DCS Reference: Ships, Western

Many carrier aircraft have somewhat contradictory definitions, or definitions of unclear value, as far as their carrying capacity. They may list only having 4 parking spots and a max number of aircraft or helicopters, in one sense, but then have coordinates set for over a dozen different parking spots on the deck. The blocks below distinguish between these two by calling them “nominal” and “defined” limits, where the nominal parking limit at most seems to correlate to how many different aircraft can be designated as “start on runway” in the mission editor.

The defensive arcs show the areas around the ship where specific defensive systems have full range of movement. This does not mean that areas that are not covered are safe — rather that the ship systems will be limited in their effectiveness because ship decks, conning towers, or bridges are in the way. However, given enough elevation, they can usually shoot over such obstructions, and only low-altitude skimming creates the coverage gaps demonstrated. In addition, depending on the guidance system of the weapon, they may be lofted above obstacles if the target is far enough away, which means that the “safe zone” only exists at low altitude and at close range.

Up to four range layers are shown in the arc sketches: close-range protection (from CIWS and simular systems); short-range protection, usually from IR-guided missiles; medium-range protection, usually from less advanced radar missiles; and long-range protection.

Ships

Arleigh Burke-class Destroyer

DDG-112 Michael Murphy USS Arleigh Burke IIa (Supercarrier)

Nimitz-class Carrier

Nimitz subclass

CVN-70 Carl Vinson

Mission Editor Unit	Function	Stores		Range / Symbol
CVN-70 Carl Vinson	Carrier	3× 8× RIM-7 Sea Sparrow 4× 1550× 20mm Phalanx		Detection: 0–16.2nm / 0–30km Detection alt.: 0–87,200ft / 0–26,600m Engagement: 0–8.1nm / 0–15km Engagement alt.: 0–45,300ft / 0–13,800m
Hit points	7,300	Max speed	15.4m/s (29.9kts, 55.5km/h)	Defensive arcs
Sensor limits	Surface radar: 360° horizontal × -5°–+10° vertical; 12s scan time. SS lock-on: 21.1nm / 39km. Notch: <15m/s (29kts, 54km/h) vrad. AA Radar: 360° horizontal × -15°–+60° vertical; 1s scan. AA lock-on: 13.8nm / 25.5km. Notch: <10m/s (19kts, 36km/h) vrad. No target size limit is defined that would affect its ability to engage incoming air weapons.
Carrying capacity	13 defined aircraft parking spots. 5 defined helicopter parking spots 2+2 catapults (1+1 can be used safely in parallel). 4 nominal spawn points. 72 aircraft + 6 helicopter nominal capacity.
Notes
Acts as a warehouse to deliver stores to other units and to landed aircraft. Per the internal definitions, it cannot re-arm its own weapon stores once depleted.
Available to

Theodore Roosevelt sub-class (Basic)

CVN-74 John C. Stennis

Mission Editor Unit	Function	Stores		Range / Symbol
CVN-74 John C. Stennis	Carrier	2× 8× RIM-7 Sea Sparrow 3× 1550× 20mm Phalanx		Detection: 0–16.2nm / 0–30km Detection alt.: 0–87,200ft / 0–26,600m Engagement: 0.2–8.1nm / 0.4–15km Engagement alt.: 15–49,200ft / 5–15,000m
Hit points	7,300	Max speed	15.4m/s (29.9kts, 55.4km/h)	Defensive arcs
Sensor limits	Surface radar: 360° horizontal × -5°–+10° vertical; 12s scan time. SS lock-on: 21.1nm / 39km. Notch: <15m/s (29kts, 54km/h) vrad. AA radar: 360° horizontal × -15°–+60° vertical; 1s scan. AA radar lock-on: 13.8nm / 25.5km. Notch: <10m/s (19kts, 36km/h) vrad. Mk95 trackers can engage 4 targets at a time; lock-on time 2.5s. Size limit: 0.1m².
Carrying capacity	19 defined aircraft parking spots. 8 defined helicopter parking spots 2+2 catapults (1+1 can be used safely in parallel). 4 nominal spawn points. 72 aircraft + 6 helicopter nominal capacity.
Notes
Acts as a warehouse to deliver stores to other units and to landed aircraft. Per the internal definitions, it cannot re-arm its own weapon stores once depleted. The engagement limits only apply to the Mk95 trackers used to guide RIM-7 Sea Sparrows.
Available to

Theodore Roosevelt sub-class (Supercarrier)

CVN-71 Theodore Roosevelt CVN-71 Theodore Roosevelt (supercarrier)

CVN-72 Abraham Lincoln CVN-72 Abraham Lincoln (supercarrier)

CVN-73 George Washington CVN-73 George Washington (supercarrier)

CVN-75 Harry S. Truman CVN-75 Harry S. Truman (supercarrier)

Oliver Hazard Perry-class Frigate

FFG-46 Rentz

Mission Editor Unit	Function	Stores		Range / Symbol
Oliver Hazard Perry class	Guided-missile frigate	1× 24× RIM-66 Standard Missile 2 1× 1550× 20mm Phalanx 4× 100× 12.7mm M2 2× 230× 25mm Bushmaster 1× 180× 76mm Mk75 1× 16× RGM-84 Harpoon		Detection: 0–80.1nm / 0–150km Detection alt.: 0–343,500ft / 0–104,700m Engagement: 0–54.0nm / 0–100km Engagement alt.: 0–229,000ft / 0–69,800m
Hit points	2,300	Max speed	14.9m/s (29.0kts, 53.6km/h)	Defensive arcs
Sensor limits	Surface radar: 360° horizontal × -5°–+10° vertical; 12s scan time. SS lock-on: 18.2nm / 33.6km. Notch: <15m/s (29kts, 54km/h) vrad. AA radar: 360° horizontal × -15°–+60° vertical. AA lock-on: 119.3nm / 221km. Notch: <15m/s (29kts, 54km/h) vrad. Mk92 tracker can engage 1 targets at a time; lock-on time 10s. No target size limit is defined that would affect its ability to engage incoming air weapons.
Carrying capacity	1 defined helicopter parking spots 2 helicopter nominal capacity.
Notes
Acts as a warehouse to deliver stores to other units and to landed aircraft. Per the internal definitions, it cannot re-arm its own weapon stores once depleted. The Mk13 launch rail has a nominal readying time of 12s between missiles, but this is almost always swallowed up by the locking time and guidance of previous missiles, unless the enemy target is at very close range (in which case missiles are often not used at all). Is internally defined to allow attacks against targets up to 65.8nm / 120km away, presumably to allow for Harpoon targeting.
Available to

Tarawa-class Amphibious Assault Ship

LHA-1 Tarawa KHA-1 Tarawa

Ticonderoga-class Cruiser

CG-65 Chosin

Mission Editor Unit	Function	Stores		Range / Symbol
Ticonderoga class	Guided-missile cruiser	2× 45× RIM-66 Standard Missile 2 2× 1550× 20mm Phalanx 3× 100× 12.7mm M2 2× 230× 25mm Bushmaster 2× 180× 127mm Mk45 2× 4× RGM-84 Harpoon 2× 16× BGM-109 Tomahawk		Detection: 0–80.1nm / 0–150km Detection alt.: 0–343,500ft / 0–104,700m Engagement: 0–54.0nm / 0–100km Engagement alt.: 16.5–98,400ft / 5–30,000m
Hit points	2,700	Max speed	15.4m/s (29.9kts, 55.4km/h)	Defensive arcs
Sensor limits	Surface radar: 360° horizontal × -5°–+10° vertical; 12s scan time. SS lock-on: 18.9nm / 35km. Notch: <15m/s (29kts, 54km/h) vrad. AA radar: 360° horizontal × -15°–+60° vertical. AA lock-on: 119.3nm / 221km. Notch: <15m/s (29kts, 54km/h) vrad. AEGIS trackers can guide 2 missiles per target at 9 targets at a time; lock-on time 2s. Target size limit: 0.1m².
Carrying capacity	1 defined helicopter parking spots 2 helicopter nominal capacity.
Notes
Acts as a warehouse to deliver stores to other units and to landed aircraft. Per the internal definitions, it cannot re-arm its own weapon stores once depleted. Is internally defined to allow attacks against targets up to 243nm / 450km away, presumably to allow for Harpoon and Tomahawk targeting.
Available to