You asked a question about this earlier. I didnt answer it as well as I should have because I relied on my memory which failed me somewhat. LOL So heres some clarification.
The concept apparently began in 1969 with a study from the USN's Long Range Objectives Group for a new ship called the DHK. These ships of around 14000fl would carry 12 ASW Helos plus the usual destroyer type armament.
Also looked at in the same study was conversion of Commencement Bay class CVEs.
In 1971 the SCS designation was formally assigned for preliminary design.
At this time the capability to carry VSTOL fighters was added.
SCS Air Group:
11 ASW Helos
3 Early Warning Helos
3 Harrier Fighters
In late 1971 the USS Guam LPH 9 was modified for proof of concept trials lasting until the Spring of 1974 operating both ASW Helos and Harriers.
This design was canceled although modified plans were sold to Spain resulting in the Principe de Asturias small carrier.
In 1975 a new design designated VSS(VSTOL Support Ship) of 30,000fl displacement replaced the SCS program. It was basically just a larger SCS.
VSS Air Group:
16 SH-53 Helos
6 LAMPS Helos(SH-60)
4 Harriers
The design was redone to accomadate more Harriers.
This design was terminated in 1979.
Congress almost funded an LPH conversion to an SCS plus funding for another LHA in FY 1979.
In 1981 the USS Nassau LHA 4 undertook the proof of concept role for the Sea Control mission operating 19 Harriers(20 harriers plus Helos according to another source).
Later studies showed the LHA's could operate 20 Harriers and 4-6 LAMPS(SH-60) Helos.
LHD's were specifically designed to operate Harriers unlike the LHA's.
A ski jump was not included though for two reasons:
The loss of deck spots.
The flight deck is long enough to permit combat loaded rolling take-offs of Harriers.
The Sea Control Concept has been gathering dust since 1981.
However ODS and Gulf War II saw the following Harrier Carrier Concept realised:
USS Nassau again embarked 20 Harriers in 1990 for operations in Iraq. At first it was a tough sell to use the Nassau and her embarked Harriers for close support missions.
In February 1991 Nassau and her aircraft supported the amphibious assault of Faylakah Island.
During the last week of Desert Storm the Nassau and her aircraft provided Strike/CAS packages against targets on the mainland.
In Gulf War II:
Both USS Bataan LHD 5 and Bon Homme Richard LHD 6 operated 24 Harriers a piece.
Combat operations commenced on March 19, 2003.
These ships each also delivered to Iraq:
1900 Marines
175 vehicles
270 tons of supplies/equipment
Hundreds of pallets of ground ammunition
The following sources provided the data above:
Conway's "All The Worlds Fighting Ships 1947-1982"
Norman Polmar's "Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet" 16th edition
Various editions of AD Baker III's "Combat Fleets of the World"
Various articles from the USNI's "Proceedings" magazine
The concept apparently began in 1969 with a study from the USN's Long Range Objectives Group for a new ship called the DHK. These ships of around 14000fl would carry 12 ASW Helos plus the usual destroyer type armament.
Also looked at in the same study was conversion of Commencement Bay class CVEs.
In 1971 the SCS designation was formally assigned for preliminary design.
At this time the capability to carry VSTOL fighters was added.
SCS Air Group:
11 ASW Helos
3 Early Warning Helos
3 Harrier Fighters
In late 1971 the USS Guam LPH 9 was modified for proof of concept trials lasting until the Spring of 1974 operating both ASW Helos and Harriers.
This design was canceled although modified plans were sold to Spain resulting in the Principe de Asturias small carrier.
In 1975 a new design designated VSS(VSTOL Support Ship) of 30,000fl displacement replaced the SCS program. It was basically just a larger SCS.
VSS Air Group:
16 SH-53 Helos
6 LAMPS Helos(SH-60)
4 Harriers
The design was redone to accomadate more Harriers.
This design was terminated in 1979.
Congress almost funded an LPH conversion to an SCS plus funding for another LHA in FY 1979.
In 1981 the USS Nassau LHA 4 undertook the proof of concept role for the Sea Control mission operating 19 Harriers(20 harriers plus Helos according to another source).
Later studies showed the LHA's could operate 20 Harriers and 4-6 LAMPS(SH-60) Helos.
LHD's were specifically designed to operate Harriers unlike the LHA's.
A ski jump was not included though for two reasons:
The loss of deck spots.
The flight deck is long enough to permit combat loaded rolling take-offs of Harriers.
The Sea Control Concept has been gathering dust since 1981.
However ODS and Gulf War II saw the following Harrier Carrier Concept realised:
USS Nassau again embarked 20 Harriers in 1990 for operations in Iraq. At first it was a tough sell to use the Nassau and her embarked Harriers for close support missions.
In February 1991 Nassau and her aircraft supported the amphibious assault of Faylakah Island.
During the last week of Desert Storm the Nassau and her aircraft provided Strike/CAS packages against targets on the mainland.
In Gulf War II:
Both USS Bataan LHD 5 and Bon Homme Richard LHD 6 operated 24 Harriers a piece.
Combat operations commenced on March 19, 2003.
These ships each also delivered to Iraq:
1900 Marines
175 vehicles
270 tons of supplies/equipment
Hundreds of pallets of ground ammunition
The following sources provided the data above:
Conway's "All The Worlds Fighting Ships 1947-1982"
Norman Polmar's "Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet" 16th edition
Various editions of AD Baker III's "Combat Fleets of the World"
Various articles from the USNI's "Proceedings" magazine
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