Early carriers found targets and fed information back to the fleet. Modern carrier groups usually avoid dedicated reconnaissance aircraft when fighters or fighter-bombers can carry sensors and pods. The Royal Navy's preference for fewer airframe and engine types grew partly from the logistics of worldwide operations and planning for a possible war with Japan. The operational driver is finite carrier space: every specialized aircraft adds maintenance, training, spares, and hangar burdens that the deployed force must carry.
Chapter · 1:16:14-1:19:44
Reconnaissance moves into multi-role aircraft
Carrier scouting developed from pure spotting aircraft toward multi-role fighters that can carry reconnaissance pods and reduce airframe variety.