Aircraft carrier (Red Alert 2)



Aircraft Carriers are massive navals vessels, essentially floating airfields. Eschewing standard warship armaments in favour of automated aircraft, the aircraft they posess offer them vastly increased range and immense destructive power; though said aircraft are often easy prey for anti-aircraft fire.

Background
The largest naval vessel in service of the Allied Forces is the aircraft carrier. A fully fledged capital ship, it is the equivalent of the Soviet Dreadnought.

The ship carries a contingent of three Intruder VTOL attack jets armed with Hornet homing missiles and a specialized industrial plant capable of repairing, rearming and rebuilding the jets. Before launch, the jets are prepared on the launch pad in front of the ship and are deployed according to the orders of the commanding officer. The carrier has no offensive systems of its own and has to rely on supporting vessels to protect it while it is rearming. The Hornets aren't able to inflict as much damage the missiles fired by Dreadnoughts and Boomers, but unlike the latter two, it uses sentient jets to attack and therefore can actually attack moving targets with better precision. Also, unlike the Dreadnought, it can use its Intruders at close range allowing it to participate in direct naval confrontations. Being an attack jet, Intruder also give carrier longer striking range than Dreadnought and Boomer's Missile. However, Intruder require more time to deliver more warhead to the target, given time for refuel, rearm, launch, and return. Downed jet cannot be replaced as easily as missile. This give carrier severe disadvantage when losing its wing (as carrier can only replenish one fighter instead of all three fighter, as one wing). Intruder jet are count as unit (contrary to Dreadnought and Boomer's missile). This arrangement enables aircraft to gain promotions. However, downed jets are counted as a unit lost.

Though intimidating, the carrier was rather easily sunk by Typhoon Attack Submarines, Boomers, and Giant Squids, as they lacked anti submarine weaponry. They were also ironically vulnerable to aircraft as their VTOL jet (Intruder or Hornets) were built as bombers which prevented them from engaging any enemy aircraft. The Hornets could be easily downed by even the lightest of anti-air weaponry, as they had very weak armor. This was evidenced as Soviet commanders can down the Intruders of a carrier with Flak Troopers. However when large numbers of Aircraft Carriers attacked it was almost impossible to shoot down all of them. Massed anti-air is the only real response to such an attack.

In real world designation, this unit is clearly identified as anti surface escort carrier, as it is very limited in its role, easily assembled, and doesnt have much other option beside launching, retrieving, and replenishing its aircraft. Other reason for its designation is that only one aircraft type assigned to the carrier.

Game Unit
The carrier itself does not gain veterancy, but the Hornets do.