nc33/MultiSpan_SQUAD huggingface dataset:
Aircraft_carrier

The Royal Australian Navy is in the process of procuring two Canberra-class LHD's, the first of which was commissioned in November 2015, while the second is expected to enter service in 2016. The ships will be the largest in Australian naval history. Their primary roles are to embark, transport and deploy an embarked force and to carry out or support humanitarian assistance missions. The LHD is capable of launching multiple helicopters at one time while maintaining an amphibious capability of 1,000 troops and their supporting vehicles (tanks, armoured personnel carriers etc.). The Australian Defence Minister has publicly raised the possibility of procuring F-35B STOVL aircraft for the carrier, stating that it "has been on the table since day one and stating the LHD's are "STOVL capable".

Question: Who is in the process of procuring two Canbera-class LHD's?
Answer: The Royal Australian Navy

Question: How large will the two Canbera-class LDH's be?
Answer: the largest in Australian naval history

Question: How many troops can be maintained on a Canbera-class LHD?
Answer: 1,000 troops and their supporting vehicles

Question: What is one primary role of the Canbera-class LDH?
Answer: to embark, transport and deploy an embarked force

Question: How many helicopters is the LHD capable of launching?
Answer: multiple helicopters at one time
Aircraft_carrier

The British Royal Navy is constructing two new larger STOVL aircraft carriers, the Queen Elizabeth class, to replace the three Invincible-class carriers. The ships will be named HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales. They will be able to operate up to 40 aircraft in peace time with a tailored group of up to 50, and will have a displacement of 70,600 tonnes. The ships are due to become operational from 2020. Their primary aircraft complement will be made up of F-35B Lightning IIs, and their ship's company will number around 680 with the total complement rising to about 1,600 when the air group is embarked. Defensive weapons will include the Phalanx Close-In Weapons System for anti-aircraft and anti-missile defence; also 30 mm Automated Small Calibre Guns and miniguns for use against fast attack craft. The two ships will be the largest warships ever built for the Royal Navy.

Question: What is the British Navy constructing to replace their three Invincible-class carriers?
Answer: two new larger STOVL aircraft carriers, the Queen Elizabeth class

Question: What will the 2 Queen Elizabeth class ships be named?
Answer: HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales

Question: When are the 2 Queen Elizabeth class ships due to become operational?
Answer: 2020

Question: How many tonnes can the Queen Elizabeth class ships displace?
Answer: 70,600

Question: How large will the two Queen Elizabeth ships be?
Answer: the largest warships ever built for the Royal Navy
Aircraft_carrier

The constraints of constructing a flight deck affect the role of a given carrier strongly, as they influence the weight, type, and configuration of the aircraft that may be launched. For example, assisted launch mechanisms are used primarily for heavy aircraft, especially those loaded with air-to-ground weapons. CATOBAR is most commonly used on USN supercarriers as it allows the deployment of heavy jets with full loadouts, especially on ground-attack missions. STOVL is used by other navies because it is cheaper to operate and still provides good deployment capability for fighter aircraft.

Question: Why do the constraints of constructing a flight deck affect the role of a carrier?
Answer: they influence the weight, type, and configuration of the aircraft that may be launched

Question: What are assisted launch mechanisms primarily used for?
Answer: heavy aircraft

Question: What does CATOBAR allow for?
Answer: deployment of heavy jets with full loadouts

Question: Why is STOVL used by other navies?
Answer: it is cheaper to operate
Aircraft_carrier

On the recovery side of the flight deck, the adaptation to the aircraft loadout is mirrored. Non-VTOL or conventional aircraft cannot decelerate on their own, and almost all carriers using them must have arrested-recovery systems (-BAR, e.g. CATOBAR or STOBAR) to recover their aircraft. Aircraft that are landing extend a tailhook that catches on arrestor wires stretched across the deck to bring themselves to a stop in a short distance. Post-WWII Royal Navy research on safer CATOBAR recovery eventually led to universal adoption of a landing area angled off axis to allow aircraft who missed the arresting wires to "bolt" and safely return to flight for another landing attempt rather than crashing into aircraft on the forward deck.

Question: Why do almost all carriers using conventional aircraft have arrested-recovery systems?
Answer: conventional aircraft cannot decelerate on their own

Question: What is the purpose of an arrested-recovery system?
Answer: to recover their aircraft

Question: What do aircraft do when landing in order to stop on a short distance?
Answer: extend a tailhook that catches on arrestor wires stretched across the deck

Question: What does a landing area angles off access allow an aircraft to do if if misses the arresting wires?
Answer: bolt

Question: What can a "bolt" prevent an aircraft from doing?
Answer: crashing into aircraft on the forward deck
Aircraft_carrier

Key personnel involved in the flight deck include the shooters, the handler, and the air boss. Shooters are naval aviators or Naval Flight Officers and are responsible for launching aircraft. The handler works just inside the island from the flight deck and is responsible for the movement of aircraft before launching and after recovery. The "air boss" (usually a commander) occupies the top bridge (Primary Flight Control, also called primary or the tower) and has the overall responsibility for controlling launch, recovery and "those aircraft in the air near the ship, and the movement of planes on the flight deck, which itself resembles a well-choreographed ballet." The captain of the ship spends most of his time one level below primary on the Navigation Bridge. Below this is the Flag Bridge, designated for the embarked admiral and his staff.

Question: What are 3 key personnel involved in the flight deck?
Answer: the shooters, the handler, and the air boss

Question: What are shooters responsible for?
Answer: launching aircraft

Question: What is the handler responsible for?
Answer: the movement of aircraft before launching and after recovery

Question: Where does the captain of the ship spend most of his time?
Answer: on the Navigation Bridge

Question: Who is the Flag Bridge area of the ship designated for?
Answer: the embarked admiral and his staff
Aircraft_carrier

The disadvantage of the ski-jump is the penalty it exacts on aircraft size, payload, and fuel load (and thus range); heavily laden aircraft can not launch using a ski-jump because their high loaded weight requires either a longer takeoff roll than is possible on a carrier deck, or assistance from a catapult or JATO rocket. For example, the Russian Su-33 is only able to launch from the carrier Admiral Kuznetsov with a minimal armament and fuel load. Another disadvantage is on mixed flight deck operations where helicopters are also present such as a US Landing Helicopter Dock or Landing Helicopter Assault amphibious assault ship a ski jump is not included as this would eliminate one or more helicopter landing areas, this flat deck limits the loading of Harriers but is somewhat mitigated by the longer rolling start provided by a long flight deck compared to many STOVL carriers.

Question: What is the disadvantage of the ski-jump?
Answer: the penalty it exacts on aircraft size, payload, and fuel load

Question: What cannot launch using a ski-jump due to their high loaded weight?
Answer: heavily laden aircraft

Question: What do heavily laden aircraft sometimes require the assistance from?
Answer: a catapult or JATO rocket

Question: Why is a ski-jump not included on mixed flight deck operations where helicopters are present?
Answer: would eliminate one or more helicopter landing areas

Question: How is the Russian SU-33 able to launch from the carrier Admiral Kuznetsov?
Answer: with a minimal armament and fuel load
Aircraft_carrier

One STOBAR carrier: Liaoning was originally built as the 57,000 tonne Soviet Admiral Kuznetsov-class carrier Varyag and was later purchased as a stripped hulk by China in 1998 on the pretext of use as a floating casino, then partially rebuilt and towed to China for completion. Liaoning was commissioned on 25 September 2012, and began service for testing and training. On 24 or 25 November 2012, Liaoning successfully launched and recovered several Shenyang J-15 jet fighter aircraft. She is classified as a training ship, intended to allow the navy to practice with carrier usage. On 26 December 2012, the People's Daily reported that it will take four to five years for Liaoning to reach full capacity, mainly due to training and coordination which will take significant amount of time for Chinese PLA Navy to complete as this is the first aircraft carrier in their possession. As it is a training ship, Liaoning is not assigned to any of China's operation fleets.

Question: Why did China purchase the STOBAR carrier Liaoning in 1998?
Answer: on the pretext of use as a floating casino

Question: What is Liaoning classifed as?
Answer: a training ship

Question: What is the Liaoning intended to help the navy practice with?
Answer: carrier usage

Question: Why is Liaoning not assigned to any of China's operation fleets?
Answer: it is a training ship

Question: Why did the Chinese PLA Navy need 4-5 years for Liaoning to reach full capacity?
Answer: this is the first aircraft carrier in their possession
Aircraft_carrier

India started the construction of a 40,000-tonne, 260-metre-long (850 ft) Vikrant-class aircraft carrier in 2009. The new carrier will operate MiG-29K and naval HAL Tejas aircraft along with the Indian-made helicopter HAL Dhruv. The ship will be powered by four gas-turbine engines and will have a range of 8,000 nautical miles (15,000 kilometres), carrying 160 officers, 1,400 sailors, and 30 aircraft. The carrier is being constructed by Cochin Shipyard. The ship was launched in August 2013 and is scheduled for commissioning in 2018.

Question: Who started construction of a 40,000-tonne Vikrant-class carrier in 2009?
Answer: India

Question: What will power the Indian-made ship?
Answer: four gas-turbine engines

Question: What will the range of the Indian-made ship be, carrying 160 officers, 1400 sailers, and 30 aircraft?
Answer: 8,000 nautical miles

Question: Who is constructing the Indian-made ship?
Answer: Cochin Shipyard

Question: When was the Indian-made ship launched?
Answer: August 2013
Aircraft_carrier

Carriers have evolved since their inception in the early twentieth century from wooden vessels used to deploy balloons to nuclear-powered warships that carry dozens of aircraft, including fighter jets and helicopters. As of 3 March 2016, there are thirty-seven active aircraft carriers in the world within twelve navies. The United States Navy has 10 large nuclear-powered carriers (known as supercarriers, carrying up to 90 aircraft each), the largest carriers in the world; the total deckspace is over twice that of all other nations' combined. As well as the supercarrier fleet, the US Navy has nine amphibious assault ships used primarily for helicopters (sometimes called helicopter carriers); these can also carry up to 25 fighter jets, and in some cases, are as large as some other nations' fixed-wing carriers.

Question: What were carriers used for in the early 20th century?
Answer: to deploy balloons

Question: As of 3/3/2016, how many active aircraft carriers are there worldwide?
Answer: thirty-seven

Question: What is another name for the 10 large nuclear-powered carriers operated by the U.S. Navy?
Answer: supercarriers

Question: How many aircraft can supercarriers carry?
Answer: up to 90

Question: Who owns the largest carriers in the world?
Answer: The United States Navy
Aircraft_carrier

There is no single definition of an "aircraft carrier", and modern navies use several variants of the type. These variants are sometimes categorized as sub-types of aircraft carriers, and sometimes as distinct types of naval aviation-capable ships. Aircraft carriers may be classified according to the type of aircraft they carry and their operational assignments. Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, former head of the Royal Navy, has said that "To put it simply, countries that aspire to strategic international influence have aircraft carriers".

Question: What is the definition of an "aircraft carrier"?
Answer: There is no single definition

Question: How may aircraft carriers be classified?
Answer: according to the type of aircraft they carry and their operational assignments

Question: Who is Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope?
Answer: former head of the Royal Navy

Question: Who said, "countries that aspire to strategic international influence have aircraft carriers"?
Answer: Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope
Aircraft_carrier

The aircraft carrier dramatically changed naval combat in World War II, because air power was becoming a significant factor in warfare. The advent of aircraft as focal weapons was driven by the superior range, flexibility and effectiveness of carrier-launched aircraft. They had higher range and precision than naval guns, making them highly effective. The versatility of the carrier was demonstrated in November 1940 when HMS Illustrious launched a long-range strike on the Italian fleet at their base in Taranto, signalling the beginning of the effective and highly mobile aircraft strikes. This operation incapacitated three of the six battleships at a cost of two torpedo bombers. World War II in the Pacific Ocean involved clashes between aircraft carrier fleets. The 1941 Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor was a clear illustration of the power projection capability afforded by a large force of modern carriers. Concentrating six carriers in a single unit turned naval history about, as no other nation had fielded anything comparable. However, the vulnerability of carriers compared to traditional battleships when forced into a gun-range encounter was quickly illustrated by the sinking of HMS Glorious by German battleships during the Norwegian campaign in 1940.

Question: What dramatically changed naval combat in World War II?
Answer: The aircraft carrier

Question: What drove the advent of carrier-launched aircraft as focal weapons?
Answer: the superior range, flexibility and effectiveness

Question: Why were carrier-launched aircraft more effective than naval guns?
Answer: They had higher range and precision

Question: What was signalled in 1940 when HMS Illustrious launched an strike on an Italian fleet?
Answer: the beginning of the effective and highly mobile aircraft strikes

Question: What event showed the vulnerability of carriers when forced into gun-range enounters?
Answer: the sinking of HMS Glorious by German battleships
Aircraft_carrier

The development of flattop vessels produced the first large fleet ships. In 1918, HMS Argus became the world's first carrier capable of launching and recovering naval aircraft. As a result of the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922, which limited the construction of new heavy surface combat ships, most early aircraft carriers were conversions of ships that were laid down (or had served) as different ship types: cargo ships, cruisers, battlecruisers, or battleships. These conversions gave rise to the Lexington-class aircraft carriers (1927), Akagi and Courageous class. Specialist carrier evolution was well underway, with several navies ordering and building warships that were purposefully designed to function as aircraft carriers by the mid-1920s, resulting in the commissioning of ships such as Hōshō (1922), HMS Hermes (1924), and Béarn (1927). During World War II, these ships would become known as fleet carriers.[citation needed]

Question: What develpment produced the first large fleet ships?
Answer: flattop vessels

Question: What was the world's first carrier capable of launching and recovering naval aircraft?
Answer: HMS Argus

Question: What did the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922 limit?
Answer: the construction of new heavy surface combat ships

Question: What caused early aircraft carriers to be made up of conversions of ships that were previously cargo ships, cruisers or battlecruisers?
Answer: Washington Naval Treaty of 1922

Question: What type of aircraft carriers did these ship conversions give rise to in 1927?
Answer: Lexington-class
Aircraft_carrier

In December 2009, then Indian Navy chief Admiral Nirmal Kumar Verma said at his maiden navy week press conference that concepts currently being examined by the Directorate of Naval Design for the second indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC-2), are for a conventionally powered carrier displacing over 50,000 tons and equipped with steam catapults (rather than the ski-jump on the Gorshkov/Vikramaditya and the IAC) to launch fourth-generation aircraft. Later on in August 2013 Vice Admiral RK Dhowan, while talking about the detailed study underway on the IAC-II project, said that nuclear propulsion was also being considered. The navy also evaluated the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS), which is being used by the US Navy in their latest Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers. General Atomics, the developer of the EMALS, was cleared by the US government to give a technical demonstration to Indian Navy officers, who were impressed by the new capabilities of the system. The EMALS enables launching varied aircraft including unmanned combat air vehicles (UCAV). The aim is to have a total of three aircraft carriers in service, with two fully operational carriers and the third in refit.

Question: What does EMALS stand for?
Answer: Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System

Question: Who developed EMALS?
Answer: General Atomics

Question: What do EMALS enable the launching of?
Answer: varied aircraft including unmanned combat air vehicles (UCAV)

Question: Who was impressed by the demonstration of EMALS by General Atomics?
Answer: Indian Navy officers

Question: How many in-service aircraft carriers are aimed for with EMALS?
Answer: three
Aircraft_carrier

In August 2013, a launching ceremony for Japan's largest military ship since World War II was held in Yokohama. The 820-foot-long (250 m), 19,500-ton flattop Izumo was deployed in March 2015. The ship is able to carry up to 14 helicopters; however, only seven ASW helicopters and two SAR helicopters were planned for the initial aircraft complement. For other operations, 400 troops and fifty 3.5 t trucks (or equivalent equipment) can also be carried. The flight deck has five helicopter landing spots that allow simultaneous landings or take-offs. The ship is equipped with two Phalanx CIWS and two SeaRAM for its defense. The destroyers of this class were initially intended to replace the two ships of the Shirane class, which were originally scheduled to begin decommissioning in FY2014.

Question: What was the August 2013 launching ceremony in Yokohama held for?
Answer: Japan's largest military ship since World War II

Question: How many helicopters can simultaneously land on Japan's largest military ship?
Answer: five

Question: How long is Japan's largest military ship?
Answer: 820-foot-long (250 m)

Question: How many troops can Japan's largest military ship carry?
Answer: 400

Question: How much does Japan's largest military ship weigh?
Answer: 19,500-ton
Aircraft_carrier

The current US fleet of Nimitz-class carriers will be followed into service (and in some cases replaced) by the ten-ship Gerald R. Ford class. It is expected that the ships will be more automated in an effort to reduce the amount of funding required to staff, maintain and operate its supercarriers. The main new features are implementation of Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) (which replace the old steam catapults) and unmanned aerial vehicles. With the deactivation of USS Enterprise in December 2012 (decommissioning scheduled for 2016), the U.S. fleet comprises 10 active supercarriers. On 24 July 2007, the House Armed Services Seapower subcommittee recommended seven or eight new carriers (one every four years). However, the debate has deepened over budgeting for the $12–14.5 billion (plus $12 billion for development and research) for the 100,000 ton Gerald R. Ford-class carrier (estimated service 2016) compared to the smaller $2 billion 45,000 ton America-class amphibious assault ships able to deploy squadrons of F-35B of which one is already active, another is under construction and nine more are planned.

Question: What will some of the current US fleet of Nimitz-class carriers be replaced with?
Answer: the ten-ship Gerald R. Ford class

Question: Which feature of the new ships will replace the old steam catapults?
Answer: Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS)

Question: When is the USS Enterprise scheduled to be decommissioned?
Answer: 2016

Question: How much does the Gerald R. Ford-class carrier weigh?
Answer: 100,000 ton

Question: How much does the America-class amphibious assault ship weigh?
Answer: 45,000 ton
Aircraft_carrier

If the aircraft are VTOL-capable or helicopters, they do not need to decelerate and hence there is no such need. The arrested-recovery system has used an angled deck since the 1950s because, in case the aircraft does not catch the arresting wire, the short deck allows easier take off by reducing the number of objects between the aircraft and the end of the runway. It also has the advantage of separating the recovery operation area from the launch area. Helicopters and aircraft capable of vertical or short take-off and landing (V/STOL) usually recover by coming abreast the carrier on the port side and then using their hover capability to move over the flight deck and land vertically without the need for arresting gear.

Question: What type of aircraft have no need to decelerate?
Answer: VTOL-capable or helicopters

Question: What does the angled deck separate the recovery operation area from?
Answer: the launch area

Question: What does V/STOL refer to?
Answer: aircraft capable of vertical or short take-off and landing

Question: What capability do helicopters use to move over the flight deck and land vertically?
Answer: hover

Question: What don't helicopters need because of having hover capablility?
Answer: arresting gear
Aircraft_carrier

The superstructure of a carrier (such as the bridge, flight control tower) are concentrated in a relatively small area called an island, a feature pioneered on the HMS Hermes in 1923. While the island is usually built on the starboard side of the fight deck, the Japanese aircraft carriers Akagi and Hiryū had their islands built on the port side. Very few carriers have been designed or built without an island. The flush deck configuration proved to have significant drawbacks, primary of which was management of the exhaust from the power plant. Fumes coming across the deck were a major issue in USS Langley. In addition, lack of an island meant difficulties managing the flight deck, performing air traffic control, a lack of radar housing placements and problems with navigating and controlling the ship itself.

Question: What feature was pioneered on the HMS Hermes in 1923?
Answer: an island

Question: What is concentrated in the small area called an island?
Answer: The superstructure of a carrier

Question: Other than Japanese carriers, which side of the flight deck are islands typically built on?
Answer: starboard

Question: What was the biggest drawback to the flush deck configuration?
Answer: management of the exhaust from the power plant

Question: What was a major issue in the USS Langley?
Answer: Fumes coming across the deck