Aerial Co-operation with the Navy

Abstract

The object of a nation at war is to stop the enemy’s national life, and the strategic plan which either belligerent follows to achieve this end may be divided into three classes, viz, naval strategy, military strategy, and independent air strategy. When aircraft are employed for reconnaissance over the sea and in co-operation with the Navy the objectives must be the same as those which are the aims of the naval strategy, hence the use of aircraft against any other objectives comes under the heading of independent air strategy, or possibly military strategy, and is outside the scope of this paper. Now the object of naval strategy is the control of maritime communications, and the destruction of the enemy’s battle-fleet is the principal means to this end. The subject may be conveniently considered under the three following headings: