Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 3:05:41-3:05:50

An AEW conversion should discard the obsolete gun turret

See why converting a carrier aircraft for airborne early warning should remove defensive armament that no longer serves the mission.

Airborne Early WarningAircraft ConversionsFleet Air ArmNaval Aviation
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Question

Would a postwar airborne-early-warning conversion keep the aircraft's gun turret?

Short answer

No. The turret no longer serves the AEW mission and should be removed.

Notes

The original gun turret served no useful role on a postwar airborne-early-warning conversion. The aircraft's new purpose was radar surveillance and warning rather than close defensive combat. Removing the turret freed weight, space, and crew effort for sensors, endurance, or communications. A successful conversion began by discarding equipment tied to the old mission.