why were aircraft carrier such a big impact on ww2?

Answer 1

Modern navies that operate such ships treat aircraft carriers as the capital ship of the fleet, a role previously played by the battleship. The change, part of the growth of air power as a significant part of warfare, took place during World War II. This change was driven by the superior range, flexibility and effectiveness of carrier-launched aircraft.
Escort aircraft carriers, such as USS Barnes, were built only during World War II. Although some were purpose built, most were converted from merchant ships, and were a stop-gap measure in order to provide air support for convoys and amphibious invasions.
Light aircraft carriers, such as USS Independence. Although the light carriers usually carried the same size air groups as escort carriers, they had the advantage of higher speed.
CAM ships, such as SS Michael E, cargo carrying merchant ships which could launch but not retrieve fighter aircraft. These vessels were an emergency measure during World War II
Merchant aircraft carriers (MACs), such as MV Empire MacAlpine, another emergency measure which saw cargo-carrying merchant ships equipped with flight decks
Battlecarriers were created by the Imperial Japanese Navy to partially compensate for the loss of carrier strength at Midway. Two of them were made from Ise class battleships during late 1943. The aft turrets were removed and replaced with a hangar, deck and catapult. The heavy cruiser Mogami concurrently received a similar conversion. With half a flight deck and half of a battleship's armament, the ships were singularly worthless and seldom left port.
Submarine aircraft carriers, such as the French Surcouf, or the Japanese I-400 class submarines which were capable of carrying 3 Aichi M6A Seiran aircraft. The first of these were built in the 1920s .
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_carrier

Answer 2

Before the aircraft carrier, fleets had to get close and fire. The aircraft carrier allowed them to do a lot more away from the fleet. The carrier can go out and find the enemy fleet. also it allow the fleet to attack an enemy fleet without putting the fleet in danger. The carrier can also attack other area that put non-aircraft carrier battle fleets in a bad spot like enemy harbors. also in the early day, anti-aircraft guns of most ships were light and made taking out ships easy. today, missiles will be AA problem but a plane can take out a ship with bombs, torpedoes, and missiles.

rz1971: Mitchell was trying to prove that aircraft can hit a battleship and could sink it. He didn't need a heavly armored battleship to prove that a plane can hit the target.

Answer 3

Before WW2 the carrier would act with the battle-fleet by spotting the enemy, harassing it until the friendly battle-fleet engaged then harassing the enemy again as either it retreated or to protect your own fleet as it retreated. Such a tactic is clearly demonstrated in the chase and destruction of the Bismarck.

The US Navy in the Pacific was forced to change this doctrine when the battle-fleet at Pearl Harbor was destroyed. then at Coral Sea the Japanese navy was stopped by two carriers (one was sunk). Midway was perhaps the greatest battle up till then to demonstrate the superiority of the carrier. When Japan lost four of its big carriers they retreated.

The battleship never really was obsolete (if that's the case then every other surface ship is also obsolete in the face of a carrier) but its duties changed to a supporting ship.

As for Billy Mitchell, he was an idiot. The Ostfriesland (battleship he 'sank') was in poor condition, unmanned, already damaged. Some modern naval historians think Mitchell could have sunk the ship with a hammer (the glass scuttles were all that were needed to be broken to start uncontrolled flooding). He also claimed that it was easier to hit a moving target. Mitchell actually did more harm than good for the debate as the RAF attacks against the Agamemnon were not as conclusive as Mitchell's test.

Answer 4

Because it allowed for American and Japanese fighters and bombers to be able to attack their targets without having to refuel. Aircraft technology of the time simply wasn't adequate enough to make a trip across the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean so both nations in the Pacific theatre needed a mobile platform to stage aircraft operations from.

Suprisingly with Adolf Hitler's plans to bomb America he didn't commision any Aircraft carriers and instead wanted to use long range bombers for the whole job. While one known as the Graf Zepellin was built and launched it was never commisioned and never saw active duty. A large part of this was due to political infighting between Kreigsmarine Grand Admiral Erich Raeder and Reichsmarschall Hermann Goering in the Luftwaffe.

Answer 5

Wars before WW11 were carried out in most cases with the opposing sides in close sight of each other including ships at sea . In the second World War Aircraft Carriers allowed planes to be carried and launched to attack far from in line of site and the planes then bombed or torpedoed the opposing ships or land based targets far from their home bases or ships .

Answer 6

the simple answer to this is that a bomb from a plane does more damage than a shell from a gun, and over a much greater range!..It used to be thought that battleships were immune to air attack!..But the American General Billy Mitchell proved them all wrong back in the 1920's...And was never forgiven for it!..In one fell swoop and several bombs, he had rendered the battleship obsolete! The japanese proved the worth of the carriers at Pearl harbor, as did the British at Toranto!....Carriers also provide air support for ground troops and fleet anti-submarine protection!..And with the british inventions of the angled flight deck, and steam catapults allowed carriers to carry out simultanius 'launch and land' operations!..During ww2 there were many carrier battles against the Japanese fought over ranges of 150 miles and more!..American and British carrier capacity and aircraft superiority decisively defeated the Japanese carriers..And it could be argued, won the Pacific war!.They took away most of the Japanese ability to support and defend their troops on the ground and even re-supply them by sinking their supply ships with bombs torpedoes and rockets!..The American carrier forces under Admirals Kinkaid and Halsey were so good at this that it virtually starved the Japanese military of arms, ammunition and food!..The Japanese forces found the net set up by the American carriers to be largely impenatrable, and just got caught in it like so many fish again and again!..Thats the value of the carrier..It virtually won the war in the Pacific!...

Answer 7

Battleships could hit targets up to about 18 miles away. Aircraft carriers could hit targets 250 miles away.

Answer 8

aircraft cariers pack of lot punch, they are able to hit multiple targets from a long way off. They are also able to help support ground troops as well without taking more land for air bases,

Answer 9

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Answer 10

because planes were carried across the oceans and planes were a major part of the battles fought overseas.