WesWorld

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If I read this report correctly, then Italy will start using carriers like a capital ship with at least some screening forces by say 1933. I'd assume that one carrier would be in each operations area with one in reserve to bolster any trouble spots.

The carrier and its aircraft is seen as being more flexible than a battleship, retaining a large offensive capability, whilst still being a lot cheaper than a BB. Europa costs £5m whilst PEdS costs £15m. I need 4 carriers to keep 3 active and 1 in refit whilst cycling round. If need be, I can form 2 carrier forces of 2 CVs each. Normally the carriers will be used to scout, then attack/hinder the enemy until the 3 remaining BBs can sink them. However, the BBs aren't suited to IO operations because they have too short a range, so they'll stay in the Med/Atlantic.

The report gives 5 possible roles for the new cruiser, of which the 2 scouting ones are fulfilled by the CV. It also mentions building 12 of them; there will probably be 8 ACRs and 4 more specialised "trade protection" cruisers.

Destroyers will be the first part of this program. Think big, as they have to be long-ranged and seaworthy.

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However, it would be handy to know more of Italy's Risk Areas assesment; the diplomatic strategy to deal with the risks, the national defence strategy and then the naval strategy to properly comment on Italy's building strategy and force structure. eg. Italy's Indian Ocean aspirations are hostage to the UK and a lesser extent, the SAE. How do these countries react to the RM in the Indian Ocean or is a massive investment in Italian East Africa on the cards to counter perceived threats? 'Alliance value' or 'Risk Theory' are not that substantive

I'll work on those things. Massive investment in EAS is definitely on the cards. Huge improvements need to be made to infrastructure there. From a reality pov, they need better ports and hugely develop the interior to allow more efficient industry/agriculture. I'll just have to represent this by building more slipways and such like.

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One also has to wonder about Italy's Atlantic aspirations, there are three major nations who would challenge Italy's presence there, not including allies.

What aspirations? Italy will only support Iberia in that region. Italy alone has no interests.

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The carrier and its aircraft is seen as being more flexible than a battleship, retaining a large offensive capability, whilst still being a lot cheaper than a BB. Europa costs £5m whilst PEdS costs £15m

What's the price on the airgroup and how often do you need to replace it with newer aircraft? To argue that a carrier is 1/3rd the cost of a BB is accounting by Arthur Anderson at it's best. ; )

Cheers,

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What's the price on the airgroup and how often do you need to replace it with newer aircraft?

Its a fairly small cost really. Airgroup costs c. $2m. So about £0.5m Replacement of aircraft every 5-8years so a total cost of additional cost of £2m throughout her 20year lifetime.

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Its a fairly small cost really. Airgroup costs c. $2m. So about £0.5m Replacement of aircraft every 5-8years so a total cost of additional cost of £2m throughout her 20year lifetime.

IIRC the RAF argued that you could by 1000 aircraft for the cost of a battleship but the RN did their sums and came up with about 20 bombers. Do you have any sources on contempory aircraft costs?

Cheers,

I'll ask.

Would that cost reflect the training of the pilots, who would all be officers, thus earning more pay while in service.

Over time the carrier would cost about the same as the battleship, and as technology improves, will become more effective than the battleships in many tasks. Not all tasks, because we still have a few things that a battleship will do much better than any airplane.

The trouble with carriers at this point in time is the limited ability and range of the aircraft used, and the vulnerability of the carriers themselves to attack. This can tie up several warships to provide escort for a unit that has not yet fully proven itself. The Battleship can operate independently and be less vulnerable to most attacks that are not torpedo based (and some are being protected from that even). It shouldn't be until the carriers get larger and/or greater numbers that the role of "queen of the sea" is transfered from the battleships to their modern day successors.