Overview

The book covers the Forrestal class supercarriers and the follow-on ships, which are basically of the same design, i.e. the Forrestal CV-59, Saratoga CV-60, Ranger CV-61, Independence CV-62, Kitty Hawk CV-63, Constellation CV-64, America CV-66 and Kennedy CV-67. (The Enterprise CVN-65 is unique and is not covered beyond an explanation of the reasons for returning to conventional power in the America and Kennedy that followed her.) As in The Essex Aircraft Carriers and The Independence Light Aircraft Carriers, the main emphasis is on the operational history of these ships, which covers a span of over fifty years. There are 81 photographs included in four signatures covering the whole history of the supercarriers interspersed within the body of the book. Maps include the Western Pacific, Vietnam, Mediterranean, Middle East, Indian Ocean and Caribbean. The front end paper illustration shows the Saratoga as representative of the Forrestal class with port and starboard profiles and an overhead view. The rear end paper shows similar views of the Constellation as part of the Kitty Hawk class. Appendix A gives a brief overview of the design technical data for the ships including their dimensions, propulsion systems, arresting gear, catapults, armament, and radars. Illustrations include an annotated inboard profile of the class as built, as well as annotated cross sections comparing the differences between Forrestal and the John F. Kennedy. Appendix B profiles individual ships with a short description of significant items that are not included in the main body of the book. Data for each ship includes the builder as well as dates for keel laying, launch, commissioning, redesignations and decommissioning. Illustrations include the command shield for each ship. Appendix C provides technical data (power plants, dimensions, weights, performance, crew, and armament) for aircraft that operated from the ships over the course of their careers. Included is a table comparing the old Navy designations with the uniform system adopted in 1962 as well as an explanation of each system. Appendix D includes a description of the air wing and its component squadrons and how they have evolved over time, as well as an explanation of the tail code system. For each ship, every deployment is covered with tables showing the dates of deployment, the squadrons assigned within the air group/air wing, the modex and aircraft types. Where the tail code letters are different from the air wing, they are shown next to the modex.

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9781591141808

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Reviews

The strength of this book is in the author's ability to take technical subjects and describe them in an easy to understand way, thus enabling readers with little knowledge of naval and aviation matters to follow his descriptions and explanations. At the same time, the author's attention to detail should satisfy even readers who served aboard one of these mighty vessels. Each chapters covers significant events in the histories of these ships, from their conception in the early days of the atomic era to their eventual retirement in the post-Cold War period. --Military Heritage

This is a very readable overview of the operational history of these ships. The author has supported this with a wide range of photographs, maps and appendices of technical information. Information on the ships; data about their aircraft ranging from lumbering piston-engine Skyraiders to Tomcat and Hornet supersonic jets; information on their weapons systems and on the deployment and composition of their Air Wings. --World Ship Society: Warships 178

"""The book outlines the role naval aviation and the Supercarriers played in almost every single conflict throughout the Cold War. Indeed, the reader will be hard pushed to find a conflict in which the carriers were absent. On a final note the appendix has a treasure trove of details which any technical enthusiast will find invaluable."" -Aerospace Magazine ""This is an admirable piece of work, and Faltum has provided clear and useful explanations for the designations of US naval aircraft and the air wings to which they were assigned. The book is probably worth purchasing for these alone.""-Warship 2016"

The book outlines the role naval aviation and the Supercarriers played in almost every single conflict throughout the Cold War. Indeed, the reader will be hard pushed to find a conflict in which the carriers were absent. On a final note the appendix has a treasure trove of details which any technical enthusiast will find invaluable. -Aerospace Magazine

Author Information

Andrew Faltum served as an Air Intelligence Officer aboard USS Midway home ported in Yokosuka, Japan before joining the Naval Reserve, retiring as a Commander. He has been an intelligence specialist for the Army Materiel Command, as well as a defense contractor providing analytical support to the Joint Staff.

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