If anything, more than 10 years ago, after the two houses passed a bill to limit the size of the navy, the Imperial Navy recognized the great value of "alternative aircraft carriers". Since then, the Imperial Navy has invested funds in preliminary exploration in related fields.

Of course, it wasn't the name that was originally used.

From an after-looking perspective, the "theory of the uselessness of aircraft carriers" and the "dispute over size" that appeared at that time were related to the Imperial Navy, and it can also be said that they were used by the Imperial Navy. It was precisely by taking advantage of the opportunity to develop "small aircraft carriers", to be precise, the relevant requirements put forward by the two chambers of parliament, that the Imperial Navy received the appropriation and launched the development project of "small and medium-sized multi-purpose aircraft carriers" with the strong support of the two chambers of the debate.

It is known that the Imperial Navy finally chose the traditional route and continued to build large and supercarriers.

As for the relevant research and development results, after the construction of the "Xue Yuanzheng" class began, they were all shelved and locked in the filing cabinet of the Imperial Navy.

To be precise, it has been transformed into a technical reserve.

The "alternative aircraft carrier" is actually a copy of the "small and medium-sized multipurpose aircraft carrier", which can also be said to be a modernized version.

The basic design idea of the "small and medium-sized multipurpose aircraft carrier" is actually to abandon its independent combat capability, and treat the aircraft carrier as a pure fighter platform, mainly to support and operate carrier-based aircraft, and on this basis, reduce the construction cost by weakening and canceling other combat capabilities.

As a result, the project was entirely based on the vertical take-off and landing fighter that was so hyped at the time.

Interestingly, the VTOL fighter was never a project of the Navy.

Whether it is the Bran Kingdom, which developed the "Harrier" fighter, or the Xiluosha that manufactures the "Blacksmith" fighter, or even the Nuland Republic, which produces AV-8B under license, all procure and equip vertical take-off and landing fighters according to the mission needs of the Air Force, and also mainly equip the Air Force.

In terms of tactical thinking, VTOL fighters are actually a product of dealing with a global war.

To put it simply, in a global war, both offensive and defensive forces have to face a major problem, and the forward bases will certainly be attacked by the enemy, so the front-line air force may face the embarrassing situation of having no bases available or unable to deploy in the front after the start of the war.

Obviously, front-line aviation cannot be abandoned just because forward airfields will be hit.

In the tactical system, no combat forces are capable of replacing front-line aviation.

The only option, then, is to find ways to make front-line aviation less dependent on forward-facing airfields.

In this regard, there are two ways of development: one is to increase the combat radius of combat aircraft, and the other is to shorten the taxiing distance of combat aircraft during take-off and landing phases.

All along, the Imperial Air Force used the first approach.

The most typical is the "Battle-10".

In the tactical system of the Imperial Air Force, the "Zhan-10" is a typical front-line fighter, and its combat radius in the main mission state is more than 1,000 kilometers, and the later development type even reaches 1,500 kilometers, surpassing the heavy combat effectiveness of the Western Continent Group.

It's just that the Xilu Group is taking a different path.

To say, this is perfectly understandable.

Do not forget that, with the exception of a small number of heavy interceptors, the combat radius of the heavy fighters of the Western Continent Group is about 1000 kilometers.

In the final analysis, it is the technology of the aero engine that is not up to par, and in order to ensure the main tactical performance, the relatively insignificant range can only be sacrificed.

Why, then, to develop a front-line fighter with a larger combat radius?

It was in this context that the Bran Kingdom developed the Harrier fighter, while Siluosha, with the support of the Empire, developed the more extreme Blacksmith fighter. It's just that, strictly speaking, these two fighters are actually attack aircraft, and basically have no air combat capabilities.

If anything, this is the main reason why the Imperial Air Force has a shallow taste for VTOL fighters.

Although in order to obtain vertical take-off capability, vertical take-off and landing combat such as the "Harrier" with rotating nozzles has a very high thrust-to-weight ratio and is agile enough, but due to the limitation of take-off methods, vertical take-off and landing fighters cannot fly at supersonic speeds, and the combat radius is very short. For example, in the case of vertical take-off, the maximum combat radius of the "Harrier" type is less than 100 kilometers, and it is impossible to even defend the airfield.

What was the use of such a fighter for the Imperial Air Force, which pursued an offensive?

As a result, after the completion of theoretical research, the Imperial Air Force shelved the VTOL fighter and turned the relevant research and development work into theoretical research.

To put it simply, it is to focus on theoretical research and make reserves for future development.

Affected by this, the "small and medium-sized multipurpose aircraft carriers" of the Imperial Navy naturally did not end well.

The point is that the carrier-based aircraft prepared for "small and medium-sized multipurpose aircraft carriers" is the naval version of vertical take-off and landing fighters.

Although according to the requirements of the Navy, the performance indicators of VTOL fighters have been adjusted as necessary, such as basically abandoning the vertical take-off capability, only requiring the vertical landing capability, and using the jump deck to increase the take-off weight through short-distance taxiing, so as to extend the combat radius or increase the bomb load. Another example is that it is equipped with a high-performance fire control radar and an air-to-air missile with advanced performance to enhance its air supremacy combat capability.

Unfortunately, these measures do not solve the most critical problems.

With the technology of the time, especially the all-important engine technology, VTOL fighters could not break through the speed of sound in any case.

Only by obtaining a better engine can there be hope that the VTOL fighter will have sufficient maneuverability.

Obviously, the state of technology that could be achieved at that time was certainly not acceptable to the Imperial Navy.

Do not forget that among the carrier-based aircraft carried by "small and medium-sized multi-purpose aircraft carriers", the number one mission of fighters is to provide air defense maintenance for the fleet, mainly to deal with incoming enemy aircraft through rapid volleys. The fighter does not have the ability to volley, it is simply unimaginable.

Although after that, for other reasons, the Imperial Air Force restarted the VTOL fighter project, and the Imperial Navy participated in the development and produced results, until the outbreak of the Great War, the Imperial Air Force and the Imperial Navy did not purchase and equip VTOL fighters in large quantities.

It is for this reason that before the outbreak of the Great War, the Imperial Navy paid more attention to medium aircraft carriers carrying conventional take-off and landing fighters.

If I want to say anything, I am actually thinking about escort operations in wartime.

Although in World War II, the main target of escort operations was anti-submarine, and many carrier-based fighters at that time had anti-submarine warfare capabilities. The point is that submarines at that time had to surface frequently to recharge their batteries, making them vulnerable to attack. There is no need for a special anti-submarine patrol aircraft, and fighters can carry out anti-submarine combat missions in the open sea by attaching rockets. However, in the present, especially in the face of large attack submarines that can dive for thousands of kilometers, it is necessary to rely on specialized anti-submarine patrol aircraft.

As a result, there are higher requirements for escort aircraft carriers.

Before the outbreak of the Great War, the Imperial Navy also did special tests. Although the "cruiser-4B" can be lifted off through the jumping deck after making the necessary modifications, it needs to glide 190 meters, and it cannot reach the maximum take-off weight, and the efficiency of performing anti-submarine missions will definitely be affected.

Crucially, in escort operations, it is also necessary to consider threats from the air.

In fact, the importance of air defense was already evident during the Second Global War, but not enough attention was paid to it.

Do not forget that the escort aircraft carriers of that time carried more than enough fighters.

More importantly, the anti-ship weapons of that time, mainly unguided bombs and direct-sailing torpedoes, severely limited the anti-ship combat capabilities of heavy bombers.

Obviously, after the advent of anti-ship missiles, the threat from the air cannot be underestimated.

To this end, escort aircraft carriers must have the ability to carry and operate heavy fighters, and preferably use AWACS aircraft to enhance the efficiency of air defense operations.

To obtain these capabilities, it is necessary to have a high-power steam catapult.

As a result, there are high requirements for the tonnage of the aircraft carrier.

Although according to the research done by the Imperial Navy, catapults can be installed on small aircraft carriers of 30,000 tons, so that they can carry and operate carrier-based fighters, but in order to obtain complete combat capabilities, especially the sortie rate required to complete interception missions, it is necessary to increase the tonnage to more than 40,000 tons.

The point is that in order to carry enough carrier-based aircraft, at least 50,000 tons are needed!

Obviously, this volume is not much worse than a large aircraft carrier.

In addition, in order to obtain sufficiently powerful combat capabilities, a large number of new technologies will definitely be required, such as high-power steam catapults with shorter piston strokes.

Taking these factors into account, the cost of a medium-sized aircraft carrier with a displacement of about 50,000 tons will not be much lower than that of a large aircraft carrier of 80,000 tons, but there is a clear gap in combat capability.

It is precisely for this reason that the Imperial Navy insisted on building the "Xue Yuanzheng"-class supercarriers and mothballed a large number of retired aircraft carriers.

It's just that, compared to the huge needs in wartime, mothballed large aircraft carriers are definitely not enough.

According to the statistics made by the Imperial Navy, even if an escort fleet is formed according to the standards of the Second Global War, at least 30 escort aircraft carriers will be required.

Obviously, there is definitely more that is actually needed.

It was against this background that the Imperial Navy launched the development of an "alternative aircraft carrier" before the war, which is precisely the basic design of the early stage.

The most important feature of the "alternative aircraft carrier" is actually to reduce the construction price as much as possible.

Of course, it is not combat ability that is sacrificed, but survivability!

Strictly speaking, an "alternative aircraft carrier" is a medium-sized aircraft carrier built to the standards of merchant shipping.

Specifically, the full load displacement is about 50,000 tons, the length of the flight deck is between 280 meters and 290 meters, the maximum speed is less than 24 knots, it is equipped with two standard steam catapults, and the hangar can accommodate 24 carrier-based aircraft, and can carry up to 48 carrier-based aircraft.

Interestingly, after entering the construction phase, the Imperial Navy did not provide the shipyards with uniform design drawings.

The reason is also very simple, the design of the "alternative aircraft carrier" was not completed at all, and no one thought about the need to complete the design before the outbreak of the Great War.

As a result, when the decision was made to build, there were only a few concept drawings of the pre-proposals.

As a result, the Imperial Navy only presented performance indicators to the shipyards, and then let the shipbuilders build according to their own understanding. The first batch of six "alternative aircraft carriers" is divided into three types, and there are obvious differences, and they are often treated as three classes.

From a logistical point of view, this is nothing short of a disaster!

Although the main equipment and systems of the three designs are unified, such as the gas turbine and catapult, there are definitely differences in the assembly stage, and it is necessary to provide three sets of logistics support systems for these three types of aircraft carriers, which greatly increases the difficulty of maintenance and support.

However, no one can deny that the "alternative aircraft carrier" solves the urgent needs of the Imperial Navy.

The most prominent advantage of the three-pronged approach, as well as allowing shipyards to play freely, is that it greatly shortens the construction time of aircraft carriers.

The first batch of 6 "alternative aircraft carriers" did not take more than 1 year from the time the order was placed to the time it was completed and delivered!

In the third quarter of the 151st year of the new calendar, all six aircraft carriers joined the battle sequence of the Imperial Navy, and all of them were active in the Guia.

Six escort fleets, with "alternative aircraft carriers" as the core, have become the patron saints of the transport fleet.

In addition, by building the first batch, the workers of the shipyards were trained, and the Imperial Navy was given more options.

From the second batch, the "alternative aircraft carrier" adopted a unified design drawing, and it was one of the first three models.

To put it simply, the one with the best comprehensive cost performance.

Because it could meet the operational needs of the Imperial Navy, the second batch of "alternative aircraft carriers", the Imperial Navy issued an order for 12 ships at one time, and then increased to 24 ships. Although the construction plan was later adjusted and some additional requirements were added, and in the end only 20 ships were built, and the last 4 were cancelled, counting the first batch of 6 ships, a total of 26 "alternative aircraft carriers" became the main escort force of the Imperial Navy in the Great War, providing cover for hundreds of transport fleets and also making great contributions to the victory of the Great War.

Of course, more than 10 of them were still active after the war.

Although the first batch adopted the merchant marine standard, in the second batch, the Imperial Navy raised the requirements, mainly to enhance the combat capability in high sea conditions.

As a result, the usable life of the second batch is well over 15 years.

Because the technical standards were low and the combat capability was not very strong, after the war, the "alternative aircraft carriers" were disposed of as scrap. In addition to a few ships in poor condition that were directly dismantled, the other 10 or so ships were aided or sold to friendly countries.

Obviously, for other countries, the "alternative aircraft carrier" is a real medium-sized aircraft carrier.

Among these aircraft carriers, several took part in the local wars that followed, and they were still the absolute main force of the navy in which they were located.

Of course, for the Imperial Navy, all of this is an afterthought.

Even during the Great War, the Imperial Navy was not very satisfied with the "alternative aircraft carrier", after all, it was designed and built according to the requirements of escort operations.

Even when the second batch was built, the technical requirements were raised, and the combat use of the "alternative aircraft carriers" was severely limited. Especially in high sea conditions, it is often incapacitated due to poor seaworthiness performance, or it is not possible to achieve ideal conditions.

It was in this way that after the construction of the first "alternative aircraft carriers" began, the Imperial Navy set up a new stove.

To be precise, in fact, in the name of "alternative aircraft carriers", a medium aircraft carrier in the true sense of the word is built to enhance the tactical flexibility of fleet operations!

This is the "Enhanced Aircraft Carrier" program.