“Combat Damage”
January 2nd, 2009 From
>From: “Francis.Timothy”
>To: “‘mahan@microworks.net‘”
>Subject: RE: “Combat Damage”
>Date: Thu, 11 Dec 1997 12:26:28 -0500
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>Sender: mahan-owner@microworks.net
>Reply-To: mahan@microworks.net
>
> > ———-
> > From: Brooks A Rowlett[SMTP:brooksar@indy.net]
> > Reply To: mahan@microworks.net
> > Sent: Thursday, December 11, 1997 6:41 AM
> > To: mahan@microworks.net
> > Subject: Re: “Combat Damage”
> >
> >V, of course, arose from the carrier designation. CA, for carrier,
> >aircraft, could not be done because it was already cruiser, armored.
> >A lighter-than-air tender, could not be a CL, because that was a light
> >cruiser. And H could not be used, because that was for hospital ship.
> >So, two letters of no previous usage were picked – V and Z.
>
> A couple of clarifications. When the Navy switched to an
>alpha-numeric hull numbering system on 17 July 1920, “C” was used for
>the Cruiser designation. CA referred to “Cruiser, First Line” and CL to
>”Light Cruiser,” a distinction based on size, power, and function, with
>CL covering scouting cruisers. “C” retroactively covered the old
>protected and unarmored cruisers while “ACR” covered armored cruisers.
>These classifications were phased out as the older ships were
>decommissioned. It was not until the London Treaty of 1930 that the
>arbitrary concept of classing cruisers by armament came into being.
>Then CA came to mean heavy cruiser (guns of 6.2-8″) while CL covered
>those 6.1″ or less.
> The CV designation originally meant “Aircraft Carrier, First
>Line.” Carriers were also grouped in the cruiser type-category,
>reflecting the contemporary concept of their mission as reconaissance.
>Not until 6 June 1928 was a separate category for aircraft carriers
>established.
>
>Timothy L. Francis
>Historian
>Naval Historical Center
>email address: Francis.Timothy@nhc.navy.mil
>voice: (202) 433-6802