05:48-3:06:53

CVA-01's paper limits were not the final ship

Catapults, propulsion, aircraft adoption, and escort plans were still capable of changing because CVA-01 never reached a completed design in service.

Aircraft Carrier CatapultsAircraft CarriersCVA-01Naval AviationType 82 Destroyer
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Question

Were CVA-01's planned speed, catapults, and air group too weak for Phantoms and Buccaneers?

Short answer

The paper design still had room to evolve; catapults and propulsion could have been revised around an air group built for Phantoms, Buccaneers, AEW, and helicopters.

Notes

CVA-01 never entered service, so its listed figures should not be treated as fixed performance limits. The catapult weakness could have been revised as Phantom and Buccaneer requirements matured, while the planned three-shaft steam plant was rated at about 135,000 shaft horsepower and officially 30 knots. The air group centred on eighteen Phantoms, eighteen Buccaneers, Gannet AEW aircraft, Sea Kings, Wessex helicopters, and carrier-on-board delivery support, with room for the mix to evolve. HMS Bristol and the Type 82 belonged to the carrier's escort plan, so cancellation left Britain with an escort for a task group that never appeared.