Hi TLAM,
As for Korea, we were flying P-80s out of Japan during the Korean War. I don't see the problem with flying from Japan, it is a helluva lot shorter than OIF or OEF missions. And the notion that we need a VTOL VLO fighter to defeat the North Koreans is laughable, IMO.
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Its only 8 in an assault role for a Wasp, it can carry 20 plus 6 ASW helos in its Sea Control Role.
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And they aren't going to be doing any assaulting from that Wasp in that config either. I really don't see any reason for an LHA to be in "sea control (with all of 20 VTOL airframes, giggle)". The Marines should stick to assaulting. They will never be able to "be their own air support" in the face of ANY real threat.
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Would would you like the Navy and Corps to do?
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For one, realize that the justification for LHA type ships in a Guadalcanal type scenario is dead. Second, convince me that the USMC even should be in the fixed wing biz. As for what I think they should do, what if every fixed wing flying service bought into UCAV with a tailhook? Truely common basing. And real reach and power in numbers. We haven't ever "needed" a VTOL fighter other than to let the Marines pretend to have an airwing on their LHAs. We certainly don't need one now.
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The F/A-35 is the only thing thats going to keep the Navy and Corps in the manned fixwing buisness in the 2010's and 2020's when it come to fighting expaditionary warfare.
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You're assuming I think the USMC and USN being in "manned fixwing business" in the 2020s is a good thing.
For the USN, 10-20 F-35s + 20-30 SuperBugs on a deck is not a real airwing. Certainly not on a carrier designed for 90 aircraft airwings. For the USMC, they will never have a real airwing anyways. 24 Super bugs + 60 or more UCAVs is getting back to a real air wing with a real sustainable sortie rate and reach.
On a side note, I think we are going to have to get away from the super carrier notion in the near future due to fiscal/operational realities. But LHA is not the way. IMO, diesel powered mini carriers with and air wing of 12 manned fixwings + 30-40 UCAVs is the way.
PD