Lord Jim wrote: Remember how far back we held the Carriers in the Falklands war for fear of conventional air attack let alone one by an Exocet a
Yes, but there were other factors in play as well. The escorts had sailed so abruptly that they still had their nuclear depth charges. Some were moved to the carriers, some to the RFA deep mags
- entering the Latin American denuclearised zone (Falklands territorial waters included) would have scored an easy propaganda point (or two) for the Argies
Yes, we are much poorer, so being able to afford this system of systems is unlikely:
with authority to eventually integrate with ACDS and Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC) systems on CVN, LPD-17, LHD and LHA ship classes. Ships with SSDS include:
SSDS MK1: LSD-41 Whidbey Island Class and LSD-49 Harpers Ferry Class amphibious assault.
SSDS Mk2 MOD 1: CVN 76 USS Ronald Reagan, March 2003. Probably post-RCOH aircraft carriers from CVN 68 to CVN 71, USS Theodore Roosevelt.
SSDS Mk2 MOD 2: LPD-17 San Antonio Class amphibious assault.
SSDS MK2 MOD 3A: LHD 7 USS Iwo Jima & LHD 8 USS Makin Island amphibious assault aviation ships. May be refitted to other Wasp Class LHDs.
SSDS MK2 MOD 4B: LHA 6 America Class escort carrier, presumably LHA 7 Tripoli too.
SSDS MK2 MOD 5C: LSD ships to be refitted from SSDS Mk1.
SSDS MK2 MOD 6B: CVN 78 Gerald R. Ford Class carrier, presumably refitted CVN 72 USS Abraham Lincoln.
- as can be seen in the above, there are constant improvements being made