Before the 1920s, aircraft were primarily seen as scouting tools or auxiliaries to the battleship line. However, the successful conversion of the collier into the USS Langley (CV-1) marked the beginning of a shift toward dedicated aircraft carriers.
The introduction of carrier-based aviation provided fleets with critical air cover and scouting capabilities over areas unreachable by land-based planes, granting a massive tactical advantage. 1920x1200 Naval Aviation">
: By the end of the 1920s, the U.S. Navy had transitioned from a small detachment of seaplanes to a fleet featuring three fully operational carriers. Before the 1920s, aircraft were primarily seen as
: During this period, aircraft became faster and more durable, and the Navy established the Bureau of Aeronautics to oversee this rapid development. Tactical and Operational Evolution Before the 1920s