Q&A ยท 3:37:31-3:37:59

Do not use the fleet carrier as the littoral ASW platform

A coastal-ASW question asks whether a carrier should enter waters where quiet diesel submarines are expected.

Question

Should a fleet carrier enter coastal waters to hunt diesel submarines during an amphibious operation?

Short answer

No; use other ASW forces in the dangerous littoral and keep the high-value carrier outside the submarine's best operating area.

Notes

The fleet carrier should remain outside confined submarine hunting grounds. Royal Navy wartime experience in which using a carrier for anti-submarine work contributed to losing one supports keeping the high-value ship in safer waters. The lesson is about separating the carrier's air contribution from the location of the ASW search itself.