Print this page Flattop to Forrestal: The Evolution of the Supercarrier
J.M. Syken
Course Outline
Through the viewing of several archival/documentary films produced in the 1940s/50s/60s/70s, we will examine the history and development of the attack aircraft carrier of the United States Navy. This will include early development of catapult-launched float planes on capital ships and the U.S.S. Langley – the Navy’s first experimental aircraft carrier.
We will review the development of aircraft and carrier doctrine in the years immediately before WWII and the success/operations of the fast carrier task force developed and applied before/during WWII. The introduction of jet aircraft and adaptations made by carriers culminating in the launching of the fleet’s first “Supercarrier” – the U.S.S. Forrestal, will be highlighted as will be the operations of nuclear powered attack carriers such as the U.S.S. Enterprise.
This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of the course materials.
Learning Objective
At the conclusion of this course, the student will:
- Understand/appreciate the early successes and failures in the development of naval aviation and the fleet air-arm;
- Understand/appreciate the role of the U.S.S. Langley as a laboratory for the development of carrier-based aircraft and the aircraft carrier itself;
- Understand/appreciate the development of the fast carrier task force in the years immediately before and during WWII and how its success led to development of the carrier task force as the focus of naval strategy in the post-WWII years;
- Understand/appreciate the problems, solutions, innovations etc. regarding the introduction of jet aircraft to carrier operations;
- Understand/appreciate the design/construction of the first “Supercarrier” – U.S.S. Forrestal; and
- Understand/appreciate the many hazards of carrier operations, safety procedures etc.
Intended Audience
This course is intended for architects, engineers and other design professionals.
Benefit to Attendees
The attendee/s will gain an intimate knowledge and insight into the history, design, construction and operation of aircraft carriers.
Course Introduction
The course incorporates the viewing of several archival/documentary films broken down as follows;
- Part 1 – Origins
- Part 2 - Finest Hour
- Part 3 – Supercarrier
- Part 4 – In Harm’s Way
Part 1 examines the early development of naval aviation and the experimental aircraft carrier U.S.S. Langley. Part 2 examines carrier flight operations of an Essex-class carrier and the saga of one such carrier - the U.S.S. Franklin, during WWII. Part 3 examines the development of the Supercarrier in the post-WWII years and Part 4 examines the many dangers, safety precautions etc. involved in carrier operations.
Course Content
In this course, you are required to view the following films:
Part 1 – Origins;
TITLE: The Attack Carrier - From USS Langley to USS Enterprise (1969)
LINK: http://archive.org/details/gov.dod.dimoc.25082
DURATION: 28:40
Part 2 – Finest Hour;
TITLE: Carrier Operations 1944
LINK: http://archive.org/details/CarrierOperations1944
DURATION: 13:34
TITLE: Saga of the USS Franklin (ca. 1945)
LINK: https://archive.org/details/20934SagaOfTheFranklin
DURATION: 22:04
Part 3 – Supercarrier;
TITLE: U.S.S. Forrestal - CVA-59 (1955)
LINK: http://archive.org/details/gov.dod.dimoc.24148
DURATION: 19:31
TITLE: The Angled Deck Carrier (1955)
LINK: https://archive.org/details/74462TheAngledDeckCarrier
DURATION: 15:34
TITLE: Aircraft Catapult and Arresting Gear (1957)
LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjNNE5jd3-g
DURATION: 17:04
TITLE: Face of a Nation (1967)
LINK: http://archive.org/details/gov.dod.dimoc.25127
DURATION: 28:14
Part 4 – In Harm’s Way;
TITLE: Carrier Landing Mishaps (1968)
LINK: http://archive.org/details/CarrierLandingMishaps
DURATION: 25:09
TITLE: Disasters Don't Just Happen (1971)
LINK: https://archive.org/details/81474-us-navy-disasters-dont-just-happen-vwr
DURATION: 11:13
Course Summary
The evolution of the carrier based naval task force revolutionized modern warfare as few things have. It allowed far-flung worldwide operations covering 85% of the earth’s surface. A Battleship’s big guns had a range of about twenty-plus miles, but an attack aircraft carrier could strike hundreds, even thousand of miles distant at enemy targets. Thus was the scope of naval power increased many fold. The carrier-based fast task forces of WWII fame brought America’s military might to the threshold of the Japanese Empire, penetrating its ring of island fortresses as no other weapon could have. The ultimate incarnation of the aircraft carrier would be the “Supercarrier” – able to launch and/or retrieve aircraft simultaneously and designed for the heavier and faster jet aircraft of the post-WWII era. Named for former Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal, the launching of the U.S.S. Forrestal – the world’s first Supercarrier, was a seminal event in naval history. By 1960, the first nuclear-powered Supercarrier – U.S.S. Enterprise, would make its debut, extending the range, capacity and endurance of the attack carrier far beyond any weapons platform has, before or since.
Related Links
For additional technical information related to this subject, please visit the following websites:
http://books.google.com/books?id=7igDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA80#v=onepage&q&f=false
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Langley_%28CV-1%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supercarrier
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1I6XJCEi-GU&feature=relmfu
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxtXDDShjGs
(Film: Carrier Flying: A Royal Navy Instructional Film [1946] - 28:21)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfzQwAbz9F4
(Film: Deck Landing: A Royal Navy Instructional Film [1942] - 18:48)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNVUyiHITKk
(Film: Vintage Aircraft Carrier Landings - Fails and Mishaps - 10:23)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNarOiWJKiw
(Aircraft Carrier Landings: "After the Cut" - 1946 USN Pilot Training Film - 05:09)
(Film: Nimitz] Class - Rise of the Aircraft Carrier - 50:21)
(Film: Aircraft Carrier Landings: "Sea legs" ca. 1980 Grumman/USN - 14:57)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOAdxLLFfhI
(Film: Sinking of an Aircraft Carrier - 49:47)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OxM46oO1x8
(Film: USS Ronald Reaganr- 41:07)
Quiz
Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.
DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.
