Submarine aircraft carrier
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A submarine aircraft carrier is a submarine equipped with aircraft for observation or attack missions. These submarines saw their most extensive use during World War II, although their operational significance remained rather small. The most famous of them were the Japanese I-400-class submarines and the French submarine Surcouf, although small numbers of similar craft were built for other nations' navies as well.
Most operational submarine aircraft carriers, with the exception of the
Early history (World War I)
The unarmed FF-29 seaplanes were modified to carry 26+1⁄2-pound (12.0 kg) bombs. On 25 December 1915,[1] one of the newly modified aircraft flew across the English Channel and up the River Thames, dropping bombs on the outskirts of London, although they caused only minor damage. It was pursued by British fighters but returned to base safely. On this first bombing mission it was apparent that the aircraft suffered more from a lack of range.
Encouraged by this success, Arnauld and Forstmann theorised that they could increase the range by carrying the aircraft off the British coast on the deck of a submarine in a takeoff position, then launching the aircraft by partially submerging, allowing the seaplane to float off. On 6 January 1915, U-12 made a launch of an FF-29 off its deck in Zeebrugge within the safety of the breakwater Zeebrugge Mole. The aircraft was then lashed athwartships again and the submarine left the harbour, seemingly dwarfed by the 53 ft 2 in (16.21 m) wingspan of the biplane, which stretched almost ⅓ of the 188 ft (57 m) length of the small coastal patrol submarine. U-12 carried the FF-29 for 30 miles before flooding the forward tanks and letting the seaplane float off the deck without much difficulty, after which the plane took off. Arnauld originally intended to rendezvous with the sub, but decided against it. After gaining altitude, Arnauld left for the British coast which he apparently flew along undetected before returning to Zeebrugge. Although the aircraft had been carried out to sea and had safely floated off the submarine's deck, it was obvious improvements were needed in the procedure and setup.
Arnauld and Forstmann proposed further experiments to the German Naval Command, but were vetoed as their project was considered impractical. The plans were reinvestigated in 1917 in the hope that they would increase the striking power of new German subs such as the long-range cruiser-type Unterseeboote, which were to be equipped with small scouting seaplanes that could be assembled and dismantled onboard and stored in special compartments on deck – but the idea was abandoned as the war came to an end.
Two of the aircraft designs created for that purpose were the biplane Hansa-Brandenburg W.20 and LFG Stralsund V 19 Putbus low-wing monoplane. The first type was designed in 1917 for use aboard the Cruiser submarines that never went into service.
The British also experimented with the aircraft-carrying submarine concept when HMS E22 was fitted out in a manner similar to the German U-boat but for the purpose of intercepting German airships as they crossed the North Sea. It was capable of launching two Sopwith Schneider floatplanes in 1916. However, just as in the German experiment, the aircraft were carried unprotected on the deck and the submarine was unable to submerge without losing them.
Between the wars
France
Surcouf was a French submarine ordered in December 1927,
Surcouf was designed as an "underwater
Italy
The
Japan
The Japanese applied the concept of the "submarine aircraft carrier" extensively, starting with the J2 class I-6 and the J3 class of 1937–38.[2] Altogether 42 submarines were built with the capability to carry floatplanes, one such vessel being I-8.
United Kingdom
After the loss of the heavy gun-carrying
United States
The
The
Problems with launching and recovering the aircraft, and the limited military value caused interest in the concept to wane, and news that the British submarine M2 had sunk during trials in 1933, plus damage to the XSL[6] during testings on the sheltered waters of the Anacostia River ended further U.S. Navy development.World War II
Germany
The Kriegsmarine (German navy) also started development of submarines capable of launching aircraft and ordered four very large "cruiser" U-boats in early 1939. These boats were to be twice as large as any existing U-boat and were to have had a crew of 110 while carrying a single Arado Ar 231 floatplane, but were cancelled at the outbreak of war later that year.
Although not strictly an aircraft, some U-boats carried the Focke-Achgelis Fa 330 (English: Wagtail). It was a type of rotary-wing kite, known as a gyroglider or rotor kite. They were towed behind German U-boats during World War II and allowed a lookout in the kite to see further.
Type IX D 2-"Monsun"
Another German long range U-boat was the
The Flettner Fl 282A "Kolibri" reconnaissance-helicopter was also planned to be used from long range submarines. This single seat helicopter was manufactured of welded steel tubing and was sized so that it could be stowed with rotor blades and landing gear removed in a 5.9 ft [1.8 m] diameter by 18 ft [5.5 m] long pressured hangar on the U-boat's deck. The Fl 282 "Kolibri" was never deployed on a German submarine.
Japan
The Japanese applied the concept of the submarine aircraft carrier extensively. Altogether 47 submarines were built with the capability to carry seaplanes. Most IJN submarine aircraft carriers could carry only one aircraft, though a few types could carry two, and the giant I-400 class submarines could carry three.
Type B1 (20 units)
The Type B1 (I-15 Series) submarines (I-15, I-17, I-19, I-21, I-23, I-25, I-26, I-27, I-28, I-29, I-30, I-31, I-32, I-33, I-34, I-35, I-36, I-37, I-38, I-39) were the most numerous type of submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. In total, 20 were made, starting with number I-15, which became the name of the series. These submarines were fast, had a very long range, and carried a single Yokosuka E14Y seaplane, located in a hangar in front of the conning tower, which was launched by a catapult.
The series was rather successful, especially at the beginning of the war. In 1942, I-26 crippled the aircraft carrier
AM Type (I-13, I-14)
The AM (A Modified) type submarine was a large seaplane-carrying submarine, with a hangar space for two aircraft. These giant submarines were originally of the A2 type, but their design was revised after construction started so that they could carry a second aircraft. The seaplanes were to be the Aichi M6A1 bomber carrying 1,760 pounds (800 kg) bombs.
The range and speed of these submarines was remarkable (21,000 nmi (39,000 km) at 16 kn (30 km/h)), but their underwater performance was compromised, making them easy targets. I-13 was sunk on 16 July 1945 by the destroyer escort USS Lawrence C. Taylor and aircraft action from the escort carrier USS Anzio about 550 mi (890 km) east of Yokosuka. I-14 surrendered at sea at the end of the war, and was later scrapped.
Sentoku Type (I-400, I-401, I-402)
The I-400-class submarines were the largest submarines of World War II and remained the largest ever built until the construction of nuclear
Three of the Sen Toku were built, I-400, I-401, and I-402. Each had four 3,000 hp (2,200 kW) engines and enough fuel to go around the world 1½ times, more than enough to reach the United States from either direction.
The submarines were also able to carry three Sei ran aircraft (the Aichi M6A), each carrying a 1,760 pounds (800 kg) bomb 650 mi (1,050 km) at 360 mph (580 km/h). Its name was combination of sei ("clear sky") and ran ("storm"), literally "storm out of a clear sky", because the Americans would not know they were coming. It had a wing span of 40 ft (12 m) and a length of 38 ft (12 m). To fit the aircraft into the hangar, the wings of the aircraft were folded back, the horizontal stabilizers folded down, and the top of the vertical stabilizer folded over so the overall profile of the aircraft was within the diameter of its propeller. A crew of four could prepare and get all three airborne in 45 minutes, launching them with a 120 ft (37 m) catapult on the fore deck of the giant submarine.
Postwar studies
The US Navy produced sketch designs of rather fanciful submarine aircraft carriers in 1946 and 1952. The 1946 study had a projected
Future designs
No submarine aircraft carriers remain in use, but the concept reappears periodically. The ability to make a stealth attack has an allure, but sustained air operations largely negate the advantage of being submersible, and the size limitations preclude sizeable sustained aerial operations.[8] Furthermore, any submarine large enough to be useful would be vulnerable to detection and counterattack. Combined with the cost for such a specialized vessel, it is unlikely that any navy would consider their construction worthwhile.[8] In addition, submarine launchable cruise missiles increasingly incorporate limited surveillance capabilities, allowing them to serve as both strike weapons and disposable reconnaissance drones; this further reduces the value of operating aircraft from submarines.
There are, however, several projects to develop UAV launch and recovery capabilities. There are three methods for doing so: launching out of a torpedo tube, out of a vertical ICBM launch tube, or from a custom designed unit either in the sail or mounted on the hull.[citation needed] The US Navy has recognized the need for more advanced littoral combat capability, to counter growing area-denial asymmetric threats that this type of vessel could provide.
See also
- List of submarine-borne aircraft
- Flying submarine
- Airborne aircraft carrier
- List of submarines of World War II
References
- ISBN 978-1445637020.
- ^ United Press (4 Nov 1945). "Japs Had 5 Submarine Plane Carriers Ready". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 15 Feb 2023.
- ^ Flightglobal Archive - Aviation History - Flight, July 31, 1931 (pp. 759–763)
- ^ "New Fold Plane For Submarines", February 1931, Popular Science bottom of page 33
- ^ "Airplane Folds Into Tube To Fit Submarine" Popular Mechanics, April 1931 page 535
- ^ "Plane Folds To Fit Space In Submarine" Popular Science, June 1933, bottom of page 14
- ISBN 1-55750-260-9.
- ^ ISBN 0-85177-555-1.
Further reading
- Terry C. Treadwell: Strike from beneath the Sea: A History of Aircraft Carrying Submarine, Tempus Publishing, Limited, 1999