Carrier battle group

A carrier battle group (CVBG) is a special group of ships used by navies around the world. It centers around a large ship called an aircraft carrier, which carries many airplanes. Around the aircraft carrier, there are many other ships that help protect it. These helper ships are called escorts.

The idea of grouping ships around an aircraft carrier began just before and during World War II. The Imperial Japanese Navy was the first to put many aircraft carriers together into one powerful group. This group, called the Kido Butai, was used in attacks like the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Later, the United States Navy also started grouping its aircraft carriers with protective ships.

During the Cold War era, very large aircraft carriers, called "supercarriers", were built. Navies again started using groups of ships around each of these big carriers. These groups were very important for protecting important sea routes and keeping the sea safe during times of tension.

Carrier battle groups in crises

During important events in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, many Western nations, including the United States, used carrier battle groups without facing strong opposition. One possible threat was attacks using many missiles designed to hit ships.

British and French carrier battle groups took part in the 1956 Suez Crisis. In the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War, India used its carrier strike group, centered on INS Vikrant, to block East Pakistan by sea. They attacked ships in harbors like Chittagong and Cox's Bazar, and continued air strikes until December 10, 1971.

Both ARA Veinticinco de Mayo and HMS Invincible were involved in the Falklands War. This was the last conflict where both sides used aircraft carriers, though Argentina did not use its carrier much.

During the Lebanese Civil War in 1983, the United States Sixth Fleet sent three carrier battle groups and a battleship. They flew daily reconnaissance flights over the Bekaa Valley and conducted a strike, losing two aircraft.

Carrier battle groups often operated in the Gulf of Sidra, inside a zone Libya called the "Line of Death." This led to aerial battles in 1981, 1986, and 1989 between U.S. and Libyan aircraft. In 1986, three carrier battle groups went to the Gulf of Sidra, and two conducted strikes against Libya in Operation El Dorado Canyon.

In the 2011 military intervention in Libya, the French Navy sent its aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, along with several frigates, a replenishment tanker, and two nuclear attack submarines.

Applications

China

China plans to build several groups of ships centered around aircraft carriers in the future. Right now, China has two aircraft carriers, Liaoning and Shandong. These carriers use special destroyers for defense, frigates for protecting against underwater threats, and submarines for extra support. China is also building a third carrier and plans to build a nuclear-powered one later.

France

France's navy has one aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle. When this carrier sails, it is joined by many other ships for protection and support. These include destroyers, submarines, and supply ships. The group is led by an admiral on the aircraft carrier.

India

The Indian Navy has used aircraft carriers since 1961. It currently operates two carrier groups centered around the carriers Vikramaditya and Vikrant. India plans to have three carrier groups by 2035. Each group includes destroyers, frigates, and support ships.

Italy

Italy's first aircraft carrier was the Giuseppe Garibaldi. The group of ships that sailed with it included destroyers and support ships. Italy plans to build a new carrier and a new group of ships for it.

Russia

The Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov often sails with other powerful ships for protection, including battlecruisers, cruisers, and destroyers. During a trip to Syria in 2016, it was escorted by several destroyers and a battlecruiser.

United Kingdom

The Royal Navy has had aircraft carriers since 1918. After a break from 2010 to 2018, it brought back its carrier capability with two new carriers, Queen Elizabeth and Prince of Wales. These carriers form the center of a group that includes destroyers, frigates, submarines, and support ships.

United States

The United States Navy has groups centered around aircraft carriers, called carrier strike groups. Each group normally includes one aircraft carrier, a cruiser for defense, and several destroyers and frigates for protection. The U.S. also has groups for amphibious operations and sometimes used battleships as the center of a group in the past. These groups include various ships for specific missions.

Underway replenishment

Since the beginning, a carrier battle group needs to stay at sea for long times. Special ships were made to give the group fuel, weapons, and other things it needs while moving. The group plans carefully to make this process quick. Sometimes, the carrier can also give supplies to the ships with it, but usually, a special ship like a fast combat support ship or a replenishment oiler moves next to the carrier. This ship can work with the carrier on one side and another ship on the other side at the same time. Helicopters can also help by carrying supplies while other things are being moved.

Debate on future viability

There is discussion about whether carrier battle groups are still useful in today’s naval warfare. Some believe they offer great strength and reach, while others think they can be targeted by special weapons and are better suited for older types of conflicts.

Carriers have shown they can act quickly when needed, even when land-based airplanes are not ready. After big events, carriers have moved fast to support important missions. The U.S. continues to build new types of carriers to stay up-to-date with changing technology.