Why didn't the Kriegsmarine operate large flying boats like the US Navy and Royal Navy?

Discussions on all (non-biographical) aspects of the Kriegsmarine except those dealing with the U-Boat forces.
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Cantankerous
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Why didn't the Kriegsmarine operate large flying boats like the US Navy and Royal Navy?

#1

Post by Cantankerous » 02 May 2021, 17:19

I remember that Blohm und Voss and Dornier were the leading German companies in building flying boats for military purposes, like the Bv 222 and Do 24, but why didn't the Kriegsmarine get the chance to operate Germany's large flying boats before and during World War II, similar to Allied flying boats serving with the US Navy and Royal Navy?

Rob Stuart
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Re: Why didn't the Kriegsmarine operate large flying boats like the US Navy and Royal Navy?

#2

Post by Rob Stuart » 02 May 2021, 17:35

The Royal Navy did not have any large flying boats. They all belonged to the RAF.


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Cantankerous
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Re: Why didn't the Kriegsmarine operate large flying boats like the US Navy and Royal Navy?

#3

Post by Cantankerous » 02 May 2021, 17:49

Rob Stuart wrote:
02 May 2021, 17:35
The Royal Navy did not have any large flying boats. They all belonged to the RAF.
I remember that the Imperial Japanese Navy operated large flying boats, but why didn't the Kriegsmarine operate its flying boats like the Imperial Japanese Navy did?

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Takao
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Re: Why didn't the Kriegsmarine operate large flying boats like the US Navy and Royal Navy?

#4

Post by Takao » 02 May 2021, 18:17

Because only the Luftwaffe was allowed to have aircraft, even the floatplanes on German warships were Luftwaffe. The navies of Japan & US each had their own air arm that was separate from their respective air force.

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Cantankerous
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Re: Why didn't the Kriegsmarine operate large flying boats like the US Navy and Royal Navy?

#5

Post by Cantankerous » 02 May 2021, 21:11

Takao wrote:
02 May 2021, 18:17
Because only the Luftwaffe was allowed to have aircraft, even the floatplanes on German warships were Luftwaffe. The navies of Japan & US each had their own air arm that was separate from their respective air force.
This reminds of the the time when all carrier-based British Aircraft initially operated with the Royal Air Force, only to become Royal Navy-operated when the Fleet Air Arm became part of the Royal Navy.

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