Naval warfare simulations and AI for military scenarios
Waging war has never been easier
During the visit of USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) in Oslo recent days I was intrigued by the carriers capabilities.
Both the Russians and Chinese are “at it”. Chinese intelligence even claimed that a computer simulations run by a research team on a war game software platform used by China’s military showed Chinese forces sinking the USS Gerald R Ford carrier fleet with a volley of 24 hypersonic anti-ship missiles. Source: South China Morning Post.
Promptly I prompted ChatGPT about the technical details on USS Gerald Ford:
The USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) is the lead ship of the Ford class of aircraft carriers in the United States Navy. It is named after the 38th President of the United States, Gerald R. Ford. The construction of the USS Gerald R. Ford began on August 11, 2005, and it was commissioned into service on July 22, 2017.
Dimensions: The USS Gerald R. Ford is 1,092 feet (333 meters) long and has a beam (width) of 134 feet (41 meters). It has a displacement of approximately 100,000 long tons.
Propulsion: The carrier is powered by two A1B nuclear reactors, which generate steam to power four propeller shafts. It is the first aircraft carrier to feature an all-electric propulsion system, replacing the traditional steam-driven catapults and hydraulic arresting gear with an Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG).
Speed and Range: The USS Gerald R. Ford has a top speed of over 30 knots (56 kilometers per hour) and a range of over 20 years without refueling, thanks to its nuclear propulsion system.
Flight Deck: The flight deck of the USS Gerald R. Ford is approximately 4.5 acres in size, which is significantly larger than the flight decks of the previous Nimitz-class carriers. It features electromagnetic catapults (EMALS) that use linear induction motors to launch aircraft, replacing the older steam catapults. The carrier also has an Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) system to recover aircraft.
Aircraft Capacity: The USS Gerald R. Ford can carry more than 75 aircraft, including various fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The carrier is designed to accommodate the F-35C Lightning II, F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, E-2D Hawkeye, and other aircraft.
Sensors and Systems: The USS Gerald R. Ford is equipped with advanced radar systems, including the AN/SPY-3 multi-function radar and the AN/SPY-4 volume search radar. It also features the Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC), which allows the carrier to share sensor data with other ships and aircraft.
Defense Systems: The carrier is equipped with various defense systems, including close-in weapon systems (CIWS) for protection against close-range threats, and the Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) system for medium-range air defense.
Crew and Automation: The USS Gerald R. Ford has a crew of approximately 4,500 personnel, including both sailors and air wing personnel. The ship incorporates advanced automation and technology to reduce the crew size and improve efficiency.
The carrier does not have the capability to directly launch missiles itself. Its primary role is to serve as a platform for launching and recovering aircraft. However, the carrier is equipped with various defense systems to counter threats, including missiles. Here are some of the missiles that can be employed in the carrier's defense:
Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM): The ESSM is a medium-range surface-to-air missile designed to defend against anti-ship missiles and aircraft. It is launched from vertical launch system (VLS) cells and is used for air defense purposes.
Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM): The RAM is a short-range, quick-reaction, surface-to-air missile system. It is primarily used for close-in defense against anti-ship missiles and aircraft. The RAM is typically mounted in canister launchers distributed throughout the ship.
Close-In Weapon System (CIWS): The USS Gerald R. Ford is equipped with the Phalanx CIWS, which is a rapid-fire, computer-controlled, radar-guided gun system. It is designed to provide close-in defense against anti-ship missiles and aircraft threats.
Tomahawk Cruise Missiles (Possible Future Deployment): While the USS Gerald R. Ford is not initially designed to launch Tomahawk cruise missiles, there have been discussions about retrofitting the carrier with Tomahawk missile launchers in the future. Tomahawk missiles are long-range, all-weather, subsonic cruise missiles used for land-attack purposes.
It's important to note that the primary offensive capability of the USS Gerald R. Ford is the air wing it carries, consisting of various fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). These aircraft have their own onboard weapons systems, including air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, and guided bombs, which they deploy during combat operations.
So I asked ChatGPT for some info on the Chinese Type-003:
As of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021, the Chinese Type-003 aircraft carrier is still under development, and detailed technical specifications may not be publicly available. However, I can provide you with some general information based on the information available up to that point:
1. Dimensions: The Type-003 aircraft carrier is expected to be larger than China's previous aircraft carriers, the Liaoning (Type-001) and the Shandong (Type-002). It is speculated to have a length of around 1,000 feet (around 305 meters) and a displacement of approximately 80,000 to 85,000 tons.
2. Propulsion: It is anticipated that the Type-003 carrier will be nuclear-powered, which would provide it with increased range, endurance, and operational flexibility compared to conventionally powered carriers. However, the exact details of its propulsion system are not publicly available.
3. Flight Deck: The Type-003 carrier is expected to feature a flat-top flight deck design similar to other modern carriers. It will likely have an angled deck to facilitate simultaneous takeoff and landing operations. The dimensions and configuration of the flight deck have not been officially disclosed.
4. Aircraft Capacity: The carrier is expected to have an increased aircraft capacity compared to China's earlier carriers. It is speculated to have the ability to accommodate more fixed-wing aircraft, including various fighter jets, possibly including the J-15 and potentially even future stealth aircraft. The exact number and types of aircraft it can carry remain undisclosed.
5. Launch and Recovery Systems: The Type-003 carrier is expected to feature a catapult-assisted takeoff system (CATOBAR) for launching aircraft, which would provide greater flexibility in terms of aircraft weight, fuel, and payload compared to the ski-jump system used on China's previous carriers. It is also expected to have an advanced aircraft recovery system, such as an arresting gear system, to recover aircraft upon landing.
6. Sensors and Systems: While specific details are not publicly available, it can be assumed that the Type-003 carrier would be equipped with advanced radar systems, communication systems, and other electronic warfare capabilities to enhance its situational awareness, self-defense, and command and control capabilities.
It is important to note that the information provided above is based on speculations and unofficial sources, as the Chinese government has not released comprehensive technical specifications for the Type-003 carrier. As the development progresses, additional information may become available that provides more precise details about the carrier's technical specifications and capabilities.
I couldn’t help myself from asking it to explain the procedure for attacking another carrier:
Engaging and attacking another aircraft carrier is a highly complex and strategic operation that involves careful planning and coordination. Please note that I must emphasize that discussing real-world military operations is sensitive, and the following explanation is based on general principles rather than specific tactics.
Intelligence Gathering: Before launching an attack, extensive intelligence gathering is conducted to assess the target carrier's capabilities, defensive systems, and potential vulnerabilities. This information helps in formulating an effective plan.
Task Force Formation: A task force is assembled, consisting of multiple naval assets such as aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers, submarines, and support vessels. These assets work together to maximize combat effectiveness and provide layered defense.
Mission Planning: A detailed mission plan is developed, considering factors such as the target's location, the capabilities of own forces, available weapons systems, weather conditions, and potential threats. The plan outlines the desired outcome, attack strategies, and specific roles for each unit.
Electronic Warfare: Electronic warfare assets play a crucial role in suppressing or neutralizing the enemy's electronic sensors, communication systems, and defensive capabilities. This includes jamming radar systems, disrupting communications, and deceiving enemy targeting systems.
Air Superiority: Gaining and maintaining air superiority is vital for carrier operations. To neutralize enemy aircraft and defend against counterattacks, friendly fighter aircraft engage enemy fighters, bombers, and surveillance planes, employing tactics such as dogfighting, air-to-air missile engagements, and anti-aircraft gunnery.
Anti-Ship Missile Attacks: Depending on the range and capabilities of available anti-ship missiles, long-range strikes may be launched to hit the target carrier. These missiles are designed to evade enemy defenses and deliver a significant blow to the enemy vessel.
Submarine Operations: Submarines are deployed to support the attack by utilizing their stealth capabilities and launching torpedoes or cruise missiles. These submarines can operate covertly and pose a significant threat to enemy carriers.
Suppression of Enemy Defenses: Before launching the main attack, assets equipped with electronic countermeasures and anti-radiation missiles may be employed to suppress or neutralize the target carrier's defensive systems, including surface-to-air missiles, anti-aircraft guns, and close-in weapon systems.
Main Attack: Once defenses are suppressed, aircraft and other weapon systems launch a coordinated assault on the target carrier. This may involve the use of strike aircraft armed with various types of precision-guided munitions, such as anti-ship missiles or guided bombs, to inflict significant damage.
Damage Assessment: After the attack, reconnaissance assets are deployed to assess the damage inflicted on the target carrier. This information is crucial for evaluating the mission's success, determining if follow-up attacks are necessary, and gathering intelligence for future operations.
It's important to note that actual operational procedures may vary depending on specific military strategies, technological advancements, and the ever-evolving nature of naval warfare.
And then, of course, I had to ask uncensored GPT4all to pretend it was the captain of USS Ford and describe an attack on the Chinese Type-003:
One way to attack the Type-003 would be through air strikes using long range missiles or fighter jets from other countries such as Japan or South Korea. Another option is a surprise attack by submarines, which can launch torpedo attacks against PLAN ships and carriers without being detected due to their stealth capabilities.
However, the Type-003 carrier will be equipped with advanced air defense systems that include long range surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) such as HQ-9B/C or Crotale V4E2 SAM system and close in weapons like CIWS.
Thus, it is important to have a multipronged attack strategy against the Type-003 carrier that includes both air strikes from long range missiles and fighter jets as well as submarine attacks using torpedoes or other underwater weaponry systems such as minesweepers.
To make sure that all the AI’s had their say in the battle; I prompted Bing Chat about how a Chinese Type-003 carrier could attack the USS Gerald Ford:
Attacking the USS Gerald R. Ford would be extremely difficult and dangerous, as it would be well-defended by its own air wing, escort ships and defensive systems. However, some possible ways to inflict damage or even sink the carrier are:
Missiles: One way to attack the carrier is to use anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBMs) or cruise missiles that can target the carrier from long ranges and high speeds. These missiles can potentially overwhelm the carrier’s air defenses and hit the flight deck, the superstructure or the hull. Some missiles can also maneuver in their terminal phase, making them harder to intercept. However, these missiles are not invincible, as the carrier can deploy countermeasures, such as decoys, jamming and interceptors, to reduce their effectiveness. The carrier can also use its own aircraft and escort ships to strike the missile launchers before they fire.
Torpedoes: Another way to attack the carrier is to use torpedoes, which can be launched from submarines, surface ships or aircraft. Torpedoes can cause severe damage to the carrier’s hull and propulsion system, and even break it in half if they hit the right spot. However, torpedoes are also not easy to use against a carrier, as they have to evade the carrier’s anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities, such as sonar, helicopters and escort ships. The carrier can also deploy anti-torpedo systems, such as the Countermeasure Anti-Torpedo (CAT), which can detect and destroy incoming torpedoes.
Aircraft: A third way to attack the carrier is to use aircraft, such as fighters, bombers or drones. Aircraft can carry a variety of weapons, such as missiles, bombs or rockets, that can target the carrier’s flight deck, superstructure or hull. However, aircraft are also vulnerable to the carrier’s air defenses, such as fighters, surface-to-air missiles and guns. The carrier can also use its own aircraft and escort ships to engage the enemy aircraft before they reach the target.
In summary, attacking the USS Gerald R. Ford would be a very challenging task that requires a lot of planning, coordination and luck. It also involves a high risk of retaliation and escalation.
Therefore, it is not something that I would do lightly or without a clear strategic objective.
Eventually I caved in and prompted: Who will win a naval battle between USS Gerald Ford and the Chinese Type-003?
The outcome of any military engagement is dependent on many factors, including equipment capabilities, training levels, leadership decisions, weather conditions, etc. It would be inaccurate to predict an outright winner based solely upon ship specifications and technical data alone without considering other variables such as the skill level of commanding officers or crewmembers involved with each vessel's operation.
So in any future potential military conflicts - just ask AI. Or not.
Bonus material:
“Optimizing National Security Strategies through LLM-Driven Artificial Intelligence Integration”.
Image generated with Stable Diffusion depicting a naval battle in the future:
