WesWorld

Apart from General Mitchell's demonstrations against German battleships post-war, are there shining examples of aviation influencing naval actions or operations in WW1 or immediately afterward? Events that might influence developments in other navies?

For example:

-Did somebody really suffer because their fleet was spotted and tracked by the enemy?

-Did anybody use naval aviation to attack shore-based targets? Or vice-versa?

-Were naval aircraft used against submarines this early?

J

As far as i can tell aircraft did not play any significant role in maritime warfare in WW1. I beleave there were several float plane carriers at Jutland but they never got in on the action and IIRC they were a scouting type force. Carriers really were not a frontline offensive weapon till around the 30's. The americans used the Lexington and Saratoga in a fleet exercise in 1929. Saratoga used her 35 knot speed to perform a night manover around the blue forces protecting the panama canal(which included the Lexington). She launched a full deckload of aircraft in a dawn raid that, in simulation completely destroyed the canal. This simulation convinced the naval staff that they needed large carriers over smaller ones, to maximize offensive power.
With my own carrier program i am faced with a similar question that the Americans had, should i build large or small carriers with my remaining tonnage. I have used 67,000 tons on my newest carriers being built....thats a BIG chunk of my tonnage alotment (110,000 tons).

Well, the Germans used airships to some success during the war for scouting both over the North Sea and Baltic.

Then there were several floatplanes used for scouting and also for first torpedo attacks. If my memory serves me right, they too had some success in sinking first vessels with airborne torpedos. I´m away from my sources (connecting from work) so I can´t tell you more, sorry, but you should be able to find some informations on this in the net.

Hope this helps...

HoOmAn

Aircraft(or airships) were used in conjunction with destroyers to destroy submarines. Targets were aquired visually and passed to the destroyer. There was a lack of airborne weapons to be used in WW1. The fleet air arm used 6lb bombs in the 1920's. The RFC used Felixstowe flying boats to hunt for submarines off Orkney and Shetland. they were equipped with depth bombs.

The german airforce operated floatplanes with some limited sucess: monoplanes made by Junkers i think.

In the Dardanell campain the brits used aircrafts and even manage to score the first hit with an airlaunched torpedo.

I am not sure if the aircrafts where useded hunting subs but it seams likley because of the very free hands the pilots and mechanics where given to try out new tactics and equipment there.

Desertmole are you from canada?

Hi!

Another visitor providing some important data. Thank you. :o)

How did you find us?

Special interests?

Cheers,

HoOmAn

It seems HMS Argus was able to launch aircraft by 1921 and HMS Eagle was partially complete and also able to launch aircraft. Hosho was able to launch aircraft in 1923.

Well i can understand that responce even though I am canadian myself. I once mistakenly told a new zealander she sounded like an aussie...she wasn't amused by it and I spent the next 10 minutes kissing @$$ so we could be on speaking terms! Seriously though why the exile to Saudi Arabia? I collect 1:700 scale model ships myself.

So whats the mood in Saudi Arabia these days? They seem to be an un-easy ally of the states but even that seems to be deteriorateing. I don't seem to recall any compounds in Saudi Arabia being bombed in may, is this in the first or second gulf war?

What ships are in your model colection?