Cold Warriors: The Essex Class in the Cold War

That's an interesting point - the question is what's the maximum size carrier that the Netherlands can operate? Are they better operating a V/STOL or Sea Control Ship - my instinct is that would be a better fit - otherwise something similar to the Tarawa class? That way they can operate fixed wing aircraft and be used as a platform for your Marines.

Had made a list of the Royal Netherlands Navy on Page 5 of the thread based on the 1957 figure, have updated it to fit the 1958 figure, so this list below is what they have:

Aircraft carrier

Colossus-class aircraft carrier

HNLMS Karel Doorman

Cruisers

De Zeven Provinciën-class cruiser

HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën

HNLMS De Ruyter

Destroyer

Friesland-class destroyer

HNLMS Friesland

HNLMS Groningen

HNLMS Limburg

HNLMS Overijssel

HNLMS Drenthe 

HNLMS Utrecht

HNLMS Rotterdam

HNLMS Amsterdam

Holland-class destroyer

HNLMS Holland

HNLMS Zeeland

HNLMS Noord-Brabant

HNLMS Gelderland

S-class destroyer

HNLMS Evertsen, acquired from the British in 1946.

HNLMS Kortenaer, acquired from the British in 1945, converted to a fast frigate in 1957.

HNLMS Piet Hein, acquired from the British in 1945, converted to a fast frigate in 1957.

Frigate

Roofdier-class frigate

HNLMS Wolf

HNLMS Fret

HNLMS Hermelijn

HNLMS Vos

HNLMS Panter

HNLMS Jaguar

Van Amstel-class frigate

Cannon-class destroyer escort built for the US Navy during World War II.

HNLMS Van Amstel

HNLMS De Bitter

HNLMS Van Ewijck

HNLMS Dubois

HNLMS De Zeeuw

HNLMS Van Zijll.

Corvettes

Bathurst-class corvettes

HNLMS Boeroe

HNLMS Batjan

HNLMS Ceram

Submarines

Balao-class submarine (Walrus-class submarine)

HNLMS Walrus

HNLMS Zeeleeuw

British T-class submarine (Zwaardvisch-class submarine)

HNLMS Zwaardvisch

HNLMS Tijgerhaai

October 4, 1958
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia

A preliminary specification for a new aircraft carrier is submitted for review to Sir Phillip McBride. The specification calls for a carrier of between forty and sixty thousand tons at full load, a length of no less than 850 feet with a maximum length of 970 feet and a beam no greater than 147 feet so as to fit within the Captain Cook Graving Dock on Garden Island. Two steam catapults capable of launching an aircraft weighing 40,000 pounds at a minimum speed of 130 knots or an aircraft weighing 70,000 pounds at 100 knots were to be fitted. Arresting gear and deck strong enough to recover aircraft weighting at least 50,000 pounds at landing would be required along with command and control facilities sufficient to command a fleet from. And finally, the ability to carry at least forty tactical aircraft of the latest type along with support aircraft such as Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft and helicopters would be needed. This would give them a carrier large enough for a powerful airwing today and future proof enough for tomorrow.

Sir Phillip read over the specifications and chuckled to himself. The Navy was making their intentions very clear with this paper. They wanted either a new build, custom designed carrier or a second hand Essex class. Flipping to the page listing the desired radar and radio fit, he was surprised to see that American equipment was listed as the preferred choice over British supplied equipment. This would mark a significant shift in Australian defense policy and acquisitions. For decades, British ships, aircraft and equipment had been preferred. But with the latest preference for American aircraft, he supposed that it only made sense to prefer compatible radars and radios as well.

Making a series of notes, he sent a memo back to the Navy asking for their minimum required needs. He knew without even having to ask that Parliament would never approve the costs to design and build a one-off carrier. And the American supercarriers were far more ship, and far more expense, than Australia needed. Perhaps if the British were designing and building a new class of carrier he could swing buying a new ship. Particularly if he could get the ship built in Australia. But they weren't. So it would be an American ship. And likely one of their Essex class ships unless the Americans were willing to eat the cost to downsize one of their existing designs to fit Australian needs. He somehow rather doubted that they would be.

The issue of nuclear weapons is one that dogged Australia during the 1950s and 1960s with the recent near death experience along the Kokoda track. With that in mind I think ITTL Australia will become a nuclear power, considering the threat posed by the Indonesians.

The Vigilante would have been a good choice and may have extended her service life with the USN with another operator using her in service. Would it be possible to use them from an ESSEX class as well?

Also I'm glad the RAN decided to go big or go home, although if the 1954 Brit carriers were built I could see us operating a third ship of the class or if those fell through some wag proposes ESSEX to the Brits & we get an Audacious class carrier.

Anyway, glad to see this is back.

Would this be like OTL end up being the RA-5C which looking at it is a Reconnaissance aircraft.

Only the bomber version they will biy ore will they also plan to buy some reconnaissance version of the North American A3J-1 bomber.

November 2, 1958
Brooklyn, NY, USA

The former Leyte enters drydock at the New York Naval Shipyard to begin her overhaul in preparation for her transfer to Argentina. She is scheduled to be brought up to the same SCB-27C/125A configuration as Oriskany and Lake Champlain. Additionally, the powerplant is to be overhauled and new, automated control hardware is to be installed to reduce manning requirements for the smaller Argentine Navy. The overhaul is planned to take between twenty-eight and thirty-two months.