The United States Navy in the Cold War Era: What ifs.

[dragoon500ly]

(Primary source material is the 13th Edition of the Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet by Norman Polmar and the Naval Historical Center)

Heavy Aircraft Carrier (CVA) On 29 July 1948, construction of five "supercarriers", for which funds had been provided in the Naval Appropriations Act of 1949. The keel of the first of the five planned postwar carriers was laid down on 18 April 1949 at Newport News Drydock and Shipbuilding. The program was canceled on 23 April 1949, United States was not completed, and the other four planned carriers were never built.

The primary drive behind the design was the development of a carrier using the new jet aircraft. The new jets were faster, larger and much heavier that the WW2-era aircraft used on the Essex and Midway-class carriers. It was anticipated that the aircraft would have a much longer range thus allowing the carrier to operate further away from any targets. These requirements would require that the ship’s strength deck would have to be the flight deck rather than the hanger deck as in traditional US carrier design. The heavier flight deck meant that the ship would have a greater tendency to roll in rough seas, since a much larger part of the ship’s weight would be high above the waterline.

Due to the anticipated size of the new aircraft, the CVA would be flush-decked, meaning that the design would have no island superstructure. This resulted in two major concerns;

1) How would the exhaust gas from the power plants be diverted from the flight deck? The USN’s first carrier, USS Langley, had been built flush-decked and this problem caused a great many problems that were never satisfactory resolved.

2) Were are the necessary radar equipment to be mounted ? One possible solution was for a command ship to remain close by, carrying the task force commander and the necessary radar equipment. The USS Northampton (CLC-1) would be built to fulfill this mission. Another solution was for an airborne early warning radar to be carried among the air group.

It was finally assumed that the CVA would not operate by itself, but in conjunction with traditional fleet carriers as a complementary bomber-carrier. There was a great deal of debate on the CVA’s mission. One viewpoint was that the ship would carry a group of large bombers that would be secured to the flight deck with no hanger space as the bombers would be too large to be moved via the ship’s elevators. This allowed for munition to be reduced as multiple strikes would be unlikely. A hanger area for a small fighter contingent and a small magazine for nuclear weapons storage were provided.

The final design included a more balanced air group but would be able to support the heavier nuclear-armed bombers. It would be equipped with four deck edge elevators (three waist and one stern) as well as four catapults (two forward and two waist). The CVA would be able to launch and simultaneously recover aircraft. Estimated cost was $189 million dollars (equivalent to $1.66 billion in 2020).

Unfortunately, the CVA concept as a nuclear-armed bomber carrier was viewed as a challenge to the USAF’s monopoly on strategic nuclear weapons delivery.

Looking to cut the military budget and accepting without question the Air Force argument on nuclear deterrence by means of large, long-range bombers, Secretary of Defense Louis A. Johnson announced the cancellation of construction of United States, on 23 April 1949, five days after the ship's keel was laid. Secretary of the Navy John Sullivan immediately resigned, and Congress held an inquiry into the manner and wisdom of Johnson's decision. In the subsequent "Revolt of the Admirals" the Navy was unable to advance its case that large carriers would be essential to national defense.
Soon afterward, Johnson and Francis P. Matthews, the man he advanced to be the new Secretary of the Navy, set about punishing those officers that let their opposition be known. Admiral Louis Denfeld was forced to resign as Chief of Naval Operations, and a number of other admirals and lesser ranks were punished. The invasion of South Korea six months later resulted in an immediate need for a strong naval presence, and Matthews' position as Secretary of the Navy and Johnson's position as Secretary of Defense crumbled, both ultimately resigning.

Displacement: 66,000 tons standard, 83,000 tons full load. Length: 1,030ft (314m) at waterline; 1,088ft (331.7m) overall Beam: 125 feet (38.1m) Flight Deck: 190 ft (57.9m) Propulsion: (8) 1,200psi Foster-Wheeler boilers; (4) Westinghouse steam turbines totaling 280,000shp; driving four screws. Speed: 33 knots Range: 12,000nm at 20kts Crew: 3,019 officers and enlisted, 2,480 air wing officers and enlisted, total of 5,499 officers and enlisted Armament: (8) 5in/54 caliber guns in single mounts; (16) 3in/70mm AA guns in eight twin mounts; (20) 20mm/70 autocannons (single, dual or quad mounts were debated).

[dragoon500ly]

Sea Control Ship (SCS) In the late 1960s, studies by US Navy identified a potential requirement for large scale convoy operations in the event of a war with the Soviet Union. In order to compensate for a shortage of escort ships, it was suggested that helicopters operating from small helicopter carriers could fill the gap. When Elmo Zumwalt became Chief of Naval Operations in 1970, he seized on the idea of small helicopter carriers as part of his "High-Low" plan in which large numbers of cheaper lower capability ships would be built to supplement existing expensive high capability ships. The proposed small carrier, which was named the Sea Control Ship (SCS), was required to provide continuous airborne cover of two anti-submarine and one airborne early warning helicopters, as well as carrying VSTOL fighters to stop Soviet long-range aircraft (like the Tupolev Tu-95 "Bear") from shadowing convoys and directing submarines and surface ships against them. This resulted in a requirement to carry 14 helicopters and three VSTOL fighters such as the AV-8 Harrier. It was hoped that production SCSs could be built for $100 million each, an eighth of the price of a full sized aircraft carrier.
In 1971 USS GUAM (LPH-9), was used as a test vessel. Testing began on 18 January 1972. In 1974 she was deployed to the Atlantic Ocean. The vessel was equipped with AV-8A Harrier STOVL fighters and SH-3 Sea King ASW helicopters. The tests were completed in July 1974.
The lead ship was planned for the fiscal year 1975 shipbuilding program. However, Congress refused to authorize the ships because of their limited capability and strong opposition by the advocates of large carriers. The SCSs were smaller than most fleet aircraft carriers, and the concept was seized upon by nations wanting inexpensive aircraft carriers. Spain's PRINCIPE DE ASTURIAS, and her smaller cousin ship, Thailand's HTMS CHAKI NARUEBET, were based on the final US Navy blueprints for a dedicated sea control ship, but with the addition of a ski-jump ramp and follow a similar mission profile.

Displacement: 9,770 tons light; 13,735 tons full load Length: 620ft (190m) Beam: 80ft (24m) Draft: 21.62ft (6.59m) Propulsion: (2) General Electric LM2500+gas turbines, single shaft, 45,000shp; (3) 2500Kw ship service generators. Speed: 26kts; 24kts sustained Crew: 76 officers, 624 enlisted Armament: Two Mk15 Phalanx CIWS Aircraft Carried: (3) AV-8A Harrier VTOL; (17) SH-3 Sea King ASW helicopters
Aviation Facilities: Flight Deck: 545 x 105ft (166.1 x 32m) Enclosed Hanger: 19ft (5.8m) high Aircraft Elevators: 60,000lb (27.2mt) lift capacity Centerline: 60x30ft (18.3x9.1m) Stern: 35x50ft (10.7x15.4m) JP-5 Fuel Capacity: 950 tons (861.8mt) Aviation Ordnance: 180 tons (163mt)

[dragoon500ly]

VSTOL Support Ship During the mid-1970s there was increased USN interest in VSTOL aircraft, with a major analysis known as the Sea-Based Air Master Study developing a long-term program for several categories of VSTOL aircraft.
Admiral Zumwalt's successor as CNO, James L. Holloway III abandoned plans for the SCS and instead proposed a larger and faster design, the VSTOL Support Ship, or VSS. By June 1976, it was planned that the VSS would be 690 feet (210 m) long and would be powered by four General Electric LM2500 gas turbines driving two propeller shafts (essentially double the machinery of the single shaft SCS) which would give a speed of 29 knots (54 km/h; 33 mph). It would carry 22 helicopters (16 H-53 Sea Stallions and six LAMPS light helicopters) together with four Harriers. Holloway hoped to develop a series of advanced V/STOL aircraft, including a supersonic fighter and a utility aircraft for Anti-Submarine and Airborne Early Warning duties which could operate from the VSS as well as from the Navy's existing carriers, although these types were never fully defined. The need to accommodate the new designs resulted in the carrier's design being reworked in February 1978 as the VSS II. This design had a larger hangar and greater beam than the original design to allow the potentially larger advanced aircraft to be carried, and carried substantially more aviation fuel.
A third variant, the VSS III, evolved by July 1978 as a result of a requirement to protect the ship's magazines. In order to cope with the extra weight of the armor, the ship had a new hull form with less freeboard but allowing greater speed. The final VSS III design was 717 feet (218.5 m) long overall and 690 feet (210.3 m) at the waterline, with a beam of 178 feet (54.3 m) and a draft of 24 feet 4 inches (7.42 m). Displacement was 20,116 long tons (20,439 t) light and 29,130 long tons (29,600 t) full load. As well as the ship's aircraft, two quadruple Harpoon anti-ship-missile launchers were to be mounted on the fantail, with two Phalanx Close-in weapon systems were to be fitted. A complement of 49 officers and 910 other ranks were to operate the ship while the ship's air wing had 87 officers and 541 other ranks. The final configuration is described below.

Displacement: 20,115 tons light; 29,130 tons full load Length: 690ft (210.4m); 717ft (218.6m) oa Beam: 178ft (54.3m) Draft: 25.5ft (7.7m) Propulsion: (4) General Electric LM2500 gas turbines; 2 shafts; 90,000shp Speed: 30kts Manning: 97 officers and 910 enlisted, air group of 87 officers and 541 enlisted; total of 184 officers and 1,451 enlisted. Armament: (2) Mk15 Phalanx CIWS Air Group: 8 AV-8A Harrier VTOL; 6 SH-2F Sea Sprite and 16 SH-3 Sea King ASW helicopters

[dragoon500ly]

Medium Aircraft Carriers In the early 1970s, the United States Navy, following the doctrine of Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Elmo Zumwalt for larger numbers of smaller and cheaper ships, initiated design studies for a "minimum-cost" carrier of 50,000–60,000 tons. The new design was planned to be much cheaper than nuclear-powered carriers (a cost target of $550 million was set in 1972) but still be suitable for replacing the ageing Midway-class aircraft carriers. Work on the project (designated T-CBL) was stopped however, when the US Congress made statements encouraging all major warships to be nuclear-powered, and in 1976 an order was placed for a fourth nuclear-powered Nimitz-class aircraft carrier.

Later that year, however, US President Gerald Ford cancelled the order for the fourth Nimitz, stating that instead, two CVVs, medium-sized, conventional-powered carriers which were expected to mainly operate V/STOL aircraft would be built. The existing T-CBL design formed the basis for the new CVV, this being of the required size, while capable of operating all existing conventional carrier aircraft (this proved important as the hoped-for supersonic V/STOL fighters did not come to fruition).

The CVV carried a smaller air group than existing supercarriers (i.e. about 60 compared with about 90 for the nuclear-powered Nimitz class or the conventional-powered Kitty Hawk-class aircraft carriers) and had two steam catapults rather than four, and three arrestor cables instead of four. The CVV also had a less powerful power plant, with steam turbines fed by six boilers generating 100,000 shaft horsepower (75,000 kW) in a two-shaft arrangement, compared with the 280,000 shaft horsepower (210,000 kW) delivered to four shafts of the larger carriers, giving a speed of 28 knots (52 km/h) compared with over 31 knots (57 km/h). While slower than earlier carriers, this was still sufficiently fast to keep up with carrier task forces. Not all of the design features in the CVV were less capable than earlier carriers, however, as the carrier was planned to have improved protection for the ship's magazines and to be protected against under-keel explosions.

The Carter administration from 1977 onwards continued with the CVV program, by now expected to cost $1.5 billion per ship compared to $2.4 billion for a Nimitz, vetoing congressional attempts to vote $2 billion towards construction of a fourth Nimitz, although plans for a second CVV were abandoned. When it was realized that a repeat of USS John F. Kennedy, the last conventionally powered large carrier to be built would only cost about $100 million more than the CVV, while being much more capable, the Navy and the Secretary of Defense Harold Brown recommended that a repeat John F. Kennedy be included in the 1980 shipbuilding program instead of the CVV, but this was rejected by Carter, partly based on the lower life-cycle costs of the smaller ship with its smaller airwing. Following is the design Congress was willing to accept; however, the ship was strongly opposed by proponents of the nuclear-powered NIMITZ, especially Admiral Rickover, and none were authorized.

Displacement: 52,200 tons standard; 62,427 tons full load Length: 912ft (278m) waterline; 923ft (281m) overall Beam: 126ft (38m) waterline; 256.5ft (78.2m) flight deck Draft: 34ft (10m) Propulsion: (2) steam turbines; (2) shafts; 100,00shp Speed: 27.8kts Range: 8,000nm Crew: 4,025 (including air wing) Armament: (3) MK15 Phalanx CIWS Aircraft: 55-65

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Strike Cruiser The strike cruiser (CSGN) was an outgrowth of the DLGN concept, developed in 1973-1974 as an enlarged DLGN intended to specifically to carry the Aegis weapon system. As more weapons were added (Harpoon and Tomahawk missiles) the ship was enlarged and the twin reactor D2G propulsion plant was upgraded.

The basic CSGN design was an improved CGN-38 class hull with several thousand tons of armor added. This would have been the first armored ship built by the USN since the USS LONG BEACH. The additional displacement would have reduced speed to 28-28.5kts; accordingly, the design was lengthened until at least 30 knots could be achieved, resulting in a very shallow draft.

Initially the ship was to only carry the Phalanx CIWS; however, in an effort to make the ship more competitive than the proposed Aegis-armed destroyer (DG/Aegis and later DDG/CH-47), an 8-inch Mk71 Lightweight Gun was fitted forward.

The ship was proposed as a carrier escort, with up to four CSGNs being considered to screen each carrier. The cost of the lead strike cruiser in fiscal 1976 was estimated $1.371 billion and she was to be have been completed in December 1983.

After the initial concept was ignored by Congress, the Naval Sea Systems Command hurriedly developed a Strike Cruisers Mark II design retaining the same armament but adding a flight deck, presenting a superficial similarity to the Soviet KIEV class VTOL carriers. However, the U.S. ship, with two Mk26 launchers and two 8-inch lightweight guns, would have had an enlarged island structure incorporating hangers for six AV-8A/B Harriers VTOL fighters and three SH-60 ASW helicopters. A further modification to the Mark II design considered a hanger below the flight deck, resulting in a design somewhat similar to the Navy’s light carrier of World War Two (CVL 22-30). That design would have carried about 18 Harriers on a displacement of 18,000 tons. Below is the Mark II stats:

Displacement: 15,900 tons standard; 17,210 tons full load Length: 666ft (203.1m) waterline; 709ft 7in (216.28m overall Beam: 76ft 5in(23.29m) Draft: 22ft 4in (6.81m) Propulsion: (2) pressurized water D2G General Electric nuclear reactors, (2) shafts, 60,000shp
(2) 2,000 kW (2,700 hp) diesel generators (6) ship service turbo generators Speed: 30+ knots Crew: 454 Armament: (2)2 Mk26 missile launchers with SM2MR Block III/IV SAMS and ASROC 64 missiles forward, 64 missiles aft (4)2 Mk143 Armored Box Launchers each with 4 BGM-109 Tomahawk missiles
(4)4 Mk141 Launchers, each with 4 RGM-84 Harpoon missiles (1)1 8”/55 caliber MCLWG (forward) (2) Mk15 Phalanx CIWS (midships) (3)2 Mk32 SVTT with Mk46 ASW torpedoes Air Group: (6) AV-8A/B Harrier VTOL; (3) SH-60B ASW helicopters

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Typhon-class Frigate In the early 1960s, the USN planned to construct a class of at least seven DLGNs fitted with the Typhon AAW system. The Typhon consisted of an advanced radar/fire control system plus a medium-range missile to replace the Terrier and long-range missile to replace the Talos then being fitted to U.S. warships. Construction of the lead ship was to begin in 1963-64.

The high costs of the Typhon DLGN led Secretary of Defense McNamara to cancel the program late in 1963. The system’s SPG-59 fixed-array search/tracking radar was tested in the guided missile ship NORTON SOUND (ABM-1). Several Typhon concepts and features were later incorporated into the subsequent Aegis system.

Displacement: 9,750 tons standard; approx.. 12,000 tons full load Length: 650ft (198.2m) waterline Beam: 64ft (19.5m) Draft: 21ft (6.4m) Propulsion: (2) pressurized-water D2G reactors; 2 shafts Speed: 30+ knots Crew: approx. 500 Missiles: (2)1 Typhon long-range launcher (60 missiles) (1)2 Typhon medium-range launchers (80 missiles each) (1)2 Mk42 5in/54mm guns (one fore and aft) ASW Weapons ASROC fired from Typhon ling-range launcher (3)2 12.75in (324mm) torpedo tubes with Mk46 ASW torps

[chico20854]

Thanks for these Dragoon! Keep them coming!

Have you looked at Norman Friedman's Illustrated Design History series of books? They are excellent and have tons of details on these programs.

[dragoon500ly]

Originally Posted by chico20854

Thanks for these Dragoon! Keep them coming!

Have you looked at Norman Friedman's Illustrated Design History series of books? They are excellent and have tons of details on these programs.

working on acquiring the series, but I do favor Polmar's works, bit more balanced.

[JHart]

I saw the model or photo of the model for the Strike Cruiser mkII in the '80s and thought it was f'in awesome! A self defending CV. Would love to see a modern version for carrying F-35s. Impractical, but cool.

[dragoon500ly]

A large number of destroyer designs were developed by the USN from the 1950s onwards. The current Aegis program (manifested in the CG-47/DDG-51 designs) originated in 1963 with the Advanced Surface Missile System (ASMS). As the development of the large Typhon missile frigate (DLGN) began to encounter difficulties, the ASMS effort was undertaken, partially based on the expectations of new solid-state electronics.

The development was protracted and in 1971 the Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Zumwalt, directed a design effort to provide the smallest possible ship that could carry the new air-defense weapons/electronics system. The initial goal was a displacement of 5,000 tons, but that was soon raised to 6,000 tons. Several designs were put forward, with the more austere versions having a single Mk26 Mod 1 missile launcher for surface-to surface missiles as well as ASROC, a small sonar and a helicopter landing deck but no hanger. By early 1973, the design had been recast, with two Mk13 launchers (a total of 80 missiles but no ASROC capability), plus a full LAMPS facility for one helicopter. The desire for longer-range as well as nuclear SAMS led to still another recasting, this time to provide the Mk26 Mod 2 launcher (with 64 missiles).

However, congressional confusion, the change of the CNO in mid-1974, and advocacy of an all-nuclear Aegis by Admiral Rickover led to the demise of the DG(Aegis) in favor of various DLGN-type designs as well as the CSGN strike cruiser.

The ARLEIGH BURKE-class represents a return to the DG(Aegis) concept. The availability of the vertical-launch missile system (90 weapons) and improvements in the SPY-1 radar coupled with the deletion of the LAMPS helicopter facilities as well as one 5-inch gun permit the construction of a smaller Aegis ship, as envisioned in the early 1970s.

[dragoon500ly]

During the late 1970s, the Navy proposed the construction of a class of small frigates (FFX) for use by the Naval Reserve Force. These ships were intended to augment the Olive Hazard Perry-class ships in the ASW role in low-threat areas. A class of approximately twelve ships was planned with the lead ship intended for authorization in FY 1984. For reasons not fully clear, although such ships would have had marginally effective ASW capabilities, the FFX class was not started. Subsequently, the Naval Reserve Force has been provided with frigates of the Knox and Perry-classes to replace their current aging Gearing-class ships.

Known characteristics include a full load displacement or 2,000---2,400 tons; a speed of 25 knots; a range of 5,000nm at 16---18knts; a crew of 120 men; facilities for one SH-2F LAMPS I; provisions for two triple Mk32 324mmTT w/Mk46 ASW torps; gun armament included a single Mk42 5in/54 gun and a Mk15 Phalanx CIWS.

[dragoon500ly]

Running from 1 June 1946 to 28 July 1948.

This was the U.S. Navy’s effort to develop surface-to-air missiles with the intent to provide a mid-range layer of fleet air defense, between the short-range anti-aircraft guns and the long-range fighters. A major element pf Bumblebee was the Navy’s need to attack bombers before they could launch standoff anti-shipping weapons, as these aircraft might never enter the reach of shipboard guns.

Bumblebee was originally concentrated on a ramjet powered design and the Applied Physics Laboratory’s PTV-N-4 Cobra/BTV (Propulsion Test Vehicle/Burner Test Vehicle) was first flown in October 1945. Cobra would eventually emerge as the RIM-8 Talos, which entered service on 28 May 1958 aboard the light cruiser USS GALVESTON. As part of the development program, several other vehicles were also developed. One of these was the RIM-2 Terrier, which entered service on 15 June 1956, two years before Talos. Terrier was first installed on the heavy cruiser USS CANBERRA. The Terrier was later modified as a short-range missile system for smaller ships and entered service in 1963 as the RIM-24 Tarter. These three missiles were known in the fleet as the “3 T’s.”

Bumblebee was not the only early Navy SAM project, the SAM-N-2 Lark was rushed into production as a short-range missile to counter the Kamikaze threat, but never matured into an operational weapon. The RIM-50 Typhon was developed to replace the 3 T’s, but was canceled during development. The 3 T’s would be ultimately replaced by the RIM-66/67 Standard, a development of the Tarter.

[dragoon500ly]

This a two-stage medium-range naval surface-to-surface missile and was the earliest SAM to equip the USN. It underwent major upgrades during its service life, beginning as a beam-riding guidance with a 10 nautical mile range (19km) at a speed of Mach 1.8, and ending as a semi-active radar homing guidance with a range of 40nmi (74km) at speeds as high as Mach 3.
The Terrier weighed 3,000lbs (1,400kg)[1,180lbs for the missile and 1,820lbs for the booster]. It was 27ft (8.2m) long, with a diameter of 13.5in (34cm) and was normally fitted with a 218lb (99kg) controlled-fragmentation warhead or it could be fitted with a 1kt W45 nuclear warhead.

When the Terrier was fired it could be followed by its corkscrew contrail, as it progressed to the center of the beam. Reception of its location in the beam was accomplished by a small "Turn-style" antenna at the rear of the missile, this antenna also received the commands for detonation, and self destruct. The self destruct command was sent a few milliseconds after the detonation command. Its HT-3 variant as a Semi-Active homing missile, it followed the reflected energy from the target; however if jamming was encountered it would passively home in on the jamming signal.

The RIM-2E introduced semi-active radar homing, for greater effectiveness against low-flying targets. The final version, the RIM-2F, used a new motor which doubled effective range to 40nmi (74 km).

The RIM-2E introduced semi-active radar homing, for greater effectiveness against low-flying targets. The final version, the RIM-2F, used a new motor which doubled effective range to 40 nmi (74 km).

The Terrier was the primary missile system of most US Navy cruisers and guided missile frigates built during the 1960s. It could be installed on much smaller ships than the much larger and longer-ranged RIM-8 Talos. A Terrier installation typically consisted of the Mk 10 twin-arm launcher with a 40-round rear-loading magazine, but some ships had extended magazines with 60 or 80 rounds, and the installation in BOSTON and CANBERRA used a bottom-loading magazine of 72 rounds.

On April 19, 1972, a Terrier missile fired by USS STERETT shot down a North Vietnamese Air Force MiG-17F in the Battle of Dong Hoi.

[dragoon500ly]

This a long-range naval surface-to-air missiles and was the second SAM to be mounted on USN ships. The Talos used radar beam riding for guidance to the vicinity of its target, and semiactive radar homing (SARH) for terminal guidance. The array of four antenna which surround the nose are SARH receivers which functioned as a continuous wave interferometer. Initial thrust was provided by a solid rocket booster for launch and a Bendix ramjet for flight to the target with the warhead serving as the ramjet's compressor.

The Talos saw relatively limited use due to its large size and dual radar antenna system; there were few ships that could accommodate the large missiles with the AN/SPW-2 missile guidance radar and the AN/SPG-49 target illumination and tracking radar. The 9.9-meter-long, 3½-tonne missile was comparable in size to a small fighter aircraft. The Talos Mark 7 Guided Missile Launching System (GMLS) was installed in three GALVESTON-class cruisers (converted CLEVELAND-class light cruisers) with 16 missiles in a ready-service magazine and up to 30 missiles and boosters in a storage area above the main deck. Nuclear-powered USS LONG BEACH and three ALBANY-class cruisers (converted BALTIMORE-class heavy cruisers) carried Mark 12 Guided Missile Launching Systems fed from a 52-round magazine below the main deck.

The Talos weighed 7,800lbs (3,500kg) [missile weight 3,400lbs and booster weight 2,000lbs]. Length was 32ft (9.8m) and a diameter of 28in (71cm). Warhead was a 211kg (465lb) continuous-rod HE warhead or a W30 nuclear warhead (variable 2–5 kt). Operational range was 50nm (92km) with an operational ceiling of 80,100ft (24,400m) with a max speed of Mach 3.

The initial SAM-N-6b/RIM-8A had an effective range of about 50nm, and a conventional warhead. The SAM-N-6bW/RIM-8B was a RIM-8A with a nuclear warhead; terminal guidance was judged unnecessary for a nuclear warhead, so the SARH antenna was omitted. The SAM-N-6b1/RIM-8C was introduced in 1960 and had double the range, and a more effective conventional continuous-rod warhead. The RIM-8D was the nuclear-warhead version of the -8C. The SAM-N-6c/RIM-8E "Unified Talos" had a warhead that could be swapped while embarked, eliminating the need to waste magazine capacity carrying dedicated nuclear-tipped variants. The RIM-8E also carried an improved continuous-wave terminal homing seeker, and had a higher ceiling reach-out. Some RIM-8Cs were retrofitted with the new seeker, and designated RIM-8F. The RIM-8G and RIM-8J had further radar homing improvements and a new fuel that extended the range to 130nm.

The Talos saw action in Vietnam, with a total of four MiGs being shot down by the USS CHICAGO and USS LONG BEACH. On 23 May, 1968, a Talos fired from the LONG BEACH shot down a Vietnamese MiG at a range of 65 miles. This was the first downing of a hostile aircraft by a missile fired from a ship. The hit also destroyed a second MiG which flew through the debris. In September 1968 Long Beach scored another MiG destroyed at a range of 61 miles. On May 9, 1972 Chicago's forward Talos battery scored a long-range kill on a MiG.

In addition to its anti-aircraft capability, the Talos also had surface-to-surface capabilities.

The RIM-8H Talos-ARM was a dedicated anti-radar homing missile for use against shore-based radar stations. Initial testing of the RIM-8H was performed in 1965, and soon after it was deployed in Vietnam on CHICAGO, OKLAHOMA CITY, and LONG BEACH, attacking North Vietnamese SAM radars. OKLAHOMA CITY fired the first successful RIM-8H combat shot in US Navy history in early 1972. It was also the first combat surface-to-surface missile shot in US Navy history.

[dragoon500ly]

This was a medium range surface-to-surface naval missile. The Tarter was the third of the “3 Ts” that would equip the USN.

The Tartar was born of a need for a more lightweight system for smaller ships, and something that could engage targets at very close range. Essentially, the Tartar was simply a RIM-2C Terrier without the secondary booster. The Tartar was never given a SAM-N-x designation, and was simply referred to as Missile Mk 15 until the unified Army-Navy designation system was introduced in 1963.

The Tartar was used on a number of ships, of a variety of sizes. Initially the Mk 11 twin-arm launcher was used, later ships used the Mk 13 and Mk 22 single-arm launchers. Early versions proved to be unreliable. The Improved Tartar retrofit program upgraded the earlier missiles to the much improved RIM-24C standard. Further development was canceled and a new missile, the RIM-66 Standard, was designed to replace it. Even after the upgrade to a new missile, ships were still said to be Tartar ships because they carried the Tartar Guided Missile Fire Control System.

A dedicated anti-ship version for the Federal German Navy carrying a Bullpup warhead was abandoned when Germany purchased MM38 Exocet instead.

Weight was 1,310lbs (590kg), length was 180in (460cm), diameter was 13.5in (34cm), warhead was a 130lb (59 kg) continuous-rod.
Range varied from 8.7 nm (16.1 km) (RIM-24A); 16 nm (30 km) (RIM-24B); 17.5 nm (32.4 km) (RIM-24C), with a maximum speed of Mach 1.8

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In May 1987, the USN selected a joint venture of Westinghouse Electric Company and Airship Industries Limited of England to build a series of patrol airships.

The design selected provided for a conventional configuration, with an internally fitted radar antenna, and a control compartment mounted beneath the gas bag. Helium was chosen as the lift medium. The diesel engines, with propellors mounted in circular guards or shrouds, are to be used to cruise with the turbojet for sprint operations. A second turbojet engine was proposed that would provide a maximum speed in excess of 90+ knots. In flight refueling would be from surface ships.

Initial operational capability was planned for 1992. But the program budget was cut in later spending.

Length: 423ft (129.0m) Diameter: 136 ½ft (41.6m) Height: 150ft (45.7m) Volume: 2.35 million ft3 Propulsion: 2 CRM BR-1 diesels; 2,000hp each (propellers) 1 General Electric CT7-9 turbojet, 1,800lbs Speed: 45 knots cruising (no-wind conditions); 83 knots maximum Endurance: 72 hours (without in-flight refueling)l 30 days (with in-flight refueling) Ceiling: approx. 10,000ft operating; approx. 15-18,000ft maximum Crew: 12-15 Armament: None Radar: APS-138 air/surface surveillance