What if the Italians build there only aircraft carrier? What happens to it and how would they use it?
The Italians actually had another aircraft carrier underway as well. Anyways they'd need to realize the need for an aircraft carrier much sooner than OTL's late 1941 realization, because Italy doesn't have much industry to spare durring a total war and 1943 is just around the corner. Though with a pre-war realization you'd probably get a purpose built aircraft carrier or at least a more suitable conversion (last of the Littorio's converted?) rather than OTL's two hastily drawn up conversions. The result would be a much more contested (at least for a while) Italian navy as IIRC the Italian Navy opted for being a fleet in being after realizing that they couldn't rely on land based aircraft for air support.What if the Italians build there only aircraft carrier? What happens to it and how would they use it?
Why do they need one, Italy was already one giant carrier.What if the Italians build there only aircraft carrier? What happens to it and how would they use it?
Why do they need one, Italy was already one giant carrier.
Then he could build more battleships then a carrier the Italians never used before.Prestige il duce would not pass up on saying to the world Italy is a great naval power
Wasn't that the reason why they didn't build any aircraft carriers between the wars in the first place?Why do they need one, Italy was already one giant carrier.
And could those carrier be used to good effect in the war.Wasn't that the reason why they didn't build any aircraft carriers between the wars in the first place?
The Washington Naval Treaty gave the Italians an aircraft carrier quota of 60,000 tons. That would have been enough for three 20,000 ton or four 15,000 ton ships.
And could those carrier be used to good effect in the war.
I would say the smart play would be to build 60000 tons of landing craft and then as soon as the war starts, seize Malta and have a stationary and unsinkable aircraft carrier in the Central Mediterranean and a secure sea based supply line to Libya.
As a knock on, those craft could have been useful in re-supplying forces in North Africa
Wasn't that the reason why they didn't build any aircraft carriers between the wars in the first place?
Yep, unfortunely the necessary coordination between Navy and Air Force to make this work never happened, ...
What if the Italians build there only aircraft carrier? What happens to it and how would they use it?
The first air cushion craft date to 1915. with skirts coming along in 1931. Levkov had a few ACVs in Soviet service before WW2.Now if the Italians could develop an air cushioned landing craft (e.g., LCAC type) then they could supply their forces across the Med and not worry about UK submarines or warships (but alas that is about 30 years too early).
If any of you have been over to the BC board, you might recognize the name Stefano Sappino; he posts as StefSapp.
He passed away earlier this year, but, for full disclosure, I had helped in translate his book on the Impero:
https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/aircr...jabes/18876780/#isbn=1781556776&idiq=28806940
They had an English translator, but she was unfamiliar with military terms, so Stefano asked for my help. But I digress....
In the book, Stefano documents the RMs history of trying to get a carrier. They had asked several times, and but were constantly being blocked by the Regia Aeronautica and finances.
I think the main advantage of Aquila for the RM would be indigenous reconnaissance, if, and I stress, IF the pilots could communicate with the carrier. Of course RM pilots would be best, but given the fascist government, more likely they would have been RA.
Inadequate reconnaissance cost the RM several opportunities, including intercepting Operation Hats. But my understanding is a land-based Regia Aeronuatica aircraft scouting for the Regia Marina could not communicate directly with the ships it was scouting for. Information had to be communicated to local RA command, from local command to Super Aero in Rome, from Super Aero to Super Marina, from Super Marina to local RM command, and from there to the ships at sea. Instead of seaplanes requiring a fleet unit to stop for recovery, or when Re2000s were deployed, the asset by being forced back to land after a flight, Aquila could have provided consistent recon for the fleet as it moved.
My thoughts,