For the First Time Since WWII, U.S. Fighters Flew Strikes From a British Carrier

SSG Robert Mark Odom Nice share Brother. Go Marines!

Aircraft carriers were pivotal in the Pacific War. They were platforms for CAS, attacking the other fleet and defending her own fleet. Once we sank all of her aircraft carriers her naval offensive and defensive powers were greatly reduced. This is a very very important condition. It gave us the ability to rule over the seas for the most part in the air as well. There were would be second and third order effects to this environment.

The Japanese Army and Navy had a pissing contest on the invasion of the Pacific Region. The army won and they were given the orders to occupy many countries and islands. If any of you are somewhat keen on military history think about the German military attacking Russia. OK back on course we will go. Since the Japanese Navy could not defend herself, she could not provide logistics to the many occupied areas in Asia. This meant attrition would set in for the Japanese. It was just a matter of time we would win in the Pacific.

By the end of the war Japan had no aircraft carriers. One existed but it was essentially a ship for carrier training. The US had hundreds of air craft carriers of various sizes. This just proves my theory that if a bully takes on the whole school, some bigger bully will kick his ass. The Russians and the US would eventually win in Europe. It was just a matter of time. The Allied forces had killed almost all the experienced German pilots. At the end of the war the Germans built thousands of shiny planes, but there was nobody to fly them. Sending unseasoned pilots up was madness, because they were easily shot down. They had very little air power left. We also destroyed most of her fuel making capabilities. Tanks need lots of fuel. After the Battle of the Bulge hundreds and all of the German vehicles ran out of fuel.

It must have been an interesting scene. German soldiers getting out of their vehicles to walk to Germany. The Americans wanted to push and push I believe. Patton pushed his Army Group brilliantly. How did he know he had the freedom of maneuver to keep the march going. This brilliant general put fighter planes on his flanks and the front to protect his Army Group, give him real time intelligence, and sometimes engaged the enemy. Of course in the military our objective is to kill the enemy, perhaps there are other reasons for the fighters to engage the Germans. One concept is to deny the freedom of manuever to the Germans. They could move forward or backwards. The Germans were stuck for the slaughter because Patton had the freedom to attack the front, the flanks, or possibly just surround the Germans.

I apologize for mistakes. It's late and I am a little tired and still have to clean the freaking kitchen! I hope this narrative was entertaining!

I almost forgot. I don't know how we will use aircraft carriers considering the new threats.

SSG Robert Mark Odom
"U.S. Marine fighter jets have struck Islamic State (ISIS) targets in the Middle East while flying from an unlikely location: the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth.

The Marine fighters are embarked upon the carrier for a unique cruise with an air wing consisting of F-35Bs from both the U.S. and U.K. The fighters are now conducting air strikes against ISIS targets in the first use of American air power from a British ship since 1943.

⚓️ You love badass ships. So do we. Let’s nerd out over them together.
The fighters, from U.S. Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211 (VMFA 211), took off from the Queen Elizabeth and hit ISIS targets alongside planes from Royal Air Force 617 Squadron, the famous “Dambusters” of World War II. The joint combat operations began on June 18, according to U.S. Naval Institute News.

The Queen Elizabeth is sailing with 18 F-35Bs in all, including 10 American fighters and 8 British planes.

The Marine Corps F-35Bs typically fly from U.S. Navy amphibious assault ships. Launching from Queen Elizabeth is a little different for the Marines, who are used to taking off from a flat flight deck. The British carrier includes a 12.5-degree angled, bow-mounted ski ramp. To take off, aircraft get a rolling start on the ship’s flight deck and then launch themselves from the ski ramp. This allows embarked aircraft to carry a larger payload without the complications of operating a steam or electromagnetically powered catapult.