Before the end of World War II, seaplanes were an important tool for navies around the world. The US Navy was no different and launched a number of successful seaplane designs. Even in the post-war era, the Navy loved seaplanes, although today they are not so much needed.
Many of the advantages brought by seaplanes were useful before the Cold War, but since then improvements to conventional aircraft and infrastructure have essentially made them obsolete. The monstrous seaplanes are now a thing of the past, writes War History Online.
As the name suggests, seaplanes are largely ordinary aircraft, except that they can land on water and float like a boat. There are several types of such aircraft, but in Romanian they are all generically called hydroavioane.
Why the US Navy loved seaplanes
Seaplanes are aircraft with a boat-like hull that allows them to land on water, or with floats positioned under the aircraft for buoyancy. The term seaplane encompasses both and is used to describe an aircraft that can land on water by any means.
Some seaplanes can also land on land with retractable landing gear and are known as amphibious aircraft.
Regardless of type, their ability to take off and land without relying on runways makes them exceptionally adaptable. They are particularly useful in remote locations that lack the infrastructure to handle aircraft.
In the past, seaplanes could make longer journeys because they could refuel anywhere instead of relying on existing airfields along the route.
Because they didn’t need runways (often a crucial factor limiting the size of aircraft), they grew to huge sizes and many seaplanes were ranked among the largest aircraft in the world before the Cold War.
Many remote locations do not have runways, and even if they do, they are not capable of handling large aircraft. For seaplanes this was not a problem.
They were also much safer on the water and in emergencies because they could simply land at sea and the crew could make repairs or wait for help. Some larger seaplanes serve as an aerial firefighting solution, as they are able to quickly lift water and return to the fire.
The US Navy has invested heavily in this type of aircraft
Of course, the size and adaptability of seaplanes were attractive to navies around the globe. The US Navy invested heavily in these aircraft. As with civilians, they were useful in remote areas, where they could carry people and supplies without the need for a runway. In addition, existing airfields could be destroyed by bombs, which cannot be said of the oceans.
Their diversity, safety and size made them useful in anti-submarine and aerial reconnaissance roles, while their aquatic qualities made them perfect for search and rescue missions. Seaplanes could simply land near stranded people and take them on board.
One of the US Navy’s best-known seaplanes is the PBY Catalina, which was renowned for its work in air-sea rescue missions and patrolling the oceans during World War II.
Over 3,300 Catalinas have been built and used in all theatres of war. It first flew in 1935 and remained in military service in some countries until the 1980s. The model still flies today as a fire extinguisher.
The Martin Mars was the largest Allied seaplane to enter production, although it was built in small numbers. It was of huge proportions; weighing over 80 tons and with a wingspan of 60 metres.
The Martin Mariner was smaller, but was produced in much larger numbers and served as a patrol bomber throughout World War II.
The need for seaplanes was greatly diminished by the end of World War II, but their development continued with several different models, some of which incorporated new technologies that emerged with the jet age.
Examples: the Convair R3Y Tradewind – a turboprop carrier that first flew in 1954; the Martin P6M SeaMaster was a jet bomber seaplane, developed for the US Navy as a nuclear weapons delivery platform, it could reach speeds of 1,130 km/h.
Why the US Navy no longer uses seaplanes
Today, the US Navy is no longer concerned with seaplanes, unlike China and Russia. Seaplanes served their purpose during World War II, but by the end of the war they were forgotten.
The campaign to conquer territory “on the hop” led to the construction of airfields large enough to cope with heavy bombers throughout the Pacific. In addition, newer jets flew at higher speeds and over longer distances. These developments combined made large seaplanes relatively useless in the modern world.
Some manufacturers tried to market their flying craft for commercial travel to remote areas, but they simply could not compete with the continuous improvement of passenger planes and infrastructure.
Seaplanes still exist today because their advantages are still useful in remote locations and in firefighting.
