AN-1 Submarine Aircraft Carrier

Builders: Never built
Built: Never built

During the 1950s, several submarines such as the Halibut had proven capable of carrying and deploying the Regulus I nuclear cruise missile. Given the large size of these missiles it was deemed possible that manned jet fighters could similarly be deployed. Originally it was planned to create specialized aircraft that could be launched from these submarines. However in time a concept for a large submarine purpose built to carry fighters was devised.

This design would be conceptualized by Boeing. Utilizing current knowledge gained from the development of submarines of the time to develop a nuclear submarine capable of carrying up to eight tail sitting VTOL Fighters similar in size to the Regulus II cruise missiles.

The fighters themselves would also be designed by Boeing, and would be stored in two internal hangers. When the sub was on the surface, the fighters would be deployed into a vertical launch position. There they would use a specialized form of launch booster known as a 'flying carpet' which used two extra engines to help assist the vertical launch. This booster would detach once the fighter was airborne, and would be recovered for reuse. The fighters would be made to reach speeds of up to Mach 3.

Interest would ultimately be lost in the project before it could go anywhere beyond the drawing board. Likely in part due to the the rapidly approaching obsolescence of the current cruise missile submarines of the time. Designs for new cruise and ballistic missile armed submarines would become the main focus from then on, soon to develop the ability to launch their weapons from beneath the surface.

Source(s)
Hi Sutton
Warship Research

Features:

• Fully functioning Pitch and Rudder control.
• Scaled near 1:1 to the projected size
• Functional Ballast system
• Deployable fighter Jet
  

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Instructions:

Submarine Controls
1)Pitch for pitch control
2)Roll for steering
3)VTOL for Ballast control

Aircraft Launch Procedure
1)Surface the ship and set Ballast all the way up.
2)Use AG1 to deploy fighter
3)Make sure at least 10% throttle is applied
4)Press AG2 to detach fighter.

Aircraft Controls
1)Switch to Camera 1
2)Normal pitch, yaw, and roll maneuvers.
3)Fireguns to use in built minigun.

The deployable fighter took a bit more work than expected to get working properly, but now it works as it should. Highest part count yet, but I am still committed to staying below the 400 part threshold no matter how ambitious my ideas might get. Have fun with this one! The submarine from fallout 4 is going to be an...interesting design to try and bring to life.

Also if you're wondering why I'm not uploading with screenshots anymore it's because that mod decided to stop working. :( Yea I hope the author fixes it.