the last Light Aircraft Carrier

[Blakrider]

back in 89, i happened to see a magaizine cover showing the return of the last light carrier USS Cabot from the spanish navy to New Orleans, where it was to be converted to a museum ship. years later i was in New Orleans but found out she hadn't been turned into a museum ship as the article had promised, but was instead just sitting there tied to the pier rusting out. it was finally towed to Brownsvlle Tx for scapping in about 2002.

i have oftened wondered what could have been her fate if the twilight war had started. would it have stayed a rusting hulk in New Orleans?, or would the navy have pressed her into service? and if they did as what a anti sub carrier (ASW) or a maybe a LPH helicopter landing ship?

i have written up the states for both

so any ides or suggestions

[copeab]

Here's her history and stats in Spanish service, to give an idea of what her capabilities would have been like in the 90's:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish...arrier_Dédalo

My rough guess is that the USN would have used it in a similar role, though a ski-jump might have been installed for improving the Harriers' performance.

[Raellus]

I like the idea of the US government buying her from her private owners in late '96 or early '97, refurbishing and refitting her (if she'd been neglected, this could take upwards of a year) and returned to service as an escort carrier in '98. On the other hand, the USN would be running short of amphibs by then so perhaps that would be her WWIII role. She already carried Harriers in Spahish service so it makes sense that she'd carry them again in USMC service.

I can see her running convoy escort duty carrying a mix of helis for ASW duties and Harriers optimized for air-to-air combat operations.

[Dog 6]

Originally Posted by Raellus

I like the idea of the US government buying her from her private owners in late '96 or early '97, refurbishing and refitting her (if she'd been neglected, this could take upwards of a year) and returned to service as an escort carrier in '98. On the other hand, the USN would be running short of amphibs by then so perhaps that would be her WWIII role. She already carried Harriers in Spahish service so it makes sense that she'd carry them again in USMC service.

I can see her running convoy escort duty carrying a mix of helis for ASW duties and Harriers optimized for air-to-air combat operations.

I 2nd that

[Abbott Shaull]

These type of ships would be used as the basis and I am sure more modern ones were in the works to serve as Escort Carriers of WWIII. The Navy has practically had several of these ships used to carry Marine landing forces, don't recall the name of the vessels, but they too could be press into Escort Carrier type service too.

In the Persian Gulf they could be used as staging asset for the Heli-borne forces. In and around Korea for the same reason and in the North Sea and Baltic Sea in support of the protecting Marine units in those areas.

[kalos72]

My group even has talked about using the old Intrepid in NYC as a landing platform for rotary wing assets. Of course I cant decide if I should give it to them with working engines or not. :P

[mcchordsage]

Originally Posted by Abbott Shaull

These type of ships would be used as the basis and I am sure more modern ones were in the works to serve as Escort Carriers of WWIII. The Navy has practically had several of these ships used to carry Marine landing forces, don't recall the name of the vessels, but they too could be press into Escort Carrier type service too.

In the Persian Gulf they could be used as staging asset for the Heli-borne forces. In and around Korea for the same reason and in the North Sea and Baltic Sea in support of the protecting Marine units in those areas.

Almost a decade later, but that would've been the Thetis Bay. CVE to an LPH while the USMC was monkeying around with at-sea ready forces in the late 50s and early 60s.