WesWorld

They're certainly not going to let you mount huge strikes, but if you have one of these conversions - from any of the designs - escorting a convoy or centring an ASW hunting group, they'll be useful. That's a dozen or more ASW/scouting aircraft scouting for and suppressing enemy submarines and surface raiders, and a half dozen or more fighters to shoot down snoopers or defend against small carrier raids.

I'd say go ahead and do it.

China would be happy to have such usefull ships

The slightly bigger ships make more sense for conversions the Thjazi is just a little too small.

I'm going to bump this to raise an alternative to Stephen's work on Thjazi.

Bharat's not quite coming at the seaplane carrier thing from the same perspective as the SAE. There's enough decks to cover the strike and air-defence jobs. The Gaudhi Sagars could engage in such tasks to a modest degree at one time, but the disparity between wheeled and floatplanes is there, and the introduction of jets will just make it worse.

So the primary tasks for Bharat's AVs has been:

-ASW - submarine suppression
-Aerial recce
-Escort group command
-Escort group refueling

...and these tasks remain necessary; it's just that floatplanes aren't necessarily the only option around now for a small carrier. Perds began introducing helos and autohyros to experimental service, so Bharat has a few years of testing under its belt, including a dedicated experimental carrier for a time (...that I subsequently junked).

Thus I'm looking at a potential refit to an autogyro carrier, with the following mods:

-Razing of the uppermost level of superstructure

-Installation of a compact bridge on the starboard hull, essentially for flight ops only

-Installation of a half-length flight deck, sufficient to launch/recover autogyros, helicopters (eventually), and light STOL utility aircraft. A large area for massing of air strikes isn't necessary, as it won't be this ship's function. Instead, it'll be to keep a standing patrol of two or three autogyros around a convoy at all times.

-Modest expansion of the forward superstructure to replace the razed bits and add more workspace for an escort group command staff.

-Rejigging of the secondary/AA battery. The DP main battery stays as is.

-No tinkering with the machinery, bunkerage, or below-decks stuff, other than requiring the aircraft lift to travel eighteen feet higher than it did before.

-Realistically, the aircraft capacity will be scaled back to ten. While I asisgned enough weight to ship 18 in the original design, I honestly have no idea where they would all have gone. It's still a good number of aircraft for the size of the ship.

The end result is less ambitious than the SAE concept, but might also be more practical. Less topweight addition, less cost, less below-decks work.

No SS yet, since I'm looking at the sketch first to constrain what's possible. The vehicle pictured has the dimensions of the Fairey Gyrodyne - which I am using strictly as a reference point. The black disc represents a 40' rotor disc. Note also that the side view with highlighted hanger does not quite line up horizontally with the other views above it.

Thoughts?

I like the idea. It makes sense, although without folding rotors etc. these autogyros are space hogs aboard ships. At least until the aero tech catches up.
Also, I assume the seaplane hangars would have been fairly high too, so that fits well to the new use.

Looks like a good choice for a new job of these vessels. Where can i sign a purchasing contract

Helicopters and autogyros have been sitting on various navies' ships for several years now, so I'm assuming somebody's worked out the need for folding rotors. Or a quick way to unbolt them.

I assume the hanger was at least 16' - possibly higher. The Fairey bird I'm using as a measurement template is 13' high.

Obviously this won't work once something on the scale of a Sea King or Wessex comes into service, but these ships aren't likely to be in service much past the early fifties anyway.

Italy is thinking about something similar posted here.