I-400 submersible carrier [Japan]

[copeab]

Originally Posted by Kale

That sounds interesting. With folding rotors, a helo would be much easier for a submarine to launch and recover than a plane. A larger sub would provide a more stable landing platform, much as destroyers usually have their own helicopter pads. Having the pad closer to the water than a surface ship may be a bit tricky though; you'd only be able to take off or land in fairly smooth seas. Solution: Amphibious transforming helicopter that can be launched from underwater! @:-)

For the Germans, one helicopter they might find useful in this role is the Fl 282, a fairly compact two-man helicopter (as opposed to the fa 330 carried -- maybe -- by some subs).

[Unit04]

If I'm not mistaken (I'm remembering an old Air and Space Museum book I had when I was a kid) the German Navy had an unpowered autogyro for spotting purposes. Basically it was used like a kite and I believe it was on their submarines.

Maybe an actual powered autogyro wouldn't be a far step.

[copeab]

Originally Posted by Unit04

If I'm not mistaken (I'm remembering an old Air and Space Museum book I had when I was a kid) the German Navy had an unpowered autogyro for spotting purposes. Basically it was used like a kite and I believe it was on their submarines.

That's the Fa 330 I was referring to. A hypothetical powered helicopter version appears in GURPS WWII: Weird War II).