{{short description|Concept aircraft carrier}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}} {{more citations needed|date=October 2013}} {{Infobox ship |section1={{Infobox ship/image |image=Sea Control Ship 1972.JPG |image_caption=Artist conception (1972) }}
|section2={{Infobox ship/class overview |name=Sea Control Ship (SCS) |builders=Never built |operators=United States Navy |class_before= |class_after= |subclasses= |cost=$100 Million USD 1973 dollars (est.) $626 Million USD 2022 dollars (est.) |built_range= |in_commission_range= |total_ships_building= |total_ships_planned= 8 |total_ships_completed= |total_ships_canceled= |total_ships_active= |total_ships_laid_up= |total_ships_lost= |total_ships_retired= |total_ships_preserved= }}
|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics |hide_header= |header_caption= |type=ASW carrier |displacement=*9,773 tons (light) *13,736 tons (full load) |length={{convert|620|ft|m|abbr=on}} |beam={{convert|80|ft|m|abbr=on}} |draught= |draft={{convert|21.62|ft|m|abbr=on}} |propulsion=*2 × General Electric LM2500+ gas turbines, one shaft, 45,000 shp *3 × 2500 kW ship service generators (SSG) |speed=*{{convert|26|kn|km/h}} *{{convert|24|kn|km/h}} (sustained) |range= |complement=*76 officers *624 enlisted |sensors= |armor= |armament=2 x 20-mm Phalanx CIWS mounts |aircraft=*3 × AV-8A Harrier VTOL *3 × SH-2 Seasprite LAMPS I *14 × SH-3 Sea King |aircraft_facilities=*'''Flight deck:''' {{convert|545|x|105|ft|m|abbr=on}} *'''Enclosed hangar:''' {{convert|19|ft|m|abbr=on}} high *'''Aircraft elevators:''' 60,000 lb. (27.2 mt) lift capacity *Centerline: {{convert|60|x|30|ft|m|abbr=on}} *Stern: {{convert|35|x|50|ft|m|abbr=on}} *'''JP-5 fuel capacity:''' 950 tons (861.8 mt) *'''Aviation ordance:''' 180 tons (163 mt) |notes= }} }}
The '''Sea Control Ship''' ('''SCS''') was a small aircraft carrier developed and conceptualized by the United States Navy under Chief of Naval Operations Elmo Zumwalt during the 1970s. Currently the term refers to naval vessels that can perform similar duties.<ref name="Sea Control Ship">[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/scs.htm Sea Control Ship] – GlobalSecurity.org</ref> The SCS was intended as an escort vessel, providing air support for convoys. It was canceled after budgetary cuts to the US Navy.
The SCS was to be equipped with a mix of Rockwell XFV-12 fighter aircraft and anti-submarine warfare helicopters.<ref>[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/xfv-12.htm XFV-12] – GlobalSecurity.org</ref> It was tasked with carrying out anti-submarine warfare operations.
==Concept== In the late 1960s, studies by US Navy identified a potential requirement for large scale convoy operations in the event of a war with the Soviet Union. In order to compensate for a shortage of escort ships, it was suggested that helicopters operating from small helicopter carriers could fill the gap. When Elmo Zumwalt became Chief of Naval Operations in 1970, he seized on the idea of small helicopter carriers as part of his "High-Low" plan in which large numbers of cheaper lower capability ships would be built to supplement existing expensive high capability ships. The proposed small carrier, which was named the Sea Control Ship (SCS), was required to provide continuous airborne cover of two anti-submarine and one airborne early warning helicopters, as well as carrying VSTOL fighters to stop Soviet long-range aircraft (like the Tupolev Tu-95 "Bear") from shadowing convoys and directing submarines and surface ships against them. This resulted in a requirement to carry 14 helicopters and three VSTOL fighters such as the AV-8 Harrier. It was hoped that production SCSs could be built for $100 million each, an eighth of the price of a full sized aircraft carrier.<ref name="conways47 p575">Gardiner and Chumbley 1995, p. 575.</ref><ref name="fried p352">Friedman 1985, p. 352.</ref>
The resultant design had a full load displacement of {{convert|13736|LT}} and an overall length of {{convert|610|ft|m}}. It was to be powered by two General Electric LM2500 gas turbines generating {{convert|45000|shp}} and driving a single shaft, which would propel the ship to a speed of {{convert|26|knots}}. Weaponry was to be limited, consisting of two Phalanx Close-in weapon systems to defend against anti-ship missiles.<ref name="conways47 p575"/>
==Experimental Sea Control Ship== In 1971 {{USS|Guam|LPH-9|6}} was chosen as a test vessel. Testing began on 18 January 1972. In 1974 she was deployed to the Atlantic Ocean. The vessel was equipped with AV-8A Harrier STOVL fighters and SH-3 Sea King ASW helicopters. The tests were completed in July 1974; USS ''Guam'' resumed its role as an amphibious assault ship.<ref>{{cite web |title=USS Guam LPH-9 History |url=https://www.ussguam.org/pdfs/USSGuam-ISCS-6-28-15.pdf |website=ussguam.org |access-date=May 28, 2015}}</ref>
==Related ships== thumb|The Spanish aircraft carrier ''Principe de Asturias'' was based on the original Sea Control Ship design
The SCSs were smaller than most fleet aircraft carriers, and the concept was adopted by two countries wanting inexpensive aircraft carriers. Spain's {{ship|Spanish aircraft carrier|Príncipe de Asturias||2}}, and her smaller cousin ship, Thailand's {{ship|HTMS|Chakri Naruebet}}, were based on the final US Navy blueprints for a dedicated sea control ship, but with the addition of a ski-jump ramp and follow a similar mission profile.<ref>{{cite news | url =http://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stories/the-sea-control-ship/ | title =The Sea Control Ship | first = JOHN D. | last =GRESHAM |website =Defence Media Network|date =29 March 2016 |access-date =4 August 2021 }}</ref>
==See also== * VSTOL Support Ship * Aircraft Carrier (Medium) * SS ''Atlantic Causeway'' * {{USS|Nassau|LHA-4}} * {{USS|Bataan|LHD-5}} * {{USS|Bonhomme Richard|LHD-6}} * {{Sclass|Invincible|aircraft carrier|3}} * Helicopter carrier * Anti-submarine warfare carrier
==References== {{reflist}}
== Notes == * {{cite book |last= Friedman |first= Norman |title= U.S. Aircraft Carriers: an Illustrated Design History |publisher= Naval Institute Press |year= 1985 |isbn= 0-87021-739-9 }} * {{cite book|last1=Gardiner|first1=Robert|last2= Chumbley|first2=Stephen|title=Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995|location=Annapolis, Maryland, US|publisher= Naval Institute Press|year=1995|isbn= 1-55750-132-7}}
==Further reading== * {{cite journal |last= Mullane, USN |first= Lt. Cmdr. Paul N. |date=March 1973 |title= Sea Control |journal= Naval Aviation News |pages= 42–43 |url= http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1970s/1972/mar72.pdf |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20041102001412/http://history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1970s/1972/mar72.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-date= 2 November 2004 |access-date= 30 August 2008 }}
==External links== * [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/scs.htm Sea Control Ship] – GlobalSecurity.org
Category:Ship types Category:Amphibious warfare vessels Category:Cold War aircraft carriers of the United States Category:Proposed aircraft carriers Category:Cancelled ships of the United States Navy Category:Aircraft carriers of the United States Navy