What were CAM-ships?

Hurricane on catapult of CAM-ship
(Picture I)

https://pimeakronikka.blogspot.fi/p/what-were-cam-ships.html

Kimmo Huosionmaa

In some books, what is written by Alistair MacLean are mentioned the ship type, called CAM-ships. Many people don't even know about those ships, what are used before the escort-aircraft carriers took their place. Casablanca-class escort carriers took those ships place during World War II after the USA took part in the war after Pearl Harbor incident.

But we can only admire those brave men, who served with CAM-ships Hurricane I fighters. The CAM-ship was the merchant ship, what was equipped with the holder, what could send Hurricane I fighter to airborne and shoot down Focke-Wulf Fw-200 "Condors", what were used to find targets for German submarines and that long-range maritime patrol aircraft were so important for Germans, that the loss of Hurricane was accepted.

Hurricane lifts-off from CAM-ship
(Picture II)

So CAM-ships were equipped with the racks, where the Hurricane fighter could send to airborne and the objective for those missions was shoot down those Condors. Fw-200 were the only aircraft in German air force, what could patrol at long distances, and send the information of the convoys to the headquarters of German U-boats. Of course, U-boats could locate convoys, by using hydrophones.


But that would mean, that U-boat must send the messages by using the radio. And that could be fatal because the location of those submarines could be tracked, and they would target the attack by floatplanes. That's why FW-200 was so important. And that's why Hurricanes wait on the deck of CAM-ships for their mission. They were sent to airborne by using 45 solid fuel rockets and after shooting down "Condor", they were land to water, where the pilots were rescued. Hurricane I was chosen to those missions because it would have no effect against Luftwaffes fighters.

FW-200 Condor
(Picture III)

When escort carriers were combined to convoy systems, the pilots of those aircraft, what was sent to air from CAM-ships started to land to those aircraft carriers. In that time Hurricanes replaced by Hellcats or sometimes Seafires, what was actually Spitfire with stopping hook. Those aircraft operated from escort carriers, but sometimes I have thought that maybe in some later operations they were used from CAM-ships.


But in fact, all mentioned planes, what were used with CAM-ships were Hurricanes, what used during all World War II, and their mission was to be trapped for German long-range aircraft. The last victory, what is in the list of victories, what aircraft, what were send from CAM-ships were in 28. July. 1943 (Wikipedia, CAM ships), and maybe they were used after that case. Those ships missions were mainly transferred to escort carriers, what operated with Avenger-torpedo bombers, what were used to find and kill U-boats.


Those hunter-killer units were very effective, and in modern life, some British military men have given an idea, that Royal Navy's destroyers or merchant ships would be equipped with "Harrier" VTOL-fighters, what could use for surprise attacks against Russian "Bear"-class maritime recon airplanes. Those big aircraft looks targets for Russian cruise missile submarines and surface combat units. TU-95 is very big aircraft, what is used in similar missions as FW-200, and if some Harrier would attack against that plane, that would be the end of its missions.


Big maritime reconnaissance aircraft are very expensive, and their mission is vital for targeting convoys, and that's why they are attractive targets for that kind of attacks. of course, those Tupolevs could have fighter escorts in their maritime reconnaissance missions, what could make them difficult targets for Harriers. But in theory, Harrier could be effective aircraft for those missions, if the target patrols alone. But fighter escort can make shooting down those Tupolevs quite difficult.  VTOL-aircraft can operate from any platform. They can also land to those ships, so that means that they would not lose in those operations.

Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CAM_ship

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merchant_aircraft_carrier

http://www.theworldwars.net/weapons/pictures/air/de/photos/photo_de_fw200_2.jpg


Picture I

https://defenceoftherealm.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/cam-ship_hurricaneoncatapult.jpg

Picture II

http://www.hornby.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/ImageL.jpg

Picture III

http://www.theworldwars.net/weapons/pictures/air/de/photos/photo_de_fw200_2.jpg

https://pimeakronikka.blogspot.fi/p/what-were-cam-ships.html

Why Russian navy has only one aircraft carrier?

Russian aircraft carrier "Admiral Kuznetsov"
(Picture I)

https://avoimenkoodinmaailma.blogspot.fi/p/why-russian-navy-has-only-one-aircraft.html

Kimmo Huosionmaa

Some people always, ask why Russian navy has only one aircraft carrier? The reason for that is simple: the war in Europe means that the prime mission of Russian navy is to cut NATO's convoy and support lines to Europe. And this means that Russians have more need for submarines, what can shoot high-speed cruise- and ballistic missiles to the targets. The mission of those submarines is also destroyed NATO surface battle units like carrier groups.


The reason why Russians have the aircraft carrier, what have effective missiles what can be used with or without aircraft, is the question, what many people always ask. The Admiral Kuznetsov, what is the name for Russian only aircraft carrier have P-700 "Granit" (SS-N-19 "Shipwreck") missiles on board, and it has about 41 for use aircraft in operations.  The reason for that is, the aircraft carrier would be meant for use in anti-terrorist operations. In those operations would need to replace the aircraft of that carrier with helicopters, and in that case, must the ship have own weapons to protect itself and give it the capacity to attack against other ships and coastal targets. And if that aircraft carrier uses only helicopters, could the enemy disturb it, if that ship doesn't have own missiles for giving trustworthiness for that ship.


Russians might want to use the aircraft carrier as the supporting large-scale helicopter missions and temporary airbase for Sukhoi Su-33, what is a carrier-based version of Sukhoi Su-27. And of course, that aircraft carrier can operate  Sukhoi Su-25  "Frogfoot" STOL (Short Take-Off and Land) assault planes, what allows those flight crews possibility to take a rest in safe place. In large scale helicopter operations, Russian fleet would be evacuated Russian citizens from the conflict area or try to destroy NATO's submarines.


The aircraft of aircraft carrier needed for secure that mission. Also, special forces like Naval Infantry and VDV can get tactical air support from that carrier, and in Syria, some classified weapons like satellite-guided weapons might be stored in that carrier, because they are not allowed to get to hands of enemies. That could be the reason, why Russians don't produce their own NATO-style carriers, what have only airplanes to operate. Russian aircraft carrier uses also Anti-ship missiles, and that carrier is actually capable of ground targets by using its own missiles.


Russian navy can operate very effective by using strategic bombers like TU-22M or TU-26 "Backfires" and submarines against those surface battle units, and the helicopters are needed for rescue the crews of those bombers in the case that some of them would shoot down by enemy fighters. And those helicopters would need also support from the fighters. That's why Russian navy have not the similar aircraft carriers what are used in U.S Navy.

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_aircraft_carrier_Admiral_Kuznetsov
http://foreignpolicy.com/2016/09/13/can-putins-aircraft-carrier-stay-afloat-on-its-syria-mission/

Picture I

https://cdnit2.img.sputniknews.com/images/585/90/5859025.jpg

https://avoimenkoodinmaailma.blogspot.fi/p/why-russian-navy-has-only-one-aircraft.html