Russian Made Indian Aircraft Carrier Sets Out On Trial Voyage

[grumbler]

I think you're overstating your case.  Furious was able to effectively launch aircraft, and there wasn't a Aviation Boatswain's Mate anywhere in the world at that time.

Furious had no more than seven planes in the air at any one time until the late 20s, and never was very effective.  She was mostly used as an aircraft transport.  She's a poor example to use for effective flight operations: in the Norwegian campaign, she lost 2/3 of her air wing and in return managed to destroy 2 Ju-52s on the ground.

[Neil]

I think you're overstating your case.  Furious was able to effectively launch aircraft, and there wasn't a Aviation Boatswain's Mate anywhere in the world at that time.

Furious had no more than seven planes in the air at any one time until the late 20s, and never was very effective.  She was mostly used as an aircraft transport.  She's a poor example to use for effective flight operations: in the Norwegian campaign, she lost 2/3 of her air wing and in return managed to destroy 2 Ju-52s on the ground.

Well, if we want to range into WWII, Ark Royal was pretty effective.  I just chose Furious because it was capable of launching aircraft effectively (although it wasn't really all that effective at landing them until after they rebuilt it).  It was the aircraft themselves that were ineffective, for a variety of reasons.

[MadBurgerMaker]

The carrier India has had since the 80's is presumably able to effectively launch aircraft without USN AB's as well.

[Darth Wagtaros]

The carrier India has had since the 80's is presumably able to effectively launch aircraft without USN AB's as well.

grumbles is talkin about effective flight operations during combat. Remember for him that means managing to reload the onager before Persians ram you.

[DGuller]

They just need it for the prestige.  It's not like it's expected to actually do anything.  India's strategic concerns are a little closer to home.

A Dreadnought could serve the same purpose, and the Russians might just know something about operating a dreadnought.

Effective flight deck operations require Master Chief Aviation Bosun's Mates, and those take a couple of decades to create.

And how many decades would it take if they had dreadnoughts instead of a carrier?

It wouldn't take long at all.  After the first attempt to land the plane on the dreadnought, the problem solves itself.