OrionNeiss

[quote name='HHAYD' date='23 May 2010 - 01:31 PM' timestamp='1274639470' post='2309252'] Well, couldn't I design fighter bomber jets to have fold-able wings, tail wings, and landing gears that can be lowered greatly to save space? As for the runway, I could have it extended much longer, enough for an aircraft to take off or land, and push the section where the aircraft are loaded up in and launched from toward the back. To make the submarine balanced instead of rear heavy, I could have more of the heavier cargo, missile launchers, and cannons located on the front side. I can design the aircraft carrier submarines to only launch aircraft that has VTOL capability and helicopters, which would would eliminate the need for a long take-off/landing path. [/quote] Either way, you still have a massive problem, which is logistics. A modern nuclear submarine can travel all over the world and stay submerged for I believe it's up to three months, before it has to be resupplied with things like food, possibly ammunition, personal items (toiletries and such), oxygen scrubber parts, spare parts period, assisting with any repairs, I think you get the point. A submarine, though they can stay submerged for a long time, are very prone to spartan living conditions and less comfort and morale of the crew the longer that the submarine has been submerged. But just imagine adding aircraft to the mix! All that crew, parts, munitions, fuel, repair facilities, hangers, would make your submarine impossibly huge. There's a point where even the most modern stealth technologies cannot help enough for it to avoid detection in enemy waters. Even with purely VTOL aircraft and helicopters, the space you can save by not needing runways it taken away by the massive space needed for all that fuel to make the submarine worthwhile in an extended war. VTOL aircraft and helicopters are plain old fuel hogs. They guzzle fuel like it's nothing and always need more. On top of that, why would you even logically need aircraft-launching submarines? You have carriers that hold multi- role fighter/bombers with enough range to be over the horizon from an enemy country (Most of the airstrikes in the Afghan war originated from the fleet in I believe the Persian Gulf). On top of that your longest range and heaviest hitting bombers are based back home, their range is massive because that's what they were made to do. It's just interesting to me though, that idea. I can kind of see an allure to it