Weather still limits helicopter operations, but hovering opens several uses beyond anti-submarine warfare. A helicopter can retrieve a downed pilot without sending a boat or a destroyer into a minefield. Mine hunting is another proposed use, with wartime funding expected to accelerate development. Cruisers could carry several helicopters and recover them while remaining underway. In the Sydney-Kormoran example, an aircraft could inspect the suspect merchantman from a safe distance and look for hidden guns or torpedo tubes. Opening fire on the helicopter would itself surrender the raider's surprise.
Notable Point · 1:03:39-1:06:51
Rescue, mine warfare, and identification broaden helicopter utility
Helicopters could retrieve pilots from minefields and inspect suspect merchant ships while their parent cruiser remains underway.