A shortage of fleet carriers required British escort carriers to take on broader duties from the outset. As more became available, the Royal Navy divided them into trade-protection and assault groups with different equipment. Trade-protection carriers had less extensive air-search radar, high-frequency direction finding, and an operations room centred on a surface plot. Assault carriers received more extensive radar, an air plot, and better briefing rooms to prepare close-air-support missions over land. The Salerno landings in September 1943 marked the first use of specialist assault carriers.
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Trade-protection and assault escort carriers
British escort carriers split into trade-protection and assault groups because convoy defence and amphibious air support required different command spaces and sensors.