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SHIP IDENTIFICATION
Aircraft   Carriers

Basic Military Requirements (BMR) - Requirement for military advancement
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Ship size. The size of a ship usually is given in terms of its displacement in long tons. Displacement means the weight of the volume of water that the ship displaces when afloat; in other words, the weight of a  ship  by  itself.  The  Navy  uses  standard displacement, which is the weight of a ship when ready for sea. All weights given in this chapter are standard  displacements,  except  where  otherwise noted. Cargo ships usually are measured in light displacement (no cargo aboard) because of the wide difference in the weights of cargo carried. Ship  armament.    Armament  describes  the  offensive weapons  a  ship  carries—guns,  rockets,  guided missiles, and planes. Ship armor. Armor means protective armor—special steel installed along the sides of the ship, on a deck, and on some gun mounts and turrets. Ship speed. The speed of a ship is stated in knots. A knot is 1 nautical mile per hour (mph) or about 1 1/8 statute miles per hour. When a ship goes 20 nautical miles an hour, its speed is said to be 20 knots (but never 20 knots per hour). A land (or statute) mile is 5,280 feet. A nautical mile is about 6,080 feet, or roughly 2,000 yards. A ship traveling at 20 knots is, therefore, traveling at the rate of about 23 mph. Ship class.  Ships are said to be of a particular class. Do not confuse this characteristic with type, which is shown by a ship’s designation. The  Forrestal, for example, was the first of several aircraft carriers of the same general advanced type and configuration to be completed. The next three carriers completed after  the   Forrestal   are  of  the  Forrestal  class; however,  later  CVs  or  CVNs  (nuclear-powered carriers) of other types are different classes (such as the Kitty Hawk class, Nimitz class, and so forth). Ship categories. Ships of the U.S. Navy are divided into four  categories  that  include  combatant  ships, auxiliary ships, combatant craft, and support craft. REVIEW 3 QUESTIONS Q1.  How is the size of a ship usually given? Q2.  What is meant by a ship’s armor? Q3.  What term is used to indicate the speed of a ship? SHIPS CATEGORIES Ships  of  the  U.S.  Navy  are  divided  into  four categories: Combatant ships Auxiliary ships Combatant craft Support craft. Combatant Ships Depending on size and type, combatant ships may have missions other than simply “slugging it out” with a n  e n e m y  s h i p .  C o m b a t a n t  s h i p s  a r e  o f  t wo types—warships and other combatants. WARSHIPS.—Most warships are built primarily to  attack  an  enemy  with  gunfire,  missiles,  or  other weapons. There are exceptions, however, that you will see as we go along. The following types of ships are included in the warship category: Aircraft carriers Battleships Cruisers Destroyers Frigates Submarines 8-14 Student Notes:







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