British Carrier Aviation: The Evolution of the Ships and their Aircraft

Hardcover 25x29 cm, 384 pages. This book impressively details every aspect of British aircraft carrier design, type, mission orientation, aircraft design and performance and how the Royal Navy's strategic doctrine for the utilization of seaborne air power evolved from 1914 thru 1985. It highlights the Royal Navy's operational and technological innovations from the invention and development of the aircraft carrier during World War {WW]1 thru the development of Harrier vertical take-off aircraft of the 1970's - 80s. There are numerous line drawings {but not full page foldouts} of the carrier's along with fantastic pictures. The chapter on the development of the Fleet Air Arm aircraft between WW 1 and WW 2 was of particular interest because it was during this time that Britain lost its lead in shipborne aircraft design that would cripple its strike capabilities and overall effectiveness thru-out WW 2. As the war progressed more American aircraft was taking off from British carriers due to superior performance and payload. 9780870210549 Naval Institute Press.