RAN FAA 1950-2020 Carrier Operations - Whiffery

[Thorvic]

Ok as a sister thread to the real and propossed RAN carrier fleet heres a thread for Whiff proposals based on our ideas, proposals & timelines.

What if the RAN had ordered their own Malta class in 1944 and this was completed, what if they had the original Audacious the third of the Ark Royal/Eagle series rather than the Majestics, perhaps with Formidable in place of the Colossus class as the stop gap whilst the newer carrier are finished. On that aspect what if during build of the Audacious they applied the style of refit that happened on Victorious & Hermes in the same period, so the New Melbourne enteres service as a fleet carrier with Gannets, Seahawks, or maybe swept wing Seahawks like the the RAAF 1052's.

Or Post 1945 they get an IJN carrier as a war prize and repair, complete & refit that.

Then there is the US influence, what if they took USN light Carrier as the french did and then went for an Essex class and all their mods from the 1950's along with the USN airgroup.

Speaking of the French what if when doing the deal for the Mirage III, they get convinced to sign up for a Clemenceau class carrier for the Early 60's.

Into the 60's there is CVA-01 deisgn which was offered and was considered, but the RAN order might have pushed that one through, as a stop gap the RAN take up the Victorious as a stop gap whilst their new carrier is built, or should they have a fleet carrier from the 40's/50's then maybe they would look to the US for their CVV design or maybe go with the Sea Control Ship and switch to a VTOL force.

Into the 80's &90's there is the possibility of the French Charles De Gaulle concept, or go with the UK in designing the new CVF in either STOVL or CATOBAR configuration.

With the current link with the Spanish Ship buiders for the new AAW destoyers and the LHD, then there could be a tie in with their larger SCS design SCS200 with the CATOBAR format operating Hornets.

Thats just some of the carrier possibilities, just think of the aircraft types taht were available or planned which could be utilised 

Anyway thats a starter to think about and discuss

Geoff B

[rickshaw]

The problem that the RAN always faced was lack of manpower and lack of money.  They got Sydney and then Melbourne but were barely able to operate both with the manpower they had and because of lack of money could not afford to modernise Sydney, being forced to convert her to essentially a fast transport (the "Vung Tau Ferry" as she was nicknamed).

All of your proposals would need a massive expansion in the strength of the RAN and commitment of more funds than the government of the day were prepared to.   The 1950s were a period where the Conservative Menzies government desperately tried to keep expenditure under tight control because of a severe lack of foreign exchange.  The Armed Forces were pared to the bone.  The Army had a grand total of three battalions of infantry to defend the entire country after the end of the Korean War and one of those was committed to the Imperial Far Eastern Reserve in Malaya.  When Vietnam rolled 'round it was so stretched that conscription had to be introduced in a period of full employment to put enough bodies in uniform.  Only the RAAF seemed to get sufficient funds and even then, they found it increasingly hard to field a viable number of aircraft.

[PR19_Kit]

All of your proposals would need a massive expansion in the strength of the RAN and commitment of more funds than the government of the day were prepared to.   

But this is WhiffWorld..................... 

[MilitaryAircraft101]

So no harriers then Great story mate  I am up for some RAN Sea Hawks. Maybe with their light landing craft, we could have an elite F-35B force with the best of the best as pilots?

[Thorvic]

So no harriers then Great story mate  I am up for some RAN Sea Hawks. Maybe with their light landing craft, we could have an elite F-35B force with the best of the best as pilots?

Only becuase they are mentioned in the other thread as obviously the Harriers would go with the Invincible selected to replace Melbourne.

As i said its more setting up some ideas of possibilities that others can run with, be it building, profiles, artwork or alt history lines. The Carriers set the base line leaving various options to be explored regarding aircraft, then with other influences comes different camo schemes.

Another avenue to explore is FAA Sqaudrons, as unlike the RAAF the RAN FAA maintains Squadron numbers within the RN FAA numbering system. (805 Sqd which is the main frontline fighter/strike squadron was upto the late 40s a standard FAA unit as my father was a part of it onboard HMS Ocean )

[rickshaw]

All of your proposals would need a massive expansion in the strength of the RAN and commitment of more funds than the government of the day were prepared to.   

But this is WhiffWorld..................... 

It is indeed, however it has a realistic point of departure from the Real World.  The problems I alluded to, existed as pre-conditions at that point of departure.  I was merely pointing them out.