Aircraft Carrier Development

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Aircraft Carrier Development World War II brought much technological advancement that changed the way war was waged; however, the invention of the aircraft carrier was the most important advancement which actually began at the end of World War I. After the plane was invented it was soon used for reconnaissance and then pilots eventually dropped bombs from them and eventually weapons were shot from them at other planes and ground troops. After improvements such as more powerful engines, lighter materials, and weapons synchronized to the speed of the propeller came the new method of transporting planes and using their firepower overseas with the aircraft carrier. Aircraft carriers transformed the methods used to fight battles during World War II because Army and Marine Infantrymen had air support while raiding axis countries and islands which would not have been available because of fuel limitations of aircraft. A pivotal demonstration of aircraft carrier usage in World War II was the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The Imperial Japanese Navy launched several waves of torpedo planes and dive bombers to attack the cruisers, destroyers, and battleships at Pearl Harbor as well as fighter planes and hangars in order to crush the United States’ naval power. The ultimate objective of Pearl Harbor; however, was to destroy the United States’ aircraft carriers because Japan knew about the tactical advantages of having aircraft carriers as well as the industrial capacity of the United States to make more warships and weapons. “Since Pearl… Japan’s industrial base could Tancock 2 not compensate for the losses its navy suffered.” The aircraft carrier was the single most important technological advancement during Worl... ... middle of paper ... ...rcraft carrier usefulness was the Doolittle Raid during World War II. Several B 25 bombers were modified to take off from the USS Hornet and bomb Japan in response to Pearl Harbor whereas fighters had used on aircraft carriers during World War II. Despite the fact that these inventions were valuable contributions during World War II the B 29 bomber that dropped the atom bomb would not have ended World War II as quickly if the aircraft carrier was not able to support the war effort during the Pacific Theatre. The jet fighter ultimately opened up new areas of exploration for the armed forces, but it was invented at the very end of World War II and did not have enough time to establish itself as a venerable war machine during World War II. The aircraft carrier had ample time for experimentation and testing, so it was ready for combat operations during World War II.

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