Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-09

ling and defeating hostile land
based planes over positions held in
force by the enemy. In these fields
four naval, aviation has won both
success and distinction.
Continuous Battle Sets Record.
Because Of its mobility and the
striking power and long range Of its
weapons, the aircraft carrier has
proved itself major and vital ele-
ment Of naval strength, whose only
weakness - its vulnerability - de-
mands the support Of all other
types. and thereby places an addi-
tional premium on the flexibility
and balance Of our feet. The bal
anced fleet is the effective fleet.
In a balanced feet the several
components must be welded to-
gether rather than simply CO.
ordinated. For example, submarines
normally operate ION their own" and
hasty consideration might lead to
the false conclusion that 1t would
be advantageous for submarines to
constitute a separate independent
service. However, careful considera-
ton will disclose the fallacy in
herent in reasoning from this
premise.
Actually, the commanding officer
of a submarine, to fight his ship
most effectively, must be familiar
with all phases Of naval tactics and
strategy. 1t Is also essential that
officers tn surface ships understand
the capabilities and limitations OF
submarines. This Is accomplished In
time Of peace by requiring that
submarine officers alternate periods
Of submarine duty with duty ii,
vessels Of other types.
Officers Viewpoint Broadened.
BY this means, the point Of view
Of the officer corps as a whole Is
broadened and in the higher eche-
Ions of command there are always
included officers who have had SUBJ
marine experience.
Aviation, though speciality, is
much more closely interviewer with
the rest of the feet than is the
submarine branch Of the Navy. 1t is
in fact, impossible to imagine an
efficient modern feet in which there
lis not a complete welding of aviation
and surface elements.
= This is accomplished by requiring
aviators to rotate in other duties
in the same manner as do submarine
officers, and by requiring non.
aviators to familiarize themselves
with aircraft operations-not a diff.
ficult matter since not only car.
riers but also battleships and cruis.
ers are equipped with aircraft. Avia.
ton is part of the ordinary daily life
Of the officer at sea.
OF course, 1t is not possible tt
effect rotation of duties of all sub.
marine and air officers during war
AS matter of fact, this is true Of
duty in all classes of ships. It /.
necessary during wartime to trair
certain officers-especially the re-
serves-for one particular type o.
duty and to keep them at 1t. How.
ever, the long periods of peacetim,
| training, in which an officer obtain,
the rounded experience to. At hin
for higher command, have beer
utilized in tht past to give ofiicerl
experience in varied duties and tn,
practice will be continued in tn,
future.
The wisdom of that system wa.
proved during the war by the efiici.
ency Of aircraft carriers, commanded
by qualified aviators who also were
experienced in handling ships, and
particularly. by the efficiency of the
high combat commands of the Pa.
cific Fleet.
Many of the major units Of thu
Pacific Fleet, composed of carrier.
and vessels Of all other types, were
commanded by aviators. Ths
strength of the Navy lies In the com.
plete indignation Of. its submarine
surface and air elements.
Naval Aviation Was Spearheard.
The epic advance of our unitet
forces across the vast Pacific, west.
ward from Hawaii and northwarC