The Aircraft Carrier

From America's entrance into World War II to the use of planes in Vietnam, the aircraft carrier has figured prominently in American warfare for the better part of a century. This documentary explores the importance of these massive ships in various campaigns and battles of the 20th century. In the Second World War aircraft carriers brought as new form of warfare the oceans and battlefields with their extraordinary size and fire power. Foe first time battles could be won and lost without the rival sailors ever catching sight of each other’s ships. Ironically, Germany was one of the only nations involved in this conflict not to operate carriers. It is very possible that had the German navy had such potent vessels in its armoury the war in the Atlantic and Mediterranean could have ended very differently. This programme looks at the mighty British, American and Japanese carrier fleets of the second world. How did they develop their strategies for the development of this latest weapon – a floating gun battery and airfield combined.