Carrier Strike Force

the task force in the American, British, and French navies, with the nucleus composed of assault carriers.

The missions of the carrier strike force are to hit land objectives using airpower, to destroy enemy vessels at sea and at bases, to eliminate aircraft at airfields and in the air, and to provide air support for ground forces. It also supports amphibious landings and defends the sea lines of communication.

The carrier strike force may include two to four assault carriers, two to four cruisers, and 12 to 24 frigates and destroyers with missiles and conventional weapons. For strengthening the antisubmarine defenses, the carrier strike force may include a carrier antisub assault group—an antisub assault carrier and six to eight destroyers. The carrier strike force can operate both as a single combat formation and as separate carrier assault groups in different sectors of operations. Two or more carrier strike forces can be combined into a strike fleet.

The imperialist powers, mainly the USA, make wide use of these forces in the local aggressive wars they wage, and they keep them ready as one of the possible means for unleashing a nuclear world war.

V. N. SOLOV’EV