Naval aviation

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Naval aviation is the application of manned military air power by the navies of the world such as those operated by the United States Navy. Maritime aviation is the operation of aircraft in a maritime role under the command of land based forces such the Nimrods of the Royal Air Force.

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[edit] History

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:

[edit] 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 to have conventional airbases or overflight rights, both of which can be politically difficult to achieve. 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 e.g. Canada, Finland, Belgium etc.

[edit] 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 helicopters deployed aboard aircraft carriers today.

[edit] Fixed-wing carrier aircraft

[edit] Shipborne Naval Helicopters (ASW/SAR)

[edit] Shipborne Naval Helicopters (Amphibious assault)

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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