Aircraft Carriers

The Moving Airport (1)

Ever since the first plane was build, there's a need for a runway. Early airstrips are just a messy dirt path being cleared up. Planes at that time are also poorly equipped and only has indicator lamps. Later, people illuminated the airstrip and paved the runway to avoid night landing failures and skidding. Radar and radio communication are also introduced during the 30's and 40's. However, shifting and airport from one to another location will be laborious and early aircraft had limited fuel to travel, especially during cross-ocean flights. Thus, people thought of carrying aircraft on board of a ship.

In the late 19th century, the only aircraft available was the gas balloon. Many people tried to use ships with platforms to house balloons for military purposes. In 1859, an Austrian navy ship Vulcano launched balloons intended to bomb Venice. This mission was a complete failure as balloons were blown off course due to primitive steering mechanisms. Nevertheless, one bomb did fell on the city. During the American Civil War, Union army launched reconnaissance balloons upon Confederate positions but this method became less effective as the battles soon focused on densely forested terrains where balloons can't reach. Later, a coal barge, named George Washington Parke Custis cleared its deck and replaced it with gas generators and paraphernalia for balloons. This can be considered as the first naval vessel that accommodates aircraft. Till WW1, these vessels are still in active service for the navy.

After the first successful seaplane flight in 1910, the navy became more and more interested in these machines, thus born the seaplane carrier. The seaplanes are first stored in the ship in separated pieces. Once assembled, they are launched by a built-in catapults. After they've accomplished their mission, they land on the sea near their mother-ship. Cranes aboard of the ship then salvage the seaplane and disassemble it. This method costs too much time and labour and the seaplanes cannot react immediately in defence of their mother-ship.

As heavier-than-air aircraft began to develop in 20th century, navies came up with various ideas to house planes in ships. This can be done by installing elevators, hangars, runways and other equipment.

A well recognised seaplane, the Short Sunderland

USS Franklin, an aircraft carrier that housed more than 80 planes

USS Los Angeles, a typical Zeppelin in WW1