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Simon, blink twice if you're not allowed to leave the Studio

97 Minutes of Simon Talking about Aircraft carriers.... YES

Well, I guess I'm stopping everything I'm doing for the next hour and a half while I learn about aircraft carriers from Simon and team. This is worthy of a fresh pot of coffee!

The armour belt on a warship is NOT where a torpedo would hit. The belt is for naval gunfire. The torpedo defence system is below the waterline.

1:05 - Mid roll ads 2:30 - Chapter 1 - Origins & WWI 14:20 - Chapter 2 - Interwar developments 41:35 - Chapter 3 - WWII 56:40 - Chapter 4 - The cold war 1:15:30 - Chapter 5 - The carrier today 1:36:40 - Conclusion

I really like this series. Even though im asleep be half hour mark. It's not boring its actually pretty good stuff its just my sleep schedule that's fcd up

MEGA PROJECTS: 2 slot toaster and its humble beginnings.

“A Serbian bloke shot an Austrian fellow.” This exquisite blend of content and rhetoric is sublime. You and your writing staff are proof of the inherent good of the (semi-)free market ideology which KZfaq is built upon.

Simon, you forgot 2 other classes of US “aircraft carriers”. Although technically they are amphibious assault ships, they still have fixed wing aircraft onboard to support amphibious operations, and a secondary light carrier with up to 20 AV-8B’s, or 20 F-35B’s carried in the secondary role. They are the older Wasp Class LHD, and the newer America Class LHA. Both are conventional powered, similar in size to a WWII fleet carrier, and the new LHA has a displacement of 44,000 tons. Combined the total number of both vessels is 9.

Nice, the opening shot is of the Hornet docked in Alameda California. My kid plays soccer just down the street at Hornet field.

You missed the apptly named 'helicopter destroyer' which are currently being upgraded for F-35s. Also there is this whole crazy thing about countries being creative with thier ship designations to get around sanctions, laws, and treaties that you kinda missed as well. Overall great video, really enjoyed it.

Some other notable milestones: Birmingham, the first to have a plane take off; Ark Royal (1914), the first to have a hangar; Engadine, the seaplane carrier at Jutland; Wakamiya, the first sea-to-land air strike, Furious, the first one to land a wheeled plane (and how difficult it was); Langley, Lexington, and Courageous, the first to have catapults; Hermes, the first to have an enclosed "Atlantic" bow that became the standard; Ark Royal (91), the first to have enclosed hangars that have become standard, and invented naval fighter direction; Unicorn, the first aircraft maintenance and repair depot ship; Perseus and Ark Royal (R09), the first with modern-day steam catapults; Antietam and Victorious, the first angled flight decks, and Kaga and other "helicopter destroyers" like Hyuga and Izumo (but most importantly Kaga), the first carriers to pretend to be destroyers. Battles: Matapan, Taranto, and Bismarck, the battles that ended the era of battleships forever. Also, naval aviation without a mention of Swordfish...

Imagine getting paid to learn and talk about stuff like this. I do the same thing but instead of getting paid my coworkers just ignore me

Every plane goes 107 MPH regardless of what Simon says :)

Served on board the CV-67 J.F.K. she was the last conventional(oil burning) carrier in Desert Storm/operation Iraqi Freedom.

Thanks for this video. As an Alien its interesting to know the standard Human behavior of blowing one another up.

Anything that launches fixed wing aircraft would include the Wasp and America Classes (LHD and LHA respectively). And the "Destroyers" JS Izumo and Kaga.

Nov 1944 largest ship sunk by torpedo 68,000T , today the largest ship is 657,000T. Got to love the Spanish Carlos, more tapas bars than aircraft. What a great script . Love Simon in the clouds.

Simon thanks for these Long movies about specific topics, loved the one covering ars tanks and choopers

Like the channel not the constant background music

TOMCATS!!! Anytime, Baby! 😎🤙

You missed the Japanese Izumo-class (Izumo and Kaga), both of which have been or are in the process of being upgraded for F-35B operations and they've already done several F-35B take-off/landings with USMC F-35Bs, and Japan has placed their order for 42 F-35Bs.

Boy this was a beast to get through. It took 3 separate sittings and it being on in the background as I did chores. Loved it!

barely halfway through and the concept of the submarine carrier got me super excited about the latter part of the video where simon'll most likely talk about drone carriers and submarine drone carriers. now that'd be a thing to fear, a sub that could pop up anywhere in the sea and launch hundreds of drones carrying a fearsome payload to precise locations for the fraction of the cost of ballistic missiles used on some subs to this very day at a fraction of its price

FANTASTIC JOB Simon. Without a doubt this is the best video you've ever done. God bless you sir. 🫡 🇬🇧 🇺🇸

Fujian: conventionally powered (unimpressive) EMALS without any prior CATOBAR experience (that's going to be fun, esp.with an air wing that hardly ever trains at night)

Former US Navy nuclear reactor operator here! I was stationed on the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71). The Nimitz class of carriers were powered by 2 identical reactors, one mid-ships and one aft, each having slightly different operating pressure-temperature curves. The Enterprise (The Big E) had a whopping 8 smaller reactors. There were 5 different models of reactors on the Big E. If you were a Reactor Operator (RO) on the Big E, you likely could only stand watch on one or two of the reactors. The Big E was also a little longer than the Nimitz class carriers, so it could actually move a little faster.

Just so you know, wooden sailing frigates are generally not considered ships of the line and are indeed the sort of lighter vessels that term is meant to exclude.

I think its universally agreed the C-130 is one of the most impressive planes ever made. Add to its list of accomplishents that it is aircraft carrier friendly. During an experimental period the U.S. Navy had one conduct trials over the span of several months. A KC-130 made approx. 21 landings and unassisted takeoffs in 1963 off the USS Forrestal. There are videos of it. Amazing. Due to the fact the Navy has no C-130s the pilots were from the U.S. Air Force. I doubt the distinction wasn't made a bragging point given the rivalry between the two fraternally fueding groups of pilots.

Simon, this is great. Always love your videos - you’re a machine

Also worth a mention the Yak 41 / 141 which was used to partially help develop the F35

My dad led the team at General electric that developed the first electronic Heads up display that was designed for the navy to help pilots.Is pilots during landing on the carrier. He passed away a year ago.So the section where you are showing the predecessor what is that sir broad memories of him Explaining to me what he was designing a replacement for. Thank you

Thank you Simon. My grandfather was the Flight Engineer at Test Flight Farnborough to Capt Eric "Winkle" Brown who was the first pilot to land a jet aircraft on an aircraft carrier. He also has the world record for most deck landings at over 2,000

The technical location of Midway Island totally killed me lmao

When you discussed how the U.S. had broken Japanese code before Midway, you missed explaining how that happened, namely from radio intercepts during the daring April 1942 Doolittle raid on Tokyo performed by full-sized *bombers* launched from...a U.S. Navy *carrier*, the Hornet.

The British came up with the angled flight deck. The meatball was also a British design.

I really enjoy most if not all of Simon's channels. This particular episode, however, had me frequently thinking (and once saying out loud) "that's what she said." 😂

This was great! Request: Could you do an episode covering wartime production of ships, planes, tanks, etc. during WWII? You hear tales of the American war machine after Pearl Harbor, but really don't know how much of it was true or not

I’m surprised you didn’t mention: 1.) The World War I zeppelins that were fitted with parasite fighters, because that would technically count. 2.) The Fairey Swordfish bomber. I mean, it got its own video, but the meme is so funny in how it outmatched all odds that it would still be worth mentioning.

Right On Go Army!

ENGLAND! My England, my Avalon of old. Disseminatting her research to her prodigal son the USA, we love and esteem you, your King, and the people. Thank you.

Kinzhal is definitely not a threat to a carrier strike group. Patriot has been eating them for breakfast in Ukraine. Aegis can more than handle it. I'm more concerned about a saturation attack

edit: this comment is just me nitpicking because i'm a massive naval warfare nerd. the video is good i just like nitpicking and i can do a lot of it No USS Birmingham? First airplane take-off from a warship in human history? No? No mention? Edit: And Pennsylvania barely gets a mention for the first airplane landing on a warship. Wonderful. edit 2: a close look into Hermes and none for the Yorktowns. My guy. (As of the end of the interwar chapter) edit 3: just realised there was ALSO no mention of the off-deck elevators on Wasp and the Essexes. edit 4: Ah yes, the Buffalo was directly replaced with the Corsair and the Wildcat and Hellcat aren't real. (43:35) edit 5: Mentioning Illustrious' 36 aircraft and not giving a point of reference is also hysterical to me. For reference, a Yorktown would generally have about 85. (Edit onto this edit: Has he mentioned another carrier's number carried at any point throughout this video? Like, he made 36 sound like a lot. It wasn't for the time and still isn't really- just look at the Yorktowns.) (nvm it just took him 20 minutes (1:09:20 he mentions the Kitty Hawks having their 90 with the Audacious and Invincibles with their 40 and 20 and the clemenceau with 40)) (and the 30 of the Kyivs) edit 6: (mentions an Essex in the context of wwII) (uses an image of one from way after the war ended (i think about the 60s)) edit 7: -Light carriers designed from the bottom up to be between Escort and Fleet carriers -San Jacinto (Not a nameship and converted from a light cruiser) edit 8: 50:00 NO MIDWAY?? NO TArANTO? NO PEArL? skipping to Philippine Sea? Why?? (OOkay he went back to Midway and briefly Pearl but the way Pearl was talked about made it seem like carriers were hit there (which they weren't) and the lack of Taranto is really interesting) edit 9: 55:38 Hiryu's counterattack ultimately sunk Yorktown. Yeah, sure. Whatever, at this point. edit 10: 58:22 im sorry i just cant let you get away with putting an old-timey filter over an F-35B takeoff edit 11: not really that important but the lack of mention that a catapult is better than a ski jump at getting heavy aircraft airborne (hence the lack of F-35C on the QEs) is just like. i mean come on. edit 12: 1:01:50 Simon you've shown a lot of images of carriers with angled flight decks by now. Including in the context of WW2, as mentioned in edit 6. edit 13: 1:02:55 NUH UH. I am not letting you get away with saying Enterprise-class and showing an image of CVN-80 (a Ford-class carrier), nevermind the fact that CVN-65 never got any sisters so saying she had a class is a misnomer

Such a great video. Pure quality. Loving every minute of it.

At 25:01 you say that the uss yorktown is from the UK just so you know

Thanks!

Complicated subject very well put together you go girl

It's big, it's heavy, it's bulky, and always ready!

For a weapon that became so incredibly important so quickly (once the Japanese showed how to use them properly), the aircraft carrier was still held back by battleship admirals who controlled operational doctrine for almost too long. Even when confronted with the results of US Navy Fleet Problems (Drachinifel has a nice series on those) it was difficult to make best use of carriers at first. They are fascinating devices.

i love long & detailed video ❤ especially subject I'm interested in.

Jesus Christ that's a long video! I mean, imma still watch it...

The US's premier "helicopter assault ships" are the Wasp and America class and they each can easily carry a more impressive fixed wing compliment than anything outside of the Charles de Gaulle or Queen Elizabeth class.

IDK how to send in a suggestion but a megaprojects on the RV FLIP is a realy cool boat

Good work

I'm glad Simon could use his personal aircraft carrier to record this video

I've got a buddy who worked on a Nimitz. You truly cannot understand the scale of these things until you witness them with your own eyes. Gargantuan. Cities on the sea. Also, as a mariner, it does make me wonder and worry... because anyone who has spent much time on the water knows that a ship is "a hole in the water that you throw money into." I suppose, at least I know where my taxes as an American go.

I didn't think the studio room would fit into the bridge of that carrier, but I'm seeing it, so it must fit

How did they start? Long time ago, sailors were not content with lobbing hate a couple dozen miles away. They got together and decided as a group that it would be great to lob hate many hundreds of miles away.

Why did you leave out the London naval treaties which were the treaties that declared the weights of aircraft carriers

I'm surprised that Simon hasn't passed out from narrating this video 😂 All in all this is great history about how aircraft carriers have evolved over the years. Good job Simon

You made a huge omission when discussing the EMAS system. It has two huge advantages over steam-based catapults: speed and stamina. A steam catapult requires pressurized steam to launch aircraft. This is generated using steam from the nuclear reactor. This takes time to make and build up. A steam catapult is a very well perfected system, and can't get much better. But it's need for steam is a big drawback. It takes time to build up, and after a certain number of launches, it isn't capable of launching aircraft again. Depending on operations, it can take hours to fully replenish it's launching capabilities. The EMAS doesn't have that limitation. It can launch faster as it doesn't need to recharge the steam pressurization system, so it can reload and fire again as quickly as you can retract the launcher. Also, it doesn't have a limit as to how many it can launch before it has to stop to recharge the steam. It can just keep going as long as the power plants can keep functioning. This means more planes launched, more frequently, and without delays. This huge advantage will lead to the development of other EMAS type catapults.

missing Japan's Izumo "destroyer" 😁 also the American class, technically can launch fixed wings 😂

Drachinafel is the channel to go to for Naval info. Good try tho guys.

In my 5 deployments on 3 CVN's I always couldn't wait to get off the ship. Now I miss them.

RESPECT, THROUGHOUT THE CHANGING LOCATIONS OF BODY HAIR, YOUR HISTORY FROM MOP TOP TO SOUP STRAINER BEARD HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE JOURNEY. THANK YOU,🔱⭐

Loved how during the battle of midway section they used the Battle 360 graphs

Looking good!

What about the Japanese helicopter carriers that are being modified to carry VTOL fighters?

I'm loving the yt trend towards longer form content

Didn't you just do an Aircraft Carrier one on Megaprojects?

Epic, Simon!

Thanks for the in depth video. In a world where everything has to be condensed down to 12 minutes it is nice to get a good, meaty video that goes in depth on a topic.

Nice introduction

This video does exactly what it says on the tin :)

Tony Scott's Top Gun footage of the opening credits of an F-14 Tomcat being arrested is so iconic, that if it had not been used in a modern documentary of aircraft carriers, then I would've down-rated this video. Kudos Simon and team on a job, done.

Interesting how many planes all have a maximum of "107 MPH" despite Simon saying otherwise

kept putting a blue popup "107mph" for every interwar aircraft, even when Simon says a higher top speed.

Then there are the US America class and Wasp class also carry fixed wing A/C and the Japanese DDHs which also launch F-35s. Soon to add a CV in south Korea. Egypt and Australia have 2 ships each capable of F-35s.

1:21:52 Well of course that is their last planned type of carrier. No other nation has the new tech yet, which causes China some issues. Chinese ship development breaks down into the time honed skills of larceny and a box of tracing paper.

A great one, though, I would like to have seen the America Class, even if you skipped the Wasp. It is easily as capable as the vast majority of carriers described. The US just does not want to call it a carrier, because they would have to admit to overkill with 20 carriers. And no potential opponent having more than three.

Your work is great sir. 👍 i was wounding if a special on housing projects/programs that were put in place after each war? its not in line with your channel, but i feel it might interest others as well as me... and i cant see a downside to diversification in content.

Just remember, the US has 11 of these behemoths. More than the next 8 countries combined. This doesn’t count light/helicopter carriers and amphibious landing ships.

Midway is indeed exactly where described.

You've left out the 11 wasp and America class which carry Harriers and F35Bs

That was a megaprojects to end all megaprojects!

I do really like the look of it alright very fresh looking

Don't forget the America class n the Japanese carriers with F35 Bs

"a Serbian bloke shot an Austrian fellow, and a ruckus resulted" best description of the start of WW1

Emals is important for launching lighter drones alongside heavy airplanes. The greater range of power and control is important.

If it wasn't 10:30 in the morning it would be a fun drinking game to hit it every time Simon says "on the tin"

This man must have 100000 hours worth of KZfaq content

The Aircraft carrier was the decisive weapon in WWII. However these floating targets are unlikely to be so in the next major conflict.

Yeeess, I've been waiting for this! Can't wait for the next!

These large sums are easily justified, and largely demanded, because the spending goes to _domestic_ recipients. The big exception were those Soviet donor ships bought for conversion, but you have to start somewhere. Whether or not the “airfield” ships will be superseded in importance by future “cyber command” ships is a question for another video.

Simpn, the corsair was a late ww2 air craft. Wildcat and hellcat were before it

It’s saddening not to hear the USS Casablanca, Gambier Bay and Long Island not be mentioned. It’s also sad to not hear how USS Enterprise was only mentioned for a very small portion of the video despite being built as one of the three most prolific sister ships of the Pacific Fleet.

Simon, I've listened to and enjoyed so many of your videos. Were you sick or something? Maybe a sore throat? The vocals on this one were totally unlike your usual clear and precise enunciation. You sounded like you were chewing your words, and forcing a barely understandable rate of speech.

Parke-Custis. Not Parke-Curtis. Was the first married name of Martha Washington. The GW Parke-Custis after which the ship was named was her grandson.

1:14:38 Are you going to mention Landing Helicopter Decks (LHD's) like what Australia has? It's essentially a light carrier that doesn't support aircraft