Naval Aviation

Naval Aviation is the air force branch of a navy. Its equipment is composed of both aircrafts and helicopters.

US Navy Lockheed P-3C.From US Navy VP-30. msn 5743. Departing RIAT Fairford. 18-7-2011

Missions

French Naval Aviation NH90 Caïman on rescue training.

Naval Aviations have got several different missions :

• Maritime patrol, with aircrafts like Lockheed P-3 Orion or Ilyushin Il-38 May. It is for air reconnaissance over oceans and seas. This is looking for enemy warships, and in particular submarines. Weapons are generally torpedoes, missiles, mines, and light rockets.
• Coastal Survey, with aircrafts like Dassault Falcon 50M or Fokker 50 MPA. It is like maritime patrol, but closer to the coast. Some of the aircrafts used are armed, but not all of them.
• Search and rescue, with aircrafts and helicopters like Aérospatiale SA-321 Super Frelon or Lockheed HC-130 Hercules. It is to find and rescue the victims of accidents at sea. This is done after a shipwreck or in heavy storms.
• Fighting and air combat, is the mission of naval fighters that fly from an aircraft carrier. Most famous aircrafts in 2013 are Dassault Rafale M and McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet.
• Fighting against submarines, is the mission of naval helicopters like Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk or Mil Mi-14. Weapons are generally torpedoes and mines.

Examples of countries

In 2013 the following countries had a naval aviation: Argentina, Brazil, France, India, Italy, Japan, Russia, Spain, United Kingdom and the United States.

History

Two Vought F-8J Crusader fighters of VF-191

The first naval aviation was the British Royal Naval Air Service, that was created on 13 April 1912. On April 1, 1918 the RNAS and the Royal Flying Corps were merged into the Royal Air Force. During World War I and after World War II, naval aviations were used for all kinds of combat missions. Famous battles were Pacific War, Normandy Landings, Dieppe Raid and Battle of Midway. After the World Wars it was used for the Falklands War, the Libyan Civil War, and the Gulf War.

USMC Naval aviation

U.S.M.C. aviation was used in World War II,Korean War and the Vietnam War

U.S. Naval aviation

U.S. Naval aviation was used in World War II,Korean War and the Vietnam War