Trump's Aircraft Carrier proposal!

The new Trump Focus: Aircraft Carriers

Let’s redesign aircraft carriers?

This is one of President Trump’s most ridiculous ideas. He believes, for reasons that seem to escape most people, that modern electromagnetic launch systems should be replaced by old fashioned steam launch systems on new aircraft carriers.

First of all, it takes 5 to 8 years from the laying of the keel until completion of sea trials for a new aircraft carrier.

So, what does that mean?

Steam launched systems were great in their day, given the fact there are no ships long enough to create a runway for a modern jet warplane.

You literally had to find a way to toss them off the end of the ship to get them into the air. So, something like a steam-powered slingshot was invented.

How does it work?

Not a clue here.

I just know a pilot in a hot jet with engines at high force waves at someone on deck, points to where he is going, then everyone on the outside gets down or takes cover and there goes your warplane zooming off toward wherever.

Later, it returns and is snagged buy a steel rope to keep it from smashing into other planes or zipping right off the end of the carrier.

It worked well for decades but was a little tough on the jets. So, someone came up with a smoother way to do it, electromagnetically! Complex, very high tech, smoother and easier on the jets.

What could be better?

Steam again, in Trump’s mind.

He visited an aircraft carrier and some blabbery sailor told him the modern system was too complicated and hard to repair.

Or so he says.

You can never tell about anything a thieving liar says, no matter where he sits.

The likelihood with this president is someone bribed him or some shipbuilder coughed up a campaign contribution.

Or the thought just settled on him for no apparent reason, a naval thought beyond the last one, which was about ice breakers.

So, we have an aircraft carrier under construction and it would take billions of dollars to change plans now.

All that aside, apparently aircraft carriers are not such happy places these days, at least that is the word in some corners of the U.S. Navy.

Somebody tried to abandon ship a little prematurely, perhaps jumping into the ocean. Or trying.

My question is bigger.

Do we need them at all?

The Russians and the Chinese have aircraft carriers, of course, but the more efficient counter to all that is a cruise missile from a faraway destroyer, or better, a torpedo from a submarine.

They are not small targets.

Learn from Ukraine. What you can effectively target you can kill.

Charlie Madigan was a reporter and editor for 40 yeara at The Chicago Tribune and United Press International. He lives in Evanston and writes the blog, “Lightningwriter.” Find him at charlesmadigan.com.