[FreedomProtector]

VTOL may make large scale aircraft carrier obsolete

There is less risk to a bunch of smaller targets/ships....a Nimitz class aircraft carrier is a great big target and consumes an entire battle group to try to protect it.

[GonzoGOP]

VTOL may make large scale aircraft carrier obsolete

Not exactly. Go take a look at the range/payload of the F-35B (STOVL) vs the F-35C (Carrier). The price of that big honking lift fan for vertical landing is that you have to give up a quarter of your fuel load and 5 tons of ordinance. The F-35B isn't going to be doing any long range strike missions with only a 450 nmi combat radius. Great for a defensive fighter, but most of the work carriers have done since 1945 has been long range strike.

In addition there is the old maxim that quantity has a quality all its own. A Nimitz class has an air wing of 85-90 aircraft. A Wasp class in sea control mode carries a complement of only 20. So you need to buy four Wasp's to get as many planes into combat as one Nimitz.

Finally you mention escorts. Well Wasp, at 45,000 tos is a capital ship. She isn't going anyplace without escorts. So you don't get savings there.

The advantage of STOVL is that it lets you use the Wasp class flexibly depending on the needs. They can be a light carrier, or a marine assault transport. They can provide the defensive fighter cover for a marine task force hence freeing up the big decks for the strike mission. They complement rather than replace the big deck carriers.

[Jeff Head]

The STOVL aircraft like the F-35B and the V-22 Osprey, particularly when they and deploy develop the AEW and ASW variants of the Opsrey, will make our LHA and LHD vessels effective sea control carriers themselves, able to escort PhibRons and other Task Forces, while freeing up the large fast attack carriers for more important power projection duties in higher threat areas.

I doubt seriously, at least within the next fifty years that the large carriers will be rendered obsolete, patricularly as the new Ford Class Carriers come online with their new, 200% more powerful reactors enabling EMALS, Laser CIWS, and even rail gun technology to be employed.

[Blood of Tyrants]

You forget that VTOL is much more limited in payload than a catapult launched aircraft.