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Originally Posted by Legbreaker
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I think a lot of what I stated at the start of this thread is in this thesis, which also greatly expands on what I originally stated. Diesel submarines are undoubtedly a major threat to aircraft carriers, particularly AIP submarines. But as Unkated said these are Western submarines/or navies that have beaten US Navy ASW defences, and these were in exercises.
The US Navy and US submarines would be focused on tactics of rivals such as the Soviet/Russians and maybe the Chinese now. Smaller Western allies can also specialise more in particular fields which the US Navy can't due to its much broader task. AIP submarines seem to excel in choke points and littoral naval warfare, but in deeper more open waters I doubt they could tackle the big US Navy nuclear attack boats so successfully.
As I see the major threat to US Navy carriers are....
Other Carriers. None at moment. Russian carrier too limited. French and new British ones are allied. Chinese and Indians also too limited, although some potential threat in future from new Chinese and possibly Russian ones.
Nuclear Attack Submarines: Only Russia is a threat. Britain and France are US allies, Chinese submarines are untested and likely much noisier and less advanced, while India is just entering this field with Russian assistance.
AIP Submarines: Mainly Western navies and certainly NATO and allied navies have the best of them. Possible Russian and Chinese threat in near future
Anti-Ship Missiles: Really only the Russians could still threaten the US Navy in this area with Tu-22M Backfire launched supersonic missiles. Other navies except the British do not have anti-ship or cruise missile with the range to launch outside of US Navy carrier aircraft protection, or in most cases US Navy ship based SAM.
Land Based Aircraft: Would depend on how close to shore US Navy carriers are and who the opposition would be.
Land Based Missiles: Don't get me started about the Chinese DF-21D carrier killer, please don't!