If the USS Langley had not been sunk?

Langley was experimental...

...But as fascinating as the British early carriers. Like them, she was best used in WW2 as an aircraft transport. Going to write a story, Draconis?
 
Would she be used in the Atlantic to Ferry planes to Africa then to SE Asia or in the Pacific to ferry planes to US outposts.

Would be cool if she could be reused as an amphip support ship for the Marine raiders, Turn the Makin raid into an actual occupation. Would probably need an actual carrier for cover before an airstrip could be finished and operational on Makin in '42.
 
Would she be used in the Atlantic to Ferry planes to Africa then to SE Asia or in the Pacific to ferry planes to US outposts.

That might depend on her range. I think it needed to be increased for the Pacific to reduce the number of refuelling stops. As she's not being used as a carrier means that the aviation fuel tankage could be adapted to increase Langley's range. Maybe add some additional tankage if there is any room below the decks created by the reduced crew size and unused aircraft parts stowage areas.
 

Driftless

Donor
If it's being used as a plane hauler, would they still retain a few suitable planes for ASW defence? Given the ships low speed, would that factor limit the selection of available options?
 
If it's being used as a plane hauler, would they still retain a few suitable planes for ASW defence? Given the ships low speed, would that factor limit the selection of available options?

If she is used in the Pacific, where the main effort for the US Navy took place, ASW is not the major concern in the Eastern part of the ocean. The threat from IJN submarines increases in the vicinity of the various bases and anchorages used by the Allied navies further West. There would already be extensive land based aircraft patrolling in those areas.

Also the Langley, not much faster than a Liberty ship, would not be sailing alone but in a convoy or small group escorted by DDs and/or DEs with whatever air patrolling the USN would provide for any valuable convoy either in the Atlantic or Pacific ocean. So I don't think she would be providing her own ASW planes, but they would be there from other sources.
 
The USS Langley thread has me thinking about how the MN Bearn could have been better optimized for the role of an airplane transport ship.
 
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