The Yakovlev YAK-141 (Freestyle) is a Soviet supersonic carrier borne multi-role STOVL fighter. It operates with lift engines in the forward fuselage and a vectoring nozzle on the main engine, placed well forward, between twin tail booms. The Yakovlev YAK-141 is powered by one MNPK 'Soyuz' R-79V-300 turbofan main engine and two RKBM RD-41 turbojets providing a top speed of Mach 1.7 and a maximum range of 700 km typically. Armaments consist of one Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-30-1 30 mm cannon and up to 2600 kg of disposable stores carried on five hard points, one under the fuselage and four under the wings. Research YAK-141
The Yakovlev Yak-38 (Forger) is a Soviet single-seater carrier-borne STOVLattack warplane developed from the Yak-36MP. The Yak-38 entered service in 1976 and is powered by an MNPK 'Soyuz' R-27V-300 turbojet providing a top speed of 1000 kmh and a range of 370 km typically. The Yakovlev Yak-38 carries no fixed armaments but up to 2000 kg of disposable stores on four under-wing hard points. Research YAK-38
HTMS Chakri Naruebet is an Offshore Patrol Helicopter Carrier of 1486 tons full-load displacement, constructed for the Royal Thai Navy by Spanish shipbuilders EN Bazan with a design similar to that of the Spanish carrier Principe de Asturias. She is fitted with a 12 degree ski jump to enable the use of Harrier-style aircraft as well as helicopters. She carries a complement of 600. The ship is equipped with six multi-mission Sikorsky S-70B Seahawk helicopters and six ex-Spanish Matador AV-8S (Harrier) short take-off/vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft. The ship has a top speed of 26 knots and a range of 10000 nautical miles at 12 knots. Armaments consist of Sea Sparrow surface-to-air missiles and also Mistral missiles. Research HTMS Chakri Naruebet
The Wasp Class is the US Navy's large-deck multipurpose amphibious assault ship. The mission of these ships is to enable the Navy and Marine Corps team to accomplish smooth transition from the sea to the land battle, primarily as the centrepiece of a Navy Amphibious Ready Group (ARG). A multi-mission amphibious-ready group is fully capable of amphibious assault, advance force, and special purpose operations, as well as non-combatant evacuation and other humanitarian missions. LHDs embark, transport, deploy, command and fully support all elements of a Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) of 2,000 Marines, inserting forces ashore via helicopters, landing craft and amphibious vehicles. The Wasp Class is the first specifically designed to employ air-cushion landing craft (LCACS), and to carry a squadron of Harrier II (AV-8B) STOVL (Short Take Off Vertical Landing) jets for operational support. LHDs are fully-equipped with command and control systems for flagship command duty. The Wasp Class carries a mix of assault helicopters, plus six to eight Harriers for close air support.
The ship's air traffic control system supports simultaneous Harrier and helicopter operations on the ship's 819 ft by 112 ft flight deck. The ship has two deck edge aircraft elevators, each 50 feet wide and 45 feet long, with a lifting capacity of 75,000 pounds. The elevators fold for transit through the Panama Canal, and are the largest folding elevators in the Navy. The ship can also fully maintain all embarked aircraft. The ships are armed with two semi-active radar-guided NATOSea Sparrow Missile Systems (NSSMS) for anti-air warfare protection, two Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) Systems and two Phalanx Close-in Weapon-System (CIWS) mounts to counter threats from low flying aircraft and close-in small craft. Six Super Rapid Blooming Offboard ChaffDecoy System (SRBOC) launchers augment LHD 6's anti-ship missile defences. Four 50 calibre machine-guns and three 25mm machine-guns are also fitted.
The ship's assault support system synchronises the simultaneous horizontal and vertical flow of troops, cargo and vehicles throughout the ship, for efficient
and fast insertion of forces ashore via helicopters, landing craft and amphibious vehicles. Six 12000-pound capacity cargo elevators transport material and supplies from cargo holds to staging areas for loading. Cargo to be loaded aboard waiting landing craft within the well deck is moved via a monorail system. This system consists of 2900 feet of track in a six-track layout directly over the ship's vehicle storage area and well deck. Five 32-foot cargo monorail trains each with a capacity of 6000 pounds carry material at speeds up to 600 feet per minute (6.8 miles per hour) from the staging area to the landing craft in the well deck.
The ship's vehicle storage area typically accommodates five M-1 tanks, 25 Light Amphibious Vehicles (L.A.V.), eight Howitzer M-198 guns, 68 military trucks (HMMVVVs), 10 logistics vehicles (Dragon Wagons), 12 five-ton trucks, two water trailers, a fuel service truck, four rough terrain forklifts and two generator trailers. These vehicles can be loaded aboard landing craft, and the majority can be rigged for transportation to the beach by helicopter. Off the beach, landing craft are launched and recovered through the very large stern gate which opens the 13,600 square-foot well deck to the sea. This well deck is 267 feet long and 50 feet wide, and is designed specifically for the fly-in/fly-out capabilities of the air cushioned landing craft (LCAC). To launch and recover conventional landing craft, the ship can ballast over 15,000 tons of seawater to allow these craft to float into and out of the well deck. Research Wasp Class
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research YAK-141
