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Escort carriers
Escort carriers
The rise of the aircraft had been incredibly quick in the last years of the interwar period. Although convoys had been around for hundreds of years the new threat from aircraft and submarines was difficult to negate.
The best way to protect a slow convoy was by having aircraft in the air, deterring submarines, making them submerge to avoid being spotted and allowing enemy aircraft to be sighted and engaged much earlier.
The amount of land-based aircraft needed to protect convoys at sea was inhibiting due to the lack of time they could stay above the convoy.
At any one time, one plane would be above the convoy, whilst one relief was on the way and another was returning home.
On the ground an aircraft was being readied with one in reserve, the demands on personnel were large and tiring.
The ability to have an escort carrier as part of the convoy therefore became increasingly important. To address the lack of available carriers a number of solutions were designed.
