Formidable Class Carrier (CVAN-1978)
Recognizing the growing threat of Soviet fleets capable of making sorties at great ranges thanks to a heavy emphasis on nuclear ships, it was decided in 1977, just one year after the first CVA-01 commissioned, that a new class of nuclear powered aircraft carrier would be needed to effectively counter the Soviet threat. Design work began in 1977, being finalized in 1979, and hastily put into production with the first keel laid that same year under the program name CVAN-1978. Looking to the Americans for aid in the design, the end result ultimately became a slightly scaled down Nimitz-class carrier, a ship of 90,000 tons, nuclear power, and an air wing of 85 aircraft. Two additional keels would be laid in 1981 and 1982 respectively, with the first ship, now christened Formidable, commissioned in 1983. Her sisters, Victorious and Ark Royal, would commission in 1984 and 1985 respectively, bringing the Royal Navy to a fleet of six supercarriers capable of standing against the growing Soviet and Chinese threats. Formidable would be assigned to the Home Fleet alongside Queen Elizabeth and Duke of Edinburgh, while Victorious and Ark Royal would both be assigned to Pacific Fleet duties alongside Prince of Wales based out of Singapore. These ships were the largest ever built for the Royal Navy, smashing the previous 70,000 ton record of the CVA-01 type carriers, and proved to be some of the most vital ships in Her Majesty’s fleet.
Right, the first nuclear ships for the Royal Navy, these ships are 85,000 ton supercarriers built to counter the ever-growing Soviet carrier force during the early 1980s. Included are two variants, an early, as built variant, featuring interim post-Falklands conflict low visibility paint schemes, Sea Wolf, and Broomstick radar, and a 1990s variant with modern low visibility grey paint schemes inspired by the Sea Harrier FA.2s of the mid-1990s. The late model Tomcat FG.2s operate with a newly updated version of the Blue Wolf radar capable of using the new Skyflash Active, counterpart to the American AMRAAM missile, making them very deadly in air defence. Enjoy!
Update Note: I have removed the Soviet based aircraft from the carrier by default, however, they are still available via the custom air wing in the mission editor. In their stead, I have added American aircraft to fill the same roles.
Revisions:
Old revisions of this mod are available below. Click the link to download.
