Ladies and Gentlemen,
This post is to clarify some incorrect information in the previous posts first off...
A Nimitz (Super carrier) class USS Aircraft carrier
can hold about 90 functional aircraft, has a crew of about 3,000.[WRONG]NOT the equivalent of the entire Canadian Land Force (roughly 50,000+).[WRONG] We currently have about 65+ functional CF-18 fighters.
So yes, 1 aircraft carrier has more aircraft then our entire airforce.[WRONG] The CF-18 is NOT state of the art by any means, we don't even have the "D" variant which the US is replacing with F-18E/F Superhornet variants. They are 2-3 times farther in generations of this 1 type of aircraft then we are.
The computers in our CF-18's literally have as much computing power as commador 64's (back in the 80's).[ARE YOU AN AVTECH NOW?] Thier new upgrade program will see to it their about the equivalent of the american F-18D Hornet. Modern, not advanced even.
Our aircraft DO have air-to-ground capability and even the ability to use "smart" bombs (lazer guided munitions) when the aircraft is equipped with the correct hardware (an underwing electronic pod with lazer eye etc)...
As for our navy being self-sufficient, I suppose for the most part it is. If you count the only thing we can move to any part of the world and not suffer casualties is our frigates, the smallest class of warship afloat... Ohhh, shiver me timbers... :[YOU'RE STARTING TO SHOOT WAY OUT OF YOUR LANE NOW....]
Let's not get into symantics folks, but to say the least we're not a sight for sore eyes.
ABOUT MARINES:
We don't have them because as someone here mentioned before, they're more of a "shock" troop [WRONG - DO SOME RESEARCH] and
we don't (not in the last 50yrs) invade other people's countries.[SEE KFOR, SEE OP APOLLO] Thier an advanced invasion force, usually the first ones to hit the beach.
1 Amphibous assault carrier of the USA carries 2000 marines, with armour support, 4 Harrier fighters[WRONG] (eventually to be the Joint Strike Fighter (VSTOL multi-role advanced combat fighter) and 16 helicopters, 4 of which are Cobra attack helicopters. In other words, that would be the type of "transport" carrier that Mr. Harper is speaking about???...
Expensive you think? YES! Would it kickass to have something like that? YES! Do we need an assault carrier... Debatable since it can be used for exactly what we need, rapid reaction force and support of NATO ops... Can we afford it?!?!?!?!? .. .... Hell no! A small aircraft carrier like that would cost approx... about $3.5 billion each..
And that doesn't even count the aircraft or amphibious assault craft.. Yeah, exactly. No chance.
So folks, hope that helps to clear things up abit.
[CLEARING WHAT UP?]
Joe
Ruck on!