Monday, December 11, 2006

CVA-63 =The Battle Cat= | Japan 1960s




CVA-63 USS Kitty Hawk aircraft carrier, mid-1960s era with A-4, F-4, and A-3 jets

Battle Cat | Shitty Kitty | Chicken Hawk...
1960s-era USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63) attack carrier with full complement of A-4 Skyhawk and F-4J Phantom fighters, along with A-3 Skywarrior ( USAF version was B-66 ) twin-engine bombers capable of carrying nuclear ordnances.





By 1970s with advancement of intercontinental and submariner ballistic missiles, attack carrier concept were phased out, and anti-submarine warfare capabilities incorporated, thus carrier designation changed to CV-63.




Being conventionally powered, it is the only forward deployed US carrier located in Yokosuka-Japan conforming to postwar Japan ban on transit or stationing of nuclear powered transports or weapons on her soil.




Nevertheless, with Japan vying for a permanent seat in United Nations Security Council since 1990s, she needs US sponsorship to advance this cause.




This desire probably influenced the signing of a new treaty in early 2000s whereby US nuclear-power carrier USS Independence will replace Kitty Hawk upon latter retirement by 2009.





0 comments: