Carrier battle group
A carrier battle group is a naval fleet consisting of an aircraft carrier capital ship and its large number of escorts, together defining the group. The CV in CVBG is the United States Navy hull classification code for an aircraft carrier.
The first naval task forces built around carriers appeared just prior to and during World War II. The Imperial Japanese Navy was the first to assemble many carriers into a single task force, known as the Kido Butai. This task force was used with devastating effect in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The Kido Butai operated as the IJN's main carrier battle group until four of its carriers were sunk at the Battle of Midway. In contrast, the United States Navy deployed its large carriers in separate formations, with each carrier assigned its own cruiser and destroyer escorts. These single-carrier formations would often be paired or grouped together for certain assignments, most notably the Battle of the Coral Sea and Midway. By 1943, however, large numbers of fleet and light carriers became available, which required larger formations of three or four carriers. These groups eventually formed the Fast Carrier Task Force, which became the primary battle unit of the U.S. Third and Fifth Fleets.
With the construction of the large "supercarriers" of the Cold War era, the practice of operating each carrier in a single formation was revived. During the Cold War, the main role of the CVBG in case of conflict with the Soviet Union would have been to protect Atlantic supply routes between the United States and its NATO allies in Europe, while the role of the Soviet Navy would have been to interrupt these sea lanes, a fundamentally easier task. Because the Soviet Union had no large carriers of its own, a situation of dueling aircraft carriers would have been unlikely. However, a primary mission of the Soviet Navy's attack submarines was to track every allied battle group and, on the outbreak of hostilities, sink the carriers. Understanding this threat, the CVBG expended enormous resources in its own anti-submarine warfare mission.
Carrier battle groups in crises
In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, most uses of carrier battle groups by the United States as well as that of other Western nations have been in situations where their use has been uncontested by other comparable forces. During the Cold War, an important battle scenario was an attack against a CVBG using numerous anti-ship missiles.1956 Suez Crisis
British and French carrier battle groups were involved in the 1956 Suez Crisis.1971 Indo-Pakistan war
During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, India used its carrier strike group centered on to impose a naval blockade on East Pakistan. Air strikes were carried out initially on shipping in the harbors of Chittagong and Cox's Bazar, sinking or incapacitating most ships there. Further strikes were carried out on Cox's Bazar from 60 nautical miles offshore. On the evening of 4 December, the air group again struck Chittagong harbor. Later strikes targeted Khulna and the Port of Mongla. Air strikes continued until 10 December 1971.1982 Falklands War
The first attempted use of anti-ship missiles against a carrier battle group was part of Argentina's efforts against British armed forces during the Falklands War. This was the last conflict so far in which opposing belligerents employed aircraft carriers, although Argentina made little use of its sole carrier,, which was originally built in the United Kingdom as HMS Venerable and later served with the Royal Netherlands Navy.Lebanon
The United States Sixth Fleet assembled a force of three carrier battle groups and a battleship during the Lebanese Civil War in 1983. Daily reconnaissance flights were flown over the Bekaa Valley and a strike was flown against targets in the area resulting in loss of an A-6 Intruder and an A-7 Corsair.Gulf of Sidra
Carrier battle groups routinely operated in the Gulf of Sidra inside the "Line of Death" proclaimed by Libya resulting in aerial engagements in 1981, 1986 and 1989 between U.S. Navy Tomcats and Libyan Su-22 aircraft, SA-5 surface-to-air missiles and MiG-23 fighters. During the 1986 clashes, three carrier battle groups deployed to the Gulf of Sidra and ultimately two of them conducted strikes against Libya in Operation El Dorado Canyon.2011 military intervention in Libya
During the international military intervention in the 2011 Libyan civil war, the French Navy deployed its aircraft carrier,, off Libya. The Charles de Gaulle was accompanied by several frigates as,,, the replenishment tanker Meuse and two nuclear attack submarines.Applications
China
China plans to set up several carrier battle groups in the future. At present China's two aircraft carriers, and, use Type 055 destroyers for area air defence with anti-submarine warfare, Type 052C or Type 052D destroyers for air defence, Type 054A frigates for anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare, one to two Type 093 nuclear attack submarines, and one Type 901 supply ship. China is building a third carrier, as well as a nuclear-powered fourth carrier planned for construction and expected to be completed by the late 2020s.France
The only serving French carrier is the, which also serves as the flagship of the French Navy. The carrier battle group of the Force d'Action Navale is known as the Groupe Aéronaval and is usually composed, in addition to the aircraft carrier, of:- a carrier air wing, a complement composed of about 40 aircraft:
- *Rafale F3
- *E-2C Hawkeye
- *SA365 Dauphin for RESCO and EC725 Caracal for CSAR
- one
- two anti-submarine destroyers
- one or two anti-air destroyers
- one stealth frigate in forward patrol
- one supply ship
France also operates three s. While incapable of operating fixed-winged aircraft, they function as helicopter carriers and form the backbone of France's amphibious force. These ships are typically escorted by the same escorts Charles De Gaulle uses.
India
The Indian Navy has operated all types of aircraft carriers including CATOBAR configured, STOVL configured and STOBAR configured and and CBGs centered on them. The Indian Navy has been operating carrier battle groups since 1961, with its first carrier battle group formed around the now decommissioned Vikrant. Viraat was an updated light carrier originally built for the Royal Navy as, which was laid down in 1944 and commissioned in 1959. It was purchased by India in May 1987, and was decommissioned in March 2017. India commissioned Vikramaditya in 2013 followed by the new Vikrant in 2022. Vikramaditya is the modified , Vikrant is the first indigenous aircraft carrier built in India. India plans to have three carrier battle groups by 2035, each centered on Vikrant, Vikramaditya and, another planned carrier. As of 2023, the Indian Navy operates two carrier battle groups centred on Vikramaditya and Vikrant.The Indian Navy's carrier battle group centred on Viraat consisted of two destroyers, usually of the , two or more frigates, usually of the, or es, and one support ship.
The Carrier Battle Group led by Vikramaditya includes s, s and the support ship among others. While the independent CBG of Vikrant is expected to consist of s, s, s and the support ship.
Italy
The CVS–ASW was Italy's first carrier. The battle group based at Taranto called COMFORAL was formed by the carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi, two s, two support ships, and three amphibious/support ships.After 2010, the Italian battle group will be formed by the new, 5–6 new warships, one new support ship, some minehunters and new submarines.
Russia
Admiral Kuznetsov has been observed sailing together with a , , , and Krivak I/II FFG. These escorts, especially the heavily armed Kirov-class battlecruiser, use advanced sensors and carry a variety of weaponry. During Admiral Kuznetsovs deployment to Syria in November 2016 on her first combat tour, the carrier was escorted by a pair of Udaloy-class destroyers and a Kirov-class battlecruiser en route, while additional Russian Navy warships met her off Syria.Admiral Kuznetsov is designed specifically to sail alone and carries greater firepower than her U.S. counterparts. This includes 12x SS-N-19 'Shipwreck' SSMs, 24 x VLS units loaded with 192 SA-N-9 'Gauntlet' SAMs, and 8 x Kashtan CIWS with dual 30 mm guns, and 8 × AK-630 CIWS. Compared to the 4 × Phalanx CIWS and 4 × Sea Sparrow launchers, each with 8 missiles carried by the Nimitz class, Admiral Kuznetsov is well armed for both air-defence and offensive operations against hostile shipping.
United Kingdom
As one of the pioneers of aircraft carriers, the Royal Navy has maintained a carrier strike capability since the commissioning of in 1918. However, the capability was temporarily lost between 2010 and 2018, following the retirement of the and Harrier GR9s. During this period, the Royal Navy worked to regenerate its carrier strike capability based on the Carrier-Enabled Power Projection concept by ordering two s and the F-35B Lightning aircraft to operate from them. To maintain its skills and experience, the Royal Navy embedded personnel and ships with partner navies, in particular the United States Navy.In 2017, the first Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier,, entered service followed by her sister ship,, in 2019. The first carrier strike group took to sea in September 2019 as part of an exercise known as Westlant 19. HMS Queen Elizabeth and her air group of F-35B Lightning jets operated alongside two surface escorts and a fleet tanker off the east coast of the United States. The deployment was in preparation for the first operational deployment in 2021, which is expected to involve HMS Queen Elizabeth alongside four Royal Navy escorts, two support ships and a submarine.
Under current plans, a Royal Navy carrier strike group will typically comprise a Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier, two air defence destroyers, two anti-submarine frigates, a submarine, solid stores ship and a fleet tanker. However, the composition varies depending on the operational tasking. While Queen Elizabeths initial deployment will be as part of an all-British carrier group, it is envisaged in the longer term that the UK's carriers will usually form the centre of a multi-national operation – in 2018, it was announced that the British and Dutch governments had come to an agreement that would see escort vessels of the Royal Netherlands Navy operating as part of the UK Carrier Strike Group. Command of the UK carrier strike group is the responsibility of Commander United Kingdom Carrier Strike Group. A June 2020 National Audit Office report however provided a critical review of the forthcoming Carrier Strike Group, especially noting the delay to the Crowsnest system.