Scout plane
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The term "scout plane" refers to any aircraft used for the purpose of discovering an enemy position and directing artillery. Due to the advanced technology used by todays cruisers, destroyers, and other surface vessels, scout planes are no longer needed for long range exchanges.
Image:Http://www.boeing.com/history/boeing/images/scout n.jpg Boeing "L-15 Scout", a typical WWII-era scouting aircraft.
However, in WWII, these planes were essential for battleships and other surface warships during bombardment of land targets, as it was difficult to see an enemy position, even with binoculars. The scout plane, for the U.S., this was usually the Curtiss SOC "Seagull" 1 , would fly over the position, giving the ship a latitude/longitude destination. The ship would then open fire on that area, therby destroying most of the enemy, and allowing ground troops or fighter/bomber aircraft access to the area.
Image:Http://www.daileyint.com/wwii/neorca32.jpg USS New Orleans during WWII, notice the scouting aircraft on a catapault.
Quite possibly the most illustrious use of scout planes was with the [Japanese battleship Yamato]. Its extremely long range meant that it could fire over the horizon, and scout planes were needed to spot enemy ships.
[edit] References
http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/ac-usn22/s-types/soc.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_battleship_Yamato http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II
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