Let’s talk about a few other points of comparison. How Fast Are Russia, China, Brazil Aircraft Carriers Ford – namely, that “in excess of 30 knots” is a way of giving an impressive-sounding estimate without giving exact details of current top speed capabilities. That may ultimately tell us more about the HMS Queen Elizabeth and USS Gerald R. The USS Wisconsin was reported to have a top sustained speed of 30 knots and could reach 33 knots.Ĭhances are an aircraft carrier from World War II (or, if we’re to assign those speeds to its last military engagement, service during Operation Desert Storm) isn’t going to outpace the Royal Navy’s top ship today and push the US Navy’s big gun out there, either. With six battle stars to her name, she was a great ship. It was decommissioned and modernized several times before finally being taken out of active service for good in 1991. The USS Wisconsin was an aircraft carrier that operated during World War II, engaging in the Pacific Theater. Right off the bat we see why trying to “clock” the speed of an aircraft carrier is a difficult endeavor. Ford, HMS Queen Elizabeth, and USS Enterprise already accounted for, let’s take a look at the speed and history of some of the other top aircraft carriers out there. It wouldn’t make sense for its “in excess” speed of 30 knots (albeit with a top speed of 35 knots) to trail or be comparable to a craft which was retired two years ago. How Many Planes Does an Aircraft Carrier Hold? (Countries Compared).

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