Flightdeck Friday: Implementing the Maritime Strategy-Quantity vs Quality (II) CV OPS

So the discussion earlier this week revolved around quantity vs quality and used as an argument in favor of quality that the Navy in the 1920’s and 30’s chose to press technology (and hence chose quality) over quantity (maintaining a large force structure), developing the tools, tactics and laying the groundwork for success in the war that lay over the horizon.  One of the examples of this approach was what Navy did with the carriers – watch the progress in technology and procedures in the film clips below (mute the soundtrack if necessary) from Langley’s first halting steps to the first of the Essex class CVA’s. 

Consider — without the experience gained with the operation of a small handful of carriers cobbled together from an ex-collier, planned battle cruisers and a keel-up but smaller carrier design, could the first Essex have been ready in 1942?  The operational concept of fast carrier battle groups?  Even the  over-the-top  idea of  launching  medium bombers  in  a  daring and signatory  strike against the Japanese homeland a few short months after the devastation at Pearl Harbor?  One must confess that it is a compelling argument… BTW, how many previous Flightdeck Friday subjects can you spot? – SJS

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