RAR - SDNet gets an aircraft carrier!

[Borgholio]

As a reward for going along with his other RAR challenges, Q snaps his fingers and provides the SD.net crew with a fully functional Gerald R Ford class Aircraft Carrier and unlimited funds for it's upkeep.

The carrier comes fully loaded with a complete air wing, trained mercenary crew / aircrew / marines. We have unlimited funds that we can use for whatever we wish, provided that it is related to the carrier...maintenance, repairs, upgrades to military hardware, paying the crew, etc...

We are allowed to purchase escort ships with the same guidelines as the carrier itself, but we are limited to what is reasonably expected to be found in a carrier battle group. No SSBNs, for example.

So, we have a carrier and unlimited funds to use on it. What do we do with it?

[Jub]

Are we able to use these unlimited funds to fund research new technologies that could lead to upgrades to our air wing? Such as researching SSTO rocket planes or advance materials technology?

[Borgholio]

The funds can be used for upgrades, so putting R&D money for new tech upgrades that don't yet exist should count, so long as it is primarily for the carrier. No "design something for the carrier with the ulterior motive of patenting it and selling it to someone" sneakiness.

Edit - Now that I think about it, we'd have a ton of factories and research labs that might be sitting idle once they've been used to produce the latest round of upgrades for the ship. We would be allowed to continue to use those resources to produce material for sale, but as long as the ship has been fully upgraded first. So anything we do must have a substantial benefit for the ship first before we try to do anything else with it.

[Jub]

The carrier is nothing next to the unlimited funding we have access to, so the real question is how to we best jump through the hoops to allow this money to do the most good. How far away from things that are immediately related to the carrier can we spend our budget? Could we invest in opening hundreds of new shipyards and placing orders for hundreds of new ships per year to form our carrier group? Are we able to sell any decommissioned ships and use that money to fund other projects?

[Borgholio]

We are only allowed to produce enough ships to fill out a standard battle group. Any shipyards we build must be used for that purpose. A hundred shipyards is overkill, we cannot reasonably be expected to use that much production capacity. We can sell decommissioned ships if more advanced ones are produced.

We are allowed to make money as a secondary benefit, but the point of the RAR is to discuss what we would use the carrier for...not how can we leverage it for profit. Although I do like your thinking.

[Mr. Coffee]

The People's Republic of Fuck Yeah Task Force Cunt Puncher is what happens, Borgholio.

[Jub]

Okay, then I set the age limit for ships in our carrier group to be the same as the time to build a new ship and keep the shipyards we built in a constant state of work. I also dump R&D funding into making sure that our ships are the best in the world by a ridiculous margin. A single carrier can't do anything interesting, but the science we'd be doing and the jobs we'd be creating would be most interesting indeed.

[Forgothrax]

We give up the ship or have it blown to bits under us. The US would pitch an absolute fit at the thought of a bunch of random people suddenly gaining access to its most modern supercarrier and potentially a full wing of F-35s. Even if the US doesn't pitch a fit, we'd be the target of the Chinese, Russians, and Indians at a minimum, trying to get access to the technology. Expect them to either mobilize much of their navy to threaten to destroy the vessel, or to attempt to kidnap our families and hold them for ransom. In addition, unless Q gives us the specifications for building the factory equipment necessary to build spares for our gear, having the actual tech specs for the gear is going to be of limited use; we'll need to reverse-engineer a lot of the specialized equipment to, say, build spares for the airwing. And chances are that we'll need to base somewhere that's not friendly to most nations, like Somalia, or we'll have NATO/Chinese/Russians/Indians either interfering directly with us, or pressuring our "host nation" to put pressure on us in turn. And that, in turn, is going to be an absolute BITCH to build from the ground up... we'd have to get the spare parts factories for the aircraft up and running in 2-3 years, or ground most of our airwing, and get a full shipyard up in 5-10 so we can service the carrier adequately.

That said, even if Q does protect us from various nations, what precisely are we going to do with a full carrier battlegroup? At most, that's one CVN, two CGs, three DDGs, and a pair of attack subs. And for ground forces, what, maybe a battalion of light infantry at most? That's enough to do some damage to an opposing fleet, but not enough to win any serious engagements unless we attacked a small nation... most of which NATO, the Russians, the Indians, or the Chinese would send units to defend. Basically, we have a yacht that also happens to be a supercarrier. Soooo... what are we doing, again?

[RogueIce]

Given that around 500 or so people (which is being highly conservative, I will grant, even discounting the No Post Wonders, spambots and banned members) have just been placed in equal command of this ship, I highly doubt we will even be able to settle on choosing a name much less actual plans and mission orders. Unless the mercenary crew is obliged to listen to any orders given without regard for consensus, in which case it'll be a gigantic clusterfuck and the ship and crew will be utterly paralyzed by hundreds of conflicting and mutually exclusive orders.

In the meantime, since it's just one carrier with no escorts and nothing even resembling an actual plan of operations or working chain of command, the US Navy will be along presently to tell us, "Hand it over or else." Since there will probably be at least a few of us willing to do that - I will at least, just to fuck with you all, so there - they'll have a pretty easy time of simply appropriating the ship with Marines because some assholes (like me) will keep ordering the crew not to defend themselves and so they'll sit there indecisively as Marines take them into custody and a crew of officers and sailors come aboard, hoist a US flag and the USN gets a free carrier.

Failing that they'll just sink the damn thing via their own carriers, ships, submarines and probably the US Air Force for good measure. Because again, our trained crew will be so paralyzed by the utter chaos that is their chain of command they won't be able to effectively defend the ship. And it is only one ship because we don't get Magic Escorts (and no pulling a Zor to change the scenario mid-thread) and I doubt it'll take long for them to figure out we've suddenly warped in a CVN. Again, because some assholes (like me) will alert the USN, post videos to Instagram, etc.

IOW, to steal a page from TV Tropes: Reality Ensues.

I see Forgothrax managed to ninja me on the "USA/whoever attacks us" point. But yeah. A bunch of Internet strangers who, even amongst the active members can't agree on shit placed in command of a carrier? Not to mention the random nobodies who hardly ever post here and will feel little to no loyalty to anyone else? Clusterfuck doesn't even begin to describe it. We'll probably crash into a shoreline somewhere just maintaining a straight cruising speed because everybody will be too busy arguing to bother ordering the crew to change course and avoid running ourselves aground.

[Gerald Tarrant]

Get a couple of LPD's , replace their cargo of tanks and guns with MRE's, medical supplies, and construction supplies, (keep the landing craft), also you can probably forgo most of the crew quarters as you don't actually plan on assaulting stuff, your crew will mostly just be relief workers and hard hats. Get a couple of fleet oilers as well. That's it that's your new carrier battle group, don't bother with an air wing, just get a bunch of carrier capable cargo prop planes, and mostly helicopters, also switch out all the mercenaries for more aid workers and engineers of various sorts. Refit your cargo areas, no more bombs and missiles, put in an nuclear reactor to run the extra desalination plant you're going to add. Finally rechristen your Carrier the UNSS "Your Tax Dollars at Work". Sail around the Pacific to islands or coastal nations with low infrastructure to people ratios and build useful things like Hospitals and Sewer systems and infrastructure, while you wait for a disaster. Then full speed ahead to the disaster where you can be a bonus source of potable water, food, and electricity. Rinse and repeat, score many points for transnational progressivism.

[edit your not you're]

[Forgothrax]

Pretty much what Rogue said. At best (assuming the ship was steaming off the coast) we get a couple million tax-free spread over most of us to induce us to bring the ship in without a fuss.

The only way this scenario works is if A) Q gives us immunity to superpowers (so unless we raise a ruckus or attack them, they ignore us) and B) if Q sets up a chain of command. Otherwise, the ship is taken from us, and even if it's not taken from us, we can't do anything useful with it because raising consensus among several hundred people simply won't work. Maybe if it was just the "old guard" of SDN, the mods and members who've been here for several years it would work. Otherwise, no.

I, for one, even if conditions A&B are met by Q, will happily give up any "stake" in the ship. Assuming that we get rank and assignments based on real life work and experience, and the pay that goes with them, I'd be an O-2. Put me ashore on detached duty, pay me the $3300 a month, and I'll happily ignore your shenanigans.

[Borgholio]

A few of you have raised good points about the lack of a chain of command. Not "Pulling a Zor" here, but let's say that instead of the carrier belonging to the entire SD.net...what if it belonged to you, personally, as sole owner of the ship? All the same conditions apply.

Regarding other nations wanting to hunt the carrier down, what about simply declaring yourself a sovereign nation and signing a treaty with the major powers under UN oversight?

[Jawawithagun]

Well, then I guess David Cameron gets a new carrier very cheaply to do with what he wants.

I don't want a carrier. I don't want to be my own nation. I just want a new car.

[Jub]

Does that mean we suddenly see news reports about how hundreds of new aircraft carriers poofed into existence out of nowhere? Or is this one of those scenarios where you and only you get an aircraft carrier?

[Forgothrax]

A few of you have raised good points about the lack of a chain of command. Not "Pulling a Zor" here, but let's say that instead of the carrier belonging to the entire SD.net...what if it belonged to you, personally, as sole owner of the ship? All the same conditions apply.

Regarding other nations wanting to hunt the carrier down, what about simply declaring yourself a sovereign nation and signing a treaty with the major powers under UN oversight?

It won't matter. The thought of a supercarrier belonging to a unknown who cannot be predicted will give most admirals aneurysms and then they'll pass that on to the politicians. Any treaty you try to sign will get stonewalled by one of the members of the Security Council, because nobody has a good reason to let you keep that kind of military hardware. Even if you got the treaty signed, that won't stop government agents from holding your loved ones for ransom to take the ship. And, honestly, the power of such a warship is such that no sane government will let one of its citizens own it free and clear. Not with the fully trained crew and supply access you'd have. And no, a single CVN is not enough to protect you unless you're willing to bring everyone you love aboard and pray that the USN doesn't decide to detach a few submarines to quietly deal with you.

I'd tell my communications specialist to put me through to the nearest USN vessel, tell them I suddenly acquired a supercarrier, and ask if the President and Joint Chiefs would like to buy one slightly used Gerald Ford. Even at $1 billion, that's 10% of the cost of building one from scratch, let alone the air wing and supplies, which probably add up to equal the cost of the carrier more right there.

[InsaneTD]

I'd probably sell it to the highest bidder or do something close to thisj

Get a couple of LPD's , replace their cargo of tanks and guns with MRE's, medical supplies, and construction supplies, (keep the landing craft), also you can probably forgo most of the crew quarters as you don't actually plan on assaulting stuff, your crew will mostly just be relief workers and hard hats. Get a couple of fleet oilers as well. That's it that's your new carrier battle group, don't bother with an air wing, just get a bunch of carrier capable cargo prop planes, and mostly helicopters, also switch out all the mercenaries for more aid workers and engineers of various sorts. Refit your cargo areas, no more bombs and missiles, put in an nuclear reactor to run the extra desalination plant you're going to add. Finally rechristen your Carrier the UNSS "Your Tax Dollars at Work". Sail around the Pacific to islands or coastal nations with low infrastructure to people ratios and build useful things like Hospitals and Sewer systems and infrastructure, while you wait for a disaster. Then full speed ahead to the disaster where you can be a bonus source of potable water, food, and electricity. Rinse and repeat, score many points for transnational progressivism.

[edit your not you're]

I'd keep about a quarter of the military assets and personal for security of my aid workers.

[Irbis]

A few of you have raised good points about the lack of a chain of command. Not "Pulling a Zor" here, but let's say that instead of the carrier belonging to the entire SD.net...what if it belonged to you, personally, as sole owner of the ship? All the same conditions apply.

Try to sell it to EU, collectively or a single nation in there? And then probably promptly be locked in prison first time I set my foot on the ground as I don't see it being lasting agreement.

Fuck it, probably only Russia would be strong enough to protect the carrier, advanced enough to have use for it and capable of maintaining it, rich enough to find the billion on short notice, capable of deciding it on Putin's word alone and... yeah, the locking up in prison part seems ten times as likely as in EU in Rodinu. Though, they do keep Snowden free, so maybe.

Anyway, even if someone would pay you the billion, unless the agreement is absolutely hush hush, you'd need personal security for the rest of your life.

Regarding other nations wanting to hunt the carrier down, what about simply declaring yourself a sovereign nation and signing a treaty with the major powers under UN oversight?

Yeah, like any of them would agree to that.

[krakonfour]

I'd probably sell it to the highest bidder or do something close to thisj

Get a couple of LPD's , replace their cargo of tanks and guns with MRE's, medical supplies, and construction supplies, (keep the landing craft), also you can probably forgo most of the crew quarters as you don't actually plan on assaulting stuff, your crew will mostly just be relief workers and hard hats. Get a couple of fleet oilers as well. That's it that's your new carrier battle group, don't bother with an air wing, just get a bunch of carrier capable cargo prop planes, and mostly helicopters, also switch out all the mercenaries for more aid workers and engineers of various sorts. Refit your cargo areas, no more bombs and missiles, put in an nuclear reactor to run the extra desalination plant you're going to add. Finally rechristen your Carrier the UNSS "Your Tax Dollars at Work". Sail around the Pacific to islands or coastal nations with low infrastructure to people ratios and build useful things like Hospitals and Sewer systems and infrastructure, while you wait for a disaster. Then full speed ahead to the disaster where you can be a bonus source of potable water, food, and electricity. Rinse and repeat, score many points for transnational progressivism.

[edit your not you're]

I'd keep about a quarter of the military assets and personal for security of my aid workers.

In essence, you dump the munitions overboard and no-one bothers you any more than people bother a multimillion dollar yatch?
One question:
Is this carrier group resupplied magically? Because if it is, resource scarcity if over.

[Borgholio]

Is this carrier group resupplied magically? Because if it is, resource scarcity if over.

No, everything still needs to be purchased, but the money Q gives you can be used either outright buy supplies or build facilities to produce them yourself.

[Irbis]

In essence, you dump the munitions overboard and no-one bothers you any more than people bother a multimillion dollar yatch?

Except, internal layout of US carriers is IIRC state secret and USA would order you to hand it over if only for that reason. Not to mention, of, only several hundred kilograms of pure plutonium on board?

[InsaneTD]

What if it wasn't owned by an individual or another nation, but as an asset of a company? It's already got mercenaries for crew, and you need to do something with it so why not a private military company that also does a lot of humanitarian work?

Biggest problem is home port. You need somewhere with very specialized facilities. And it needs to be a deep water port to boot. There are only a handle of places around the world that could be.

[Borgholio]

It actually might make more sense to register the ship and it's fleet as the security arm of an international shipping company. Perhaps if the ship didn't have the latest military hardware it would be considered less of a threat. This RAR is based on the (failed) Ebay auction of the HMS Vengeance back in 2001. That was a ship built in WW2 but upgraded a few times over the years. If we had an older ship like that instead of a spanking-new CVN, I wonder if the world's governments would be more accepting of that.

[The Vortex Empire]

Yeah, the only sane thing to do is to attempt to sell it to the USA and split the profits between us. There's no scenario in which we keep this thing.

[Starglider]

The People's Republic of Fuck Yeah Task Force Cunt Puncher is what happens, Borgholio.

He means we did this RAR in more style a few years back as 'SDN Fleet'; Coffee, Shroom and some guys had a lot of fun with it, search the archives if interested.

[CaptainChewbacca]

The People's Republic of Fuck Yeah Task Force Cunt Puncher is what happens, Borgholio.

He means we did this RAR in more style a few years back as 'SDN Fleet'; Coffee, Shroom and some guys had a lot of fun with it, search the archives if interested.

It was a whole lot of fun, as I recall.