Spurred by a comment in another thread.
Basically, I'm wondering how practical it would be for one of the combatants in WW2 to start flying helicopters (or equivalent, eg: autogyros) from frigates to help with ASW operations.
Landing doesn't necessarily need a full-sized helipad, although it would help - dropping a cable from the helicopter would let it be winched down, and refueling in-flight is theoretically possible in the same way using hoses hauled up and attached by a crewmember.
What platforms are most suitable for this? How useful might they be? Who's most likely to try the idea out? What are the biggest advantages of the idea? The biggest problems it would encounter? Would they have any appreciable impact? Could we see a class of FFHs before the war's end?
Basically, I'm wondering how practical it would be for one of the combatants in WW2 to start flying helicopters (or equivalent, eg: autogyros) from frigates to help with ASW operations.
Landing doesn't necessarily need a full-sized helipad, although it would help - dropping a cable from the helicopter would let it be winched down, and refueling in-flight is theoretically possible in the same way using hoses hauled up and attached by a crewmember.
What platforms are most suitable for this? How useful might they be? Who's most likely to try the idea out? What are the biggest advantages of the idea? The biggest problems it would encounter? Would they have any appreciable impact? Could we see a class of FFHs before the war's end?