Why 11 U.S. Navy Aircraft Carriers Simply Aren't Enough?

By law, the US Navy is required to operate a minimum of 11 aircraft carriers. And while Wicker is correct that the service has 11 carriers, that doesn’t tell the whole story. The 11th carrier, the new USS Gerald R. Ford, is currently non-deployable. The ship, whose first operational patrol was originally scheduled for 2018, is hung up on technical issues and may not conduct its first patrol until 2024.

In the meantime, the Navy’s remaining 10 carriers have faced a grueling schedule that’s wearing out ships and crews.

Photo by US Navy

Видео Why 11 U.S. Navy Aircraft Carriers Simply Aren't Enough? канала US Defense News