F4F-3S "Wild Catfish" Seaplane Carriers

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showboat1
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Joined: Fri Jul 28, 2000 8:00 am
Location: Atoka, TN

RE: F4F-3S "Wild Catfish" Seaplane Carriers

Post by showboat1 »

ORIGINAL: Tallyho!

Ooohhh the CAM ships - a hastily improvised solution to the Fw200 Condors, shadowing North Atlantic convoys, relaying info to the wolfpacks


Image

I have a hard time imagining that this was a job that guys lined up around the block for. Ditching in the North Atlantic? Not my cup of tea.
SF3C B. B. New USS North Carolina BB-55 - Permission is granted to go ashore for the last shore leave. (1926-2003)
el cid again
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Joined: Mon Oct 10, 2005 4:40 pm

RE: F4F-3S "Wild Catfish" Seaplane Carriers

Post by el cid again »

Any armed plane is a problem for a submarine. But the Marines envisaged island based warfare - with "seaplane" carriers to transport the planes - then support them until a base could be built. They were not really intended to fight at sea so much as from anchor.
el cid again
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Joined: Mon Oct 10, 2005 4:40 pm

RE: F4F-3S "Wild Catfish" Seaplane Carriers

Post by el cid again »

We have given 5 of the 7 early AVs air groups - the other two only could carry a single patrol plane.
These are a flight of USN observation aircraft and a squadron of Marine utility planes able to drop 250 pound bombs. These latter upgrade to the float dive bomber in 1943.

We gave the 7 late ships air groups including a navy observation flight, a seaplane fighter squadron, and 5 of the 7 (all but the last two in 1945) get a dive bomber squadron to begin with. We have not at this time created a special unit for the float dive bomber - but we may have to do that bye and bye.

We also removed many regiments of navy engineers in the same set - so the seaplanes may stay relevant longer for that reason. The BBO set - based on pre war and early war planning and thinking - is continuing to diverge from the CVO set - based on what actually happened - including some pretty unlikely shifts in purchases and strategy.
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