Aircraft Graf Zeppelin-class aircraft carrier

a bf 109t-1

the expected role of graf zeppelin class of seagoing scouting platform , initial planned air group reflected emphasis: 20 fieseler fi 167 biplanes scouting , torpedo attack, 10 messerschmitt bf 109 fighters, , 13 junkers ju 87 dive bombers. later changed 30 bf 109 fighters , 12 ju 87 dive-bombers carrier doctrine in japan, great britain , united states shifted away purely reconnaissance duties toward offensive combat missions.

in late 1938, technische amt rlm (technical office of reichsluftfahrtministerium or state ministry of aviation) requested messerschmitt s augsburg design bureau draw plans carrier-borne version of bf 109e fighter, designated bf 109t (the t standing träger or carrier). december 1940, rlm decided complete 7 carrier-equipped bf 109t-1s , finish remainder land-based t-2s since work on graf zeppelin had ceased in april , there appeared little likelihood commissioned time soon.

when work on graf zeppelin ceased, t-2s deployed norway. @ end of 1941, when interest in completing graf zeppelin revived, surviving bf 109 t-2s withdrawn front-line service in order again prepare them possible carrier duty. 7 t-2s rebuilt t-1 standards , handed on kriegsmarine on 19 may 1942. december, total of 48 bf 109t-2s had been converted t-1s. 46 of these stationed @ pillau in east prussia , reserved use aboard carrier. february 1943, work on graf zeppelin had ceased , aircraft returned luftwaffe service in april.

a fieseler fi 167, fifth of 12 pre-production machines, banks through clouds on test flight.

when work on graf zeppelin suspended in may 1940, 12 completed fi 167s organized erprobungsstaffel 167 purpose of conducting further operational trials. time work on carrier resumed 2 years later in may 1942, fi 167 no longer considered adequate intended role , technische amt decided replace modified torpedo-carrying version of junkers ju 87d. ten ju 87c-0 pre-production aircraft built , sent testing facilities @ rechlin , travemünde underwent extensive service trials, including catapult launches , simulated deck landings. of 170 ju 87c-1 ordered, few saw completion, suspension of work on graf zeppelin in may 1940 resulting in cancellation of entire order. existing aircraft , airframes in process converted ju 87b-2s.

work on developing torpedo-carrying version of ju 87d anti-shipping sorties in mediterranean had commenced in 1942 when possibility again arose graf zeppelin might completed. fieseler fi 167 considered obsolete, technische amt requested junkers modify ju 87d-4 carrier-borne torpedo-bomber/recon plane designated ju 87e-1. when further work on graf zeppelin halted in february 1943, entire order canceled. none of ju 87ds converted carry torpedo used operationally.

by may 1942, when work ordered resumed on graf zeppelin, older bf 109t carrier-borne fighter considered obsolete. september 1942 detailed plans new fighter, me 155, completed. when became apparent graf zeppelin not commissioned @ least 2 years, messerschmitt unofficially told shelve projected fighter design. no prototype of carrier-borne version of plane ever constructed.

on 1 august 1938, 4 months prior graf zeppelin s launch date, luftwaffe formed first carrier-based air unit, designated trägergruppe i/186, on rugia island near burg. composed of 3 squadrons (staffeln) , intended serve aboard both carriers when completed. october shipyard construction delays resulted in disbandment of air group considered large , costly maintain given uncertainty on when 2 vessels ready sea trials. instead, on 1 november same year single fighter squadron (trägerjagdstaffel) created, 6./186, , placed under command of cpt. heinrich seeliger.

later, dive bomber squadron added, 4./186, equipped ju 87bs under cpt. blattner. 6 months after, in july 1939, second fighter squadron formed, 5./186, under oberleutnant gerhard kadow , partly staffed pilots culled 6./186. august 3 squadrons reorganised trägergruppe ii/186 under command of major walter hagen in anticipation graf zeppelin ready service trials summer of 1940.