Īllied operations in the Atlantic and Pacific war theaters were interconnected because they frequently competed for scarce naval resources for everything from aircraft carriers to transports and landing craft. Without Britain's survival and without Allied shipments of food, materiel and industrial equipment to the Soviet Union, her military and economic power would likely not have rebounded in time for Russian soldiers to prevail at Stalingrad and Kursk. Without the Allied victory in keeping shipping lanes open during the Battle of the Atlantic, Britain could not have fed her people or withstood Axis offensives in Europe and North Africa. Naval battles to keep shipping lanes open for combatant's movement of troops, guns, ammunition, tanks, warships, aircraft, raw materials, and food largely determined the outcome of land battles.
Naval historians such as Evan Mawdsley, Richard Overy, and Craig Symonds concluded that World War II's decisive victories on land could not have been won without decisive victories at sea. Later in the war small escort carriers built on civilian cargo hulls took over convoy protection. Offensive operations began with the Norwegian campaign where British carriers supported the fighting on land.Ĭarriers were important to the Mediterranean and Middle East theatre where they were used to resupply Malta's aircraft and so keep it viable in preventing resupply of Axis forces in North Africa. Aircraft carriers were used from the start of the war in Europe looking for German merchant raiders and escorting convoys. World War II was the first war where naval aviation took a major part in the hostilities.
Main article: Aircraft carrier operations during World War II