REFERENCES:

A. LOCAL STANDARD ORGANIZATION AND REGULATIONS MANUAL (SORM)
B. THE BLUEJACKETS' MANUAL
C. NAVEDTRA 12000, AIRMAN
D. NAVEDTRA 16138, NAVAL ORIENTATION
E. NAVEDTRA 10054, BASIC MILITARY REQUIREMENTS
F. LOCAL SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT

131.1 DISCUSS THE OVERALL MISSION OF THE NAVAL AVIATION. (REF C)

ORGANIZE, TRAIN, EQUIP NAVY FORCES FOR THE CONDUCT OF PROMPT AND SUSTAINED COMBAT OPERATION AT SEA, INCLUDING OPERATIONS OF SEA BASED AIRCRAFT, LAND BASED NAVAL AIR COMPONENTS, TO CONTROL VITAL SEA LINES OF COMMUNICATIONS, TO SEIZE AND DEFEND ADVANCE NAVAL BASES AND TO CONDUCT SUCH LAND, AIR AND SEA OPERATIONS AS MAY BE ESSENTIAL TO THE PROSECUTION OF A NAVAL CAMPAIGN.

131.2 EXPLAIN THE MISSION OF YOUR COMMAND. (REF. A)

TO PROJECT POWER ASHORE AND AT SEA, TO DEFEND THE FLEET AGAINST AIR AND SEA THREATS, AND TO CARRY OUT ALL OTHER MISSIONS ASSIGNED BY THE NATIONAL COMMAND AUTHORITY.

131.3 IDENTIFY ALL AVIATION RATINGS AND STATE THE BASIC JOB DESCRIPTIONS OF EACH. (REF. B)

A. ABE/ABH/ABF - AVIATION BOATSWAIN'S MATE:

1. ABE - AVIATION BOATSWAIN'S MATE, LAUNCHING AND RECOVERY EQUIPMENT - LAUNCH AND RECOVER AIRCRAFT. OPERATE, MAINTAIN, AND REPAIR AIRCRAFT CATAPULTS, ARRESTING GEAR, AND BARRICADES.

2. ABF - AVIATION BOATSWAIN'S MATE, FUELS - FUEL AIRCRAFT. OPERATE AND MAINTAIN FUEL AND LUBE-OIL TRANSFER SYSTEMS.

3. ABH - AVIATION BOATSWAIN'S MATE, AIRCRAFT HANDLING - AIRCRAFT HANDLERS. DIRECT AIRCRAFT ON THE FLIGHT DECK AND IN HANGER BAYS BEFORE LAUNCH AND AFTER RECOVERY. THEY USE TOW TRACTORS TO POSITION AIRCRAFT AND OPERATE SUPPORT EQUIPMENT USED TO START AIRCRAFT.

B. AC - AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER - ACS ASSIST IN THE ESSENTIAL SAFE, ORDERLY, AND SPEEDY FLOW OF AIR TRAFFIC BY DIRECTING AND CONTROLLING AIRCRAFT. THEY OPERATE FIELD LIGHTING SYSTEMS, COMMUNICATE WITH AIRCRAFT, FURNISH PILOTS WITH INFORMATION REGARDING TRAFFIC, NAVIGATION, AND WEATHER CONDITIONS.

C. AD - AVIATION MACHINIST'S MATE - AD'S MAINTAIN JET AIRCRAFT ENGINES AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT, OR ENGAGE IN ANY ONE OF SEVERAL TYPES OF AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES. ADS MAINTAIN, SERVICE, ADJUST, AND REPLACE AIRCRAFT ENGINES AND ACCESSORIES, AS WELL AS PERFORM THE DUTIES OF FLIGHT ENGINEERS.

D. AE - AVIATION ELECTRICIAN'S MATE - AE'S MAINTAIN, ADJUST, AND REPAIR ELECTRICAL-POWER GENERATING AND CONVERTING SYSTEMS IN AIRCRAFT, LIGHTING, AND CONTROL AND INDICATING SYSTEMS. THEY ALSO INSTALL AND MAINTAIN WIRING AND FLIGHT AND ENGINE INSTRUMENT SYSTEMS.

E. AG - AEROGRAPHER'S MATE - THE NAVY HAS ITS OWN WEATHER FORECASTERS AND OCEANOGRAPHERS, AG'S, WHO ARE TRAINED IN METEOROLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY USE METEOROLOGICAL INSTRUMENTS THAT MONITOR SUCH WEATHER CHARACTERISTICS AS AIR PRESSURE, TEMPERATURE, HUMIDITY, WIND SPEED, AND WIND DIRECTION.

F. AK - AVIATION STOREKEEPER - AK'S ENSURE THAT THE MATERIAL AND EQUIPMENT NEEDED BY NAVAL AVIATION ACTIVITIES ARE AVAILABLE AND IN GOOD ORDER. THEY TAKE INVENTORY, ESTIMATE FUTURE NEEDS, AND MAKE PURCHASES. AKS STORE AND ISSUE FLIGHT CLOTHING, AERONAUTICAL MATERIAL AND SPARE PARTS, ORDNANCE, AND ELECTRONIC, STRUCTURAL, AND ENGINEERING EQUIPMENT.

G. AMS/AMH/AME - AVIATION STRUCTURAL MECHANIC:

1. AMS - AVIATION STRUCTURAL MECHANIC, STRUCTURAL - MAINTAIN AND REPAIR AIRCRAFT PARTS (WINGS, FUSELAGE, TAIL, CONTROL SURFACES, LANDING GEAR. AND ATTENDING MECHANISMS) AND WORK WITH METALS, ALLOYS, AND PLASTICS.

2. AMH - AVIATION STRUCTURAL MECHANIC, HYDRAULIC - MAINTAIN AND REPAIR HYDRAULIC SYSTEMS.

3. AME - AVIATION STRUCTURAL MECHANIC, ENVIRONMENTAL - MAINTAIN AND REPAIR SAFETY EQUIPMENT. UTILITY SYSTEMS, ENVIRONMENTAL, EGRESS AND SAFETY DEVICES.

H. AO - AVIATION ORDNANCEMAN - NAVY AIRCRAFT CARRY GUNS, BOMBS, TORPEDOES, ROCKETS, AND MISSILES TO ATTACK THE ENEMY ON THE SEA, IN THE AIR, AND ON LAND. AOS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING, REPAIRING, INSTALLING, OPERATING, AND HANDLING AVIATION ORDNANCE EQUIPMENT.

I. AS - AVIATION SUPPORT EQUIPMENT TECHNICIAN - ASS PERFORM INTERMEDIATE MAINTENANCE ON "WHITE" (AVIATION ACCESSORY) SUPPORT EQUIPMENT AT NAVAL AIR STATIONS AND ABOARD CARRIERS. THEY MAINTAIN GASOLINE AND DIESEL ENGINES, HYDRAULIC AND PNEUMATIC SYSTEMS, LIQUID AND GASEOUS OXYGEN AND NITROGEN SYSTEMS, GAS-TURBINE COMPRESSOR UNITS, AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS.

J. AT - AVIATION ELECTRONIC TECHNICIAN - ATS PERFORM INTERMEDIATE-LEVEL PREVENTATIVE AND CORRECTIVE MAINTENANCE ON AVIATION ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS SUPPORTED BY CONVENTIONAL AND AUTOMATIC TEST EQUIPMENT.

K. AW - AVIATION ANTISUBMARINE WARFARE OPERATOR - AWS OPERATE AIRBORNE RADAR AND ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT USED IN DETECTING, LOCATING AND TRACKING SUBMARINES. AWS ALSO OPERATE RADARS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION FOR AIRCRAFT AND SURFACE NAVIGATION.
L. AZ - AVIATION MAINTENANCE ADMINISTRATIONMAN - THE MANY CLERICAL, ADMINISTRATIVE AND MANAGERIAL DUTIES NECESSARY TO KEEP AIRCRAFT-MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES RUNNING SMOOTHLY ARE HANDLED BY AZS. THEY PLAN, SCHEDULE, AND COORDINATE THE MAINTENANCE WORKLOAD, INCLUDING INSPECTIONS AND MODIFICATIONS TO AIRCRAFT AND EQUIPMENT.

M. PR - AIRCREW SURVIVAL EQUIPMENTMAN - PARACHUTES ARE THE LIFESAVING EQUIPMENT OF AIRCREWMAN WHEN THEY HAVE TO BAIL OUT. PRS PACK AND CARE FOR PARACHUTES AS WELL AS SERVICE, MAINTAIN, AND REPAIR FLIGHT CLOTHING, RUBBER LIFE RAFTS, LIFE JACKETS, OXYGEN-BREATHING EQUIPMENT, PROTECTIVE CLOTHING, AND AIR-SEA RESCUE EQUIPMENT.

N. PH - PHOTOGRAPHER'S MATE - PHS PHOTOGRAPH ACTUAL AND SIMULATED BATTLE OPERATIONS AS WELL AS DOCUMENTARY AND NEWSWORTHY EVENTS. THEY EXPOSE AND PROCESS LIGHT-SENSITIVE NEGATIVES AND POSITIVES; MAINTAIN CAMERAS, RELATED EQUIPMENT, PHOTO FILES, AND RECORDS; AND PERFORM OTHER PHOTOGRAPHIC SERVICES FOR THE NAVY.

131.4 STATE THE PRIMARY MISSION OF THE FOLLOWING AVIATION COMMUNITIES; IDENTIFY AND STATE THE BASIC CAPABILITIES OF THE AIRCRAFT TYPES USED BY EACH: (REFS B,C,F)

A. VA - (ATKRON) FIXED WING, ATTACK - THE ATTACK AIRCRAFT'S MAIN MISSION IS TO DESTROY ENEMY TARGETS, AT SEA AND SHORE, WITH ROCKETS, GUIDED MISSILES, TORPEDOES, MINES, AND CONVENTIONAL OR NUCLEAR BOMBS. ATTACK PLANES ARE USED FOR LOW-LEVEL BOMBING, GROUND SUPPORT, OR NUCLEAR STRIKES. TYPE AIRCRAFT: A-6, AV-8A.

B. VF - (FITRON) FIXED WING, FIGHTER - LIKE ATTACK AIRCRAFT, FIGHTERS ARE BOTH CARRIER BASED AND LAND BASED. THEY ARE FASTER AND MORE MANEUVERABLE THAN ATTACK AIRCRAFT. FIGHTERS ARE HIGH-PERFORMANCE AIRCRAFT GENERALLY EMPLOYED TO GAIN AIR SUPERIORITY. TYPE AIRCRAFT: F-14.

C. VFA - (STRIKFITRON) FIXED WING, STRIKE FIGHTER - OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE AIR-TO-SURFACE ATTACK OPERATIONS WITH CONVENTIONAL AND NUCLEAR WEAPONS; TYPE AIRCRAFT: F/A-18.

D. VS - (AIRANTISUBRON) FIXED WING, CARRIER ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE - SEARCHES OUT SUBMARINES VISUALLY, BY RADAR AND MAGNETIC DETECTION, OR BY SIGNALS SENT FROM FLOATING SONOBUOYS, THESE AIRCRAFT ATTACK WITH ROCKETS, DEPTH CHARGES, OR HOMING TORPEDOES. TYPE AIRCRAFT: S3A.

E. VP - (PATRON) FIXED WING, PATROL (ASW) - THESE LARGE AIRCRAFT, WITH LOW SPEEDS BUT VERY LONG FLYING RANGE, HAVE THE PRIMARY MISSION OF ANTISUBMARINE PATROL. THEY ALSO MINE, BOMB, AND CARRY MISSILES. TYPE AIRCRAFT: P-3.

F. VR/VRC - (FLELOGSUPPRON) FIXED WING, FLEET LOGISTIC LAND/CARRIER SUPPORT - TACTICAL SUPPORT SQUADRONS PROVIDE FOR LONG-DISTANCE TRANSFER OF PERSONNEL AND SUPPLIES. THEY ARE MOSTLY LAND-BASED LONG-RANGE TYPES. TYPE AIRCRAFT: C-2A, C-9B, C-130, UC-12B, CT-39, US-3A.

G. VC/VFC - (FLECOMPRON) FIXED WING, FLEET COMPOSITE - VC SQUADRONS PERFORM SUCH DUTIES AS ADVERSARY, SIMULATION, AND TARGET TOWING. TYPE AIRCRAFT: S/UH-3A/G, CH-53E, VP-3A.

H. VX/VXE/VXN

1. VX - (AIRTEVRON) FIXED WING, AIR TEST AND EVALUATION - THE MISSION OF A DEVELOPMENT SQUADRON IS TO TEST AND EVALUATE FIXED-WING AND ROTARY-WING AIRCRAFT AND THEIR EQUIPMENT. TYPE AIRCRAFT: A-4M/T, TA-4J, A-6, AV-8, F/A-18A/B, S-3A/B, P-3A/C, UH-1N, AH-1J/T/W, SH-2F, SH-3H, SH-60B/F, OV-10A/D.

2. VXE - (ANTARCTICDEVRON) ANTARCTIC DEVELOPMENT - SUPPORTS OPERATION DEEP FREEZE AND IN THIS CAPACITY IS UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE U.S. NAVAL SUPPORT FORCE, ANTARCTICA. TYPE AIRCRAFT: LC-130, UH-1N.

3. VXN - (OCEANDEVRON) FIXED WING, OCEANOGRAPHIC DEVELOPMENT, ELECTRONIC - SPECIAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PROJECTS IN SUPPORT OF ANTISUBMARINE WARFARE AND ENVIRONMENTAL PREDICTION. TYPE AIRCRAFT: RP-3.

I. VT - (TRARON) FIXED WING, TRAINER - TRAINERS ARE GENERALLY TWO-SEAT AIRCRAFT (INSTRUCTORS AND STUDENT). THE MISSION OF A TRAINING SQUADRON IS TO PROVIDE BASIC, ADVANCED, OPERATIONAL, AND REFRESHER-TYPE FLIGHT TRAINING. TYPE AIRCRAFT: T-2, TA-4J, T-34C, T-44A, T-45.

J. VMFA - MARINE, FIXED WING, STRIKE FIGHTER - OFFENSIVE ADN DEFENSIVE AIR-TO-SURFACE OR AIR-TO-AIR ATTACK OPERATIONS WITH CONVENTIAL AND NUCLEAR WEAPONS; TYPE AIRCRAFT: F/A-18.

K. HC - (HELSUPPRON) HELICOPTER, COMPOSITE SUPPORT (UTILITY) - HC SQUADRONS PERFORM SUCH DUTIES AS PLANE GUARD, SEA-AIR RESCUE, MAIL DELIVERY, AND PERSONNEL TRANSFER. TYPE AIRCRAFT: H-1, H-3, CH-46, CH-53E, HH-60.

L. HM - (HELMINERON) HELICOPTER, MINE COUNTERMEASURES - WITH MINESWEEPING GEAR IN TOW, THE HELICOPTER FLIES A FEW FEET ABOVE WATER ALONG THE ROUTE BEING SWEPT.

M. HS - (HELANTISUBRON) HELICOPTER, ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE, AN ANTISUBMARINE HELICOPTER IS EQUIPPED TO DETECT A SUBMARINE AND DESTROY IT. WHEN USING SONAR, THE HELO LOWERS A SONAR "BALL" INTO THE WATER AND ATTACKS THE TARGET WITH TORPEDOES OR DEPTH CHARGES. TYPE AIRCRAFT: SH-3H, SH-60F.

N. HSL - (HELANTISUBRON LIGHT) HELICOPTER, ANTI-SUBMARINE, LIGHT - THE NAVY NOW USES THE SH-60B SEAHAWK, THE AIRBORNE PLATFORM SEGMENT OF THE LAMPS MARK III INTEGRATED SHIP/AIR WEAPONS SYSTEM, ABOARD CERTAIN FRIGATES AND DESTROYERS.

O. HCS - (HELSUPPSPECRON) HELICOPTER, COMBAT SUPPORT SPECIAL SQUADRON, LIGHT - PROVIDES DEDICATED, DEPLOYABLE COMBAT RESCUE DETACHMENTS IN SUPPORT OF AIRCRAFT CARRIER AND AMPHIBIOUS OPERATIONS FOR QUICK-REACTION CONTINGENCIES. AIRCRAFT TYPE: HH-60H.

P. HT - (HELTRARON) HELICOPTER, TRAINING SUPPORT - VARIOUS TYPES OF HELICOPTERS - THE MISSION OF A TRAINING SQUADRON IS TO PROVIDE BASIC, ADVANCED, OPERATIONAL, AND REFRESHER-TYPE FLIGHT TRAINING. AIRCRAFT TYPE: TH-57, TH-1L.

Q. VAW - (CARAEWRON) FIXED WING, CARRIER AIRBORNE EARLY WARNING - ELECTRONIC-SEARCH AND RADAR-COUNTERMEASURES EQUIPMENT IS USED BY VAW AIRCRAFT TO PROVIDE EARLY WARNING OF HOSTILE AIRCRAFT, MISSILES, SHIPS, SUBMARINES, AND EVEN BAD WEATHER. TYPE AIRCRAFT: E-2C, E-6.

R. VQ - (FAIRECONRON) FIXED WING, FLEET AIR RECONNAISSANCE - MANY AIRCRAFT HAVE BEEN MODIFIED FOR THESE COMPLEX MISSIONS. TYPE AIRCRAFT: EP-3, ES-3, AND EC-130 ARE MODIFIED VERSIONS OF THE P-3, S-3, AND C-130 USED FOR RECONNAISSANCE.

S. VAQ - (TACELRON) FIXED WING, TACTICAL ELECTRONIC WARFARE - TACTICALLY EXPLOITS, SUPPRESSES, DEGRADES, AND DECEIVES ENEMY ELECTROMAGNETIC DEFENSIVE AND OFFENSIVE SYSTEMS, INCLUDING COMMUNICATION, IN SUPPORT OF AIR STRIKE AND FLEET OPERATIONS; AERIAL REFUELING SERVICES IN SOME SQUADRONS. TYPE AIRCRAFT: EA-6B.

131.5 STATE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF AIRCRAFT USED IN NAVAL AVIATION ANTISUBMARINE WARFARE (ASW). (REFS. B, C)

A. P-3 ORION

B. S-3 VIKING

C. SH-2 SEASPRITE

D. SH-3 SEAKING

E. SH-60B SEAHAWK

F. SH-60F OCEANHAWK

131.6 STATE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF AIRCRAFT USED IN NAVAL AVIATION ANTI-AIR WARFARE (AAW). (REFS. B, C)

A. F-14 TOMCAT

B. F/A-18 HORNET

131.7 STATE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF AIRCRAFT USED IN NAVAL AVIATION AIRBORNE-EARLY-WARNING (AEW). (REFS. B, C)

A. E-2C HAWKEYE

B. E-6A HERMES

131.8 DEFINE THE TERM STRIKE AS APPLIED TO CARRIER WARFARE: (REF D)

STRIKE - A STRIKE IS ANY NAVAL OPERATION WHICH IS PLANNED TO PRODUCE DEVASTATING DAMAGE TO AN OBJECTIVE.

131.9 EXPLAIN HOW A SURFACE ACTION GROUP (SAG) IS NORMALLY UTILIZED AS PART OF A MODERN CARRIER TASK FORCE. (REF. D)

TASK FORCE OR GROUP COMMANDERS INCLUDE IN THEIR OPERATION ORDERS PROVISION FOR SURFACE-ACTION GROUPS WHICH CAN BE DETACHED TO PERFORM CERTAIN MISSIONS. A BATTLE PLAN IS PREPARED FOR THESE FORCES ON THE SUPPOSITION THAT SURFACE ACTION WILL MATERIALIZE. HOWEVER, SUCH A FORCE GENERALLY IS USED ONLY AS ONE ELEMENT IN A COORDINATED STRIKE BY BOTH AIR, SURFACE, AND SUB-SURFACE UNITS.

131.10 DESCRIBE THE ROLE OF EACH OF THE FOLLOWING AS PART OF A COORDINATED ANTI-AIR WARFARE (AAW) FORCE: (REF. D)

A. PICKET SHIPS - OUTLYING DESTROYERS WERE STATIONED, SOMETIMES 50 MILES FROM THE TASK FORCE, TO DETECT AND REPORT ON THE COMPOSITION AND DISPOSITION OF ENEMY AIRCRAFT. CIC- EQUIPPED PICKETS CONTROLLED ASSIGNED CAPS FROM THEIR OWN POSITIONS. SECOND PHASE IS THE INITIAL ACTIVE AAW DEFENCE USING ESM AND LONG-RANGE, SURFACE-TO-AIR, GUIDED-MISSILE FIRE. ALSO, USED DURING THE THIRD PHASE FOR CLOSE-RANGE DEFENCE WHEN ATTACKING AIRCRAFT HAVE PENETRATED NEAR OR WITHIN GUN RANGE.

B. EARLY WARNING AIRCRAFT - FIRST PHASE OF DEFENSE, SEARCH, FIND, EVALUATE AND REPORT THE ENEMY ATTACK FORCE.

C. COMBAT AIR PATROL - THE CAP CONSISTS OF CARRIER-BASED AIRCRAFT THAT PATROL ASSIGNED SECTORS AROUND A TASK FORMATION. THE SECOND PHASE, INITIAL ACTIVE AAW DEFENSE USING ESM, AIRCRAFT INTERCEPT, AND AIR-TO-AIR, GUIDED-MISSILES.

131.11 STATE THE PRIMARY MISSION OF THE NAVY'S MODERN SUBMARINE FORCE AS IT RELATES TO NAVAL AVIATION. REF D

ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE IS THE PRIMARY MISSION OF OUR SUBMARINE FORCES. DIRECT SUPPORT OF THE CARRIER BATTLE GROUP BY PRECEDING THE STRIKE FORCE INTO ENEMY WATERS TO FUNCTION AS ASW SCREENS AND MINELAYERS.

131.12 EXPLAIN HOW THE FOLLOWING DEVICES ARE USED TO AID ANTISUBMARINE WARFARE (ASW): (REFS B,C)

A. PASSIVE SONOBUOYS - BUOYANT TUBES, EACH CONTAINING A HYDROPHONE AND RADIO TRANSMITTER. THE PASSIVE SONOBUOY DEPENDS ENTIRELY ON THE TARGET'S NOISE AS THE SOUND SOURCE RATHER THAN THE RETURNED ECHOES OF A TRANSMITTED SIGNAL.

B. ACTIVE SONOBUOYS - ACTIVE SONOBUOYS EMIT A SOUND SIGNAL AND LISTENS FOR THE RETURN ECHO.

C. ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERCEPT EQUIPMENT (ESM) - SENSORS THAT ASSIST IN DETECTING THE ELECTRONIC EMISSIONS FROM SUBMARINES.

D. MAGNETIC ANOMALY DETECTION (MAD) - USED MAINLY FOR CLASSIFICATION PURPOSES. WHEN USED AGAINST SUBMARINES AT SHALLOW DEPTHS, IT PRODUCES A CONICAL SHAPED SWEEP PATH WHICH CAN, DEPENDING ON HEIGHT OF THE AIRCRAFT AND OTHER VARIABLES, DETECT A SUBMARINE BY VARIATIONS IN THE EARTH'S MAGNETIC LINES OF FORCE.

E. DIPPING SONAR - SINCE HELICOPTERS ARE CAPABLE OF HOVERING IN ONE SPOT, A LONG CABLE LOWERS A CYLINDRICAL TRANSDUCER INTO THE WATER WHILE HOVERING OVER A SUSPECTED CONTACT AREA. WITH THIS GEAR THE HELICOPTER CAN LISTEN OR ECHO-RANGE (DETERMINE THE LOCATION OF A SUBMARINE).

131.13 EXPLAIN THE ROLE AND AUTHORITY OF THE LEAD SHIPBOARD COMBAT INFORMATION CENTER DURING A COORDINATED ASW EXERCISE INVOLVING MULTIPLE SHIPS AND AIRCRAFT. (REF D)

CIC IS THE KEY STATION FOR COORDINATING SEARCH-ATTACK OPERATIONS WITHIN THE SHIP AND BETWEEN SHIPS. PERSONNEL IN CIC PLOT, DISPLAY, EVALUATE, AND DISSEMINATE ALL AIR, SURFACE, AND SUBSURFACE CONTACTING INFORMATION; AND RECOMMEND SEARCH PLANS TO THE COMMANDING OFFICER.

131.14 EXPLAIN THE IMPORTANCE OF THE AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT TO MODERN WARFARE. (REF. D)

THE USEFULNESS OF THE AMPHIBIOUS OPERATION STEMS FROM MOBILITY AND FLEXIBILITY; I.E., THE ABILITY TO CONCENTRATE BALANCED FORCES AND TO STRIKE WITH GREAT STRENGTH AT SELECTED POINTS IN A HOSTILE DEFENSE SYSTEM. AN AMPHIBIOUS OPERATION EXPLOITS THE ELEMENT OF SURPRISE AND CAPITALIZES UPON ENEMY WEAKNESSES THROUGH APPLICATION OF THE REQUIRED TYPE AND DEGREE OF FORCE AT THE MOST ADVANTAGEOUS LOCATIONS AT THE MOST OPPORTUNE TIMES.

131.15 LIST THE TYPES OF SHIPS THAT MAKE UP AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER BATTLE GROUP AND IDENTIFY THE MISSION OF EACH. (REF F)

1. CV/CVN - AIRCRAFT CARRIER/AIRCRAFT CARRIER NUCLEAR - CARRY, LAUNCH, RETRIEVE, AND HANDLE COMBAT AIRCRAFT QUICKLY AND EFFECTIVELY. TOTAL POWER PROJECTION/AAW.

2. SSN - SUBMARINE NUCLEAR - LOCATE AND DESTROY ENEMY SHIPS AND SUBMARINES. ASW/ASUW.

3. CG/CGN - GUIDED MISSILE CRUISER/GUIDED MISSILE CRUISER NUCLEAR -PROVIDES PROTECTIVE SCREENS AGAINST SURFACE AND AIR ATTACKS. AAW/ASUW.

4. DD/DDG - DESTROYER/GUIDED MISSILE DESTROYER - OPERATE OFFENSIVELY AND DEFENSIVELY AGAINST SUBMARINES AND SURFACE SHIPS. ASW/ASUW.

5. FF/FFG - FAST FRIGATE/GUIDED MISSILE FRIGATE - OPEN-OCEAN ESCORT AND PATROL. ASW/ASUW.

6. AOE - FAST COMBAT SUPPORT SHIP - MULTIPLE-PRODUCT SHIP TRANSFERRING MISSILES, CONVENTIONAL AMMUNITION, FUEL, AND GENERAL AND REFRIGERATED CARGO AT SEA.

7. AOR - REPLENISHMENT OILER - MULTI-PRODUCT DELIVERY OF FUEL, MUNITIONS, DRY STORES, AND REFRIGERATED STORES AT SEA.

8. AFS - COMBAT STORES SHIP - HIGH SPEED REPLENISHMENT AT SEA, DELIVERING STORES ISSUE, REFRIGERATED STORES, AND AVIATION SUPPLIES.

9. AO - OILER - DELIVER NAVY FUEL OIL AND OTHER PETROLEUM PRODUCTS AT SEA.

10. AE - AMMUNITION SHIP - DELIVER AMMUNITION AND MISSILES AT SEA.

131.16 DESCRIBE THE WORLD WAR II NAVAL BATTLE WHICH SAVED AUSTRALIA FROM INVASION, RELATING ITS IMPORTANCE TO MODERN NAVAL WARFARE. (REF. E)

THE JAPANESE IMPERIAL NAVY HAD CAPTURED ISLAND AFTER ISLAND IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC AS IT ADVANCED TOWARDS AUSTRALIA. IT WAS THE NAVY'S AIR ARM THAT FINALLY STOPPED THAT ADVANCE IN EARLY MAY 1942 AND SET THE SCENE FOR THE TURNING POINT OF THE WAR IN THE PACIFIC. AT CORAL SEA THE TWO FLEETS NEVER SAW EACH OTHER - THE BATTLE WAS FOUGHT ENTIRELY WITH AIRCRAFT LAUNCHED FROM CARRIERS. THE LEXINGTON AND YORKTOWN, JOINTLY UNDER THE COMMAND OF ADMIRAL F. J. FLETCHER, LAUNCHED 93 ATTACK PLANES AGAINST THE CARRIERS SHOHO, SHOKAKU, AND ZUIKAKU, THE LATTER TWO BOTH VETERANS OF PEARL HARBOR. IN A PERIOD OF 5 MINUTES THE SHOHO WAS HIT WITH 10 HEAVY BOMBS AND 15 TORPEDOES. THE LEXINGTON'S RADIO CRACKLED WITH THE VOICE OF LIEUTENANT COMMANDER DIXON OF THE AIR GROUP, "SCRATCH ONE FLATTOP. DIXON TO CARRIER, SCRATCH ONE FLATTOP!" ALSO IN THE BATTLE, THE OTHER TWO ENEMY CARRIERS WERE SO BADLY DAMAGED THAT THEIR SERVICES TO THE JAPANESE FLEET WERE LOST FOR WEEKS. THE UNITED STATES SUFFERED THE LOSS OF AN OILER, AN ESCORT, AND THE LEXINGTON. EVEN THOUGH THERE WERE HEAVY AMERICAN LOSSES IN TERMS OF TONNAGE AND MEN, AUSTRALIA HAD BEEN SAVED FROM INVASION.

131.17 DESCRIBE THE WORLD WAR II NAVAL BATTLE WHICH PROVED TO BE THE TURNING POINT OF THE PACIFIC CAMPAIGN.
(REF D)

THE TURNING POINT OF THE WAR CAME IN JUNE 1942 AT THE BATTLE OF MIDWAY. THE JAPANESE HAD CONCENTRATED ON THE CENTRAL PACIFIC WHERE IT WAS THEIR INTENTION TO OCCUPY MIDWAY ISLAND. THE FOUR-CARRIER JAPANESE TASK FORCE WAS MET BY A U.S. CARRIER FORCE INCLUDING THE CARRIERS YORKTOWN, HORNET, AND ENTERPRISE, PLUS NAVY, MARINE, AND ARMY AIR UNITS FROM MIDWAY. DIVE BOMBERS PROVED TO BE THE DOWNFALL OF THE JAPANESE CARRIER FORCE. WHEN THE BATTLE ENDED, FOUR CARRIERS, ONE HEAVY CRUISER, AND 258 AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN LOST BY THE JAPANESE. THE UNITED STATES LOST 132 AIRCRAFT, THE DESTROYER HAMMANN (DD 412), AND THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER YORKTOWN (CV 5).

131.18 DESCRIBE THE BASIC TACTICAL PLAN UTILIZED BY FAST CARRIERS IN SUPPORT OF AMPHIBIOUS OPERATIONS IN THE PACIFIC THEATER DURING WORLD WAR II. (REF. E)

THE MOST IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION TO THE SUCCESS OF AN AMPHIBIOUS OPERATION IS THE ATTAINMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF LOCAL AIR SUPERIORITY IN THE AMPHIBIOUS OBJECTIVE AREA (AOA). GREAT RELIANCE IS PLACED UPON AIR SUPPORT FROM THE FAST CARRIER STRIKING FORCE TO ACHIEVE AIR SUPERIORITY AND TO PREVENT THE MOVEMENT OF THE ENEMY IN FORCE INTO, AND WITHIN, THE OBJECTIVE AREA. FAST CARRIERS WERE EMPLOYED IN INITIAL RAIDS ON TARGETS TO ASSIST IN SOFTENING UP THE ENEMY, THEN MOVE TO ISOLATE THE AREA BY ATTACKING ENEMY AIR INSTALLATIONS WITHIN OPERATING RANGE, AND FINALLY PREVENT THE ENEMY FROM BRINGING UP REINFORCEMENTS OR OTHERWISE COMING TO THE AID OF THEIR TROOPS UNDER ATTACK.