VSTOL Support Ship
Encyclopedia
The VSTOL Support Ship was a proposed light aircraft carrier
design for the United States Navy
in the late 1970s that would be smaller and less expensive than the Navy's existing aircraft carriers such as the . The design would cost one-quarter as much, although the V/STOL
aircraft it would carry would have reduced performance. The United States Senate
and others supported the design, but it was ultimately rejected by the Navy.
Light aircraft carrier
A light aircraft carrier is an aircraft carrier that is smaller than the standard carriers of a navy. The precise definition of the type varies by country; light carriers typically have a complement of aircraft only ½ to ⅔ the size of a full-sized or "fleet" carrier.-History:In World War II, the...
design for the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
in the late 1970s that would be smaller and less expensive than the Navy's existing aircraft carriers such as the . The design would cost one-quarter as much, although the V/STOL
V/STOL
Vertical and/or short take-off and landing is a term used to describe aircraft that are able to take-off or land vertically or on short runways. Vertical takeoff and landing describes craft which do not require runways at all...
aircraft it would carry would have reduced performance. The United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
and others supported the design, but it was ultimately rejected by the Navy.