How did the Navy attempt to integrate aircraft with the fleet?

The Navy's integration of aircraft into its fleet primarily involved the development of aircraft carriers and flying boats. Aircraft carriers serve as mobile naval airbases, allowing warplanes to take off and land on the sea, thus facilitating a direct support role to fleet operations and enabling air power projection over maritime areas. This integration transformed naval warfare by allowing the fleet to engage in aerial combat, reconnaissance, and strikes against ground and naval targets from a distance.

Flying boats were another significant component of this integration. These aircraft could land on water, making them versatile for maritime reconnaissance, anti-submarine warfare, and patrol operations in areas where land bases were not available. The combination of aircraft carriers and flying boats marked a pivotal shift in naval strategy, where air power became an essential element of maritime operations, significantly enhancing the Navy's effectiveness.

In contrast, submarines, sailing ships, and land-based aircraft alone do not encapsulate the Navy's full strategy for integrating aviation with naval operations. Submarines represent a different domain of naval power that operates underwater; sailing ships are outdated technology in the context of modern naval warfare; and while land-based aircraft contribute to naval operations, they lack the immediacy and mobility offered by aircraft carriers and flying boats within a fleet setting.