Comparative Analysis of Land-Based Antisubmarine Warfare Operations in the Atlantic

<p>This study examines a comparison of land based antisubmarine warfare (ASW) operations using U.S. Army aircraft during World War 2 and the U.S. Navy's P-3 Orion during the Cold War. Through both wars land based ASW aircraft provided the U.S. military an outreaching arm that limited the striking potential of enemy submarines. This thesis investigates the comparison in more depth by using four of the nine principles of war: (1) objective (2) offensive (3) maneuver and (4) surprise. Deterrence was the national strategy used to keep submarines from becoming a potential aggressor during both wars. The Navy's P-3 Orion land based throughout the Atlantic was able to provide a credible deterrent against Soviet submarines since its introduction to the fleet in 1962. U.S. Army aircraft of World War 2 used in fighting the German U-boats on the other hand progressed into a credible deterrent in their temporary role of ASW. The author examines the short lived history of U.S. Army land based operations (approximately two years) and the extended history of the U.S. Navy land based operations and suggests that despite technological advances onboard both service's aircraft land based ASW has changed very little after fifty years. This study also indicates that there lies a significant need in pursuing and continuing the capabilities of a land based ASW aircraft.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p><br>