Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 19:03-20:07

Why carrier crew savings must be designed in

A Ford-class comparison explains why British weapons-handling ideas might reduce crew demand only when incorporated into the ship from the outset.

Aircraft CarriersGerald R. Ford Class Aircraft CarriersNaval PersonnelQueen Elizabeth Class Aircraft CarriersShip Design
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Question

How much crew could the Gerald R. Ford class save by adopting British weapons-management and storage systems?

Short answer

Potentially a substantial amount, but only if the systems are designed in from the start; retrofitting them would demand a very large refit.

Notes

Automation and weapons handling belong in the carrier's basic architecture because they cannot be added cheaply after construction. A large crew reduction may be possible in principle, but retrofitting the required systems into a Gerald R. Ford-class carrier would take an extensive reconstruction. Future U.S. carrier designs could study Royal Navy practice on the Queen Elizabeth class from the outset.