Could the Navy disperse ship-killing power for INDOPACOM with modularized escort carriers based on container ship hulls?
The debate is recently heated up over whether light carriers should replace some of our super carriers. Are we still thinking too big?
In World War II, small carriers mostly converted from merchant ship hulls (CVEs) provided air power for diverse missions, and when massed could even provide significant air power for major battles.
In Military Review I proposed a modularized power projection platform based on container ships. But that proposal was built on my earlier notion of modularized auxiliary cruisers, including aviation ships.
The British used a container ship converted to carry and launch Harriers and helicopters for the 1982 Falklands War.
What if the Navy converted a dozen or so container ships to carry a small aerial detachment of 2-4 F-35Bs, 2 CMV-22Bs or MH-60s, and some large UAVs? Call them CVMEs. That would spread hulls over a large area.
Light carriers might stage additional F-35Bs to the CVMEs for specific larger strike missions which would then recover on the CVME to refuel and return to the mother ship.
The CVME could also mount containerized anti-ship, anti-aircraft, and anti-submarine missiles--making it like the old Soviet Kiev class--to be fired by its spotting planes or helicopters to supplement their organic weapons loads.
When the sensor and shooter are separated, options open up. A modern jeep carrier might exploit that.
