Maritime Aviation Articles about
Naval Aviation
Website Links For
Naval
 

Information About

Maritime Aviation




Naval aviation is the application of manned military air power by navies. '''Maritime aviation''' is the operation of aircraft in a maritime role under the command of land based forces.


HISTORY

seaplane carrier ''Wakamiya'' 's Maurice Farman seaplanes stationned on land in Tsingtao in 1914.]]

The foundations of Naval Aviation were set in June of , 1913 the first wartime naval co-operation mission, world wide, took place above the Dardanelles , which marked the history of naval operations. 1st Lieutenant Michael Moutoussis and Ensign Aristedes Moraitines , on board the Maurice Farman Hydroplane , drew up a diagram of the positions of the Turkish Fleet , against which they dropped four bombs. This event was widely commented upon in the Press, both Greek and internationalhttp://www.haf.gr/en/history/history/history_2.asp.

The first strike from a carrier against a land target as well as a sea target took place in September 1914 when twelve seaplanes from HMS' ''Engadine'', ''Riviera'' and ''Empress'' (cross-channel steamers converted into seaplane carriers ) Attacked The Zeppelin Base At Cuxhaven . The attack was not a success though a German warship was damaged.

Carrier air power played a central role in all Naval theaters of World War II . For example it was the Battle Of Midway in the Pacific Theater that marked a changing of the guard in maritime history, when the Aircraft Carrier replaced the Battleship as the main Capital Ship of a battle fleet.

Major conflicts since the end of World War II that have involved carrier-based air power include:


STRATEGIC PROJECTION


Carrier-based naval aviation provides governments with a strategic advantage because it allows them to project air power almost anywhere in the world without the necessity of having conventional airbases or overflight rights, both of which can be politically difficult to acquire. The aircraft complement of a single modern US Navy aircraft carrier (c. 80 aircraft) is numerically and militarily superior to many nations' entire air forces.


ANTI-SUBMARINE


Strategic power projection is not the only function of naval aviation. During the Cold War , the navies of NATO faced a significant threat from Soviet Submarine forces, specifically Soviet Navy SSN and SSGN assets. This resulted in the development and deployment of light aircraft carriers with major Anti-submarine Warfare (ASW) capabilities by European NATO navies. One of the most effective weapons against submarines is the ASW helicopter, several of which could be based on these light Aircraft Carriers .

These light carriers were typically around 20,000 tons Displacement and carried a mix of ASW helicopters and BAe Sea Harrier or Harrier II V/STOL aircraft. They were:





There are a dwindling number of fixed-wing aircraft and Helicopter s deployed aboard Aircraft Carriers today.


FIXED-WING CARRIER AIRCRAFT




SHIPBORNE NAVAL HELICOPTERS (ASW/SAR)




SHIPBORNE NAVAL HELICOPTERS ( AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT )




LITERATURE


  • Clark G. Reynolds , ''The fast carriers: the forging of an air navy'' (1968; 1978; 1992)



REFERENCES



SEE ALSO



EXTERNAL LINKS