Editing Autogyro (section)

=== World War II ===

[[File:Cierva-Duxford.JPG|thumb|right|Royal Air Force Avro Rota Mk 1 Cierva Autogiro C30 A, at the [[Imperial War Museum Duxford]], UK]]

[[File:Kayaba ka-1.jpg|thumb|Kayaba Ka-1]]

The [[Avro Rota]] autogyro, a military version of the Cierva C.30, was used by the [[Royal Air Force]] to calibrate [[Chain Home|coastal radar stations]] during and after the [[Battle of Britain]].<ref>{{cite book |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=cBbnDiTUx6YC&q=autogyro+radar+callibration&pg=PA139 |page = 139 |title = Radar Development to 1945 |publisher = [[Institution of Electrical Engineers|IEE]] |last = Burns |first = R.W. |year = 1988 |isbn = 0-86341-139-8 |access-date = 8 November 2020 |archive-date = 25 February 2023 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230225162720/https://books.google.com/books?id=cBbnDiTUx6YC&q=autogyro+radar+callibration&pg=PA139 |url-status = live }}</ref>

In World War II, Germany pioneered a very small gyroglider [[rotor kite]], the [[Focke-Achgelis Fa 330]] "Bachstelze" (wagtail), towed by [[U-boat]]s to provide aerial surveillance.

The [[Imperial Japanese Army]] developed the [[Kayaba Ka-1]] autogyro for reconnaissance, artillery-spotting, and anti-submarine uses. The Ka-1 was based on the [[Kellett KD-1]] first imported to Japan in 1938. The craft was initially developed for use as an observation platform and for artillery spotting duties. The army liked the craft's short take-off span, and especially its low maintenance requirements. Production began in 1941, with the machines assigned to artillery units for spotting the fall of shells. These carried two crewmen: a pilot and a spotter.

Later, the Japanese Army commissioned two small aircraft carriers intended for coastal [[anti-submarine weapon|antisubmarine]] (ASW) duties. The spotter's position on the Ka-1 was modified to carry one small depth charge. Ka-1 ASW autogyros operated from shore bases as well as the two small carriers. They appear to have been responsible for at least one submarine sinking.

With the beginning of [[Operation Barbarossa|German invasion in USSR]] June 1941, the [[Soviet Air Forces|Soviet Air Force]] organized new courses for training [[Kamov]] A-7 aircrew and ground support staff. In August 1941, per the decision of the chief artillery directorate of the [[Red Army]], based on the trained flight group and five combat-ready A-7 autogyros, the 1st autogyro artillery spotting aircraft squadron was formed, which was included in the strength of the 24th Army of the [[Soviet Air Forces|Soviet Air Force]], combat active in the area around [[Yelnya, Yelninsky District, Smolensk Oblast|Elnya]] near [[Battle of Smolensk (1941)|Smolensk]]. From 30{{nbsp}}August to 5{{nbsp}}October 1941 the autogyros made{{nbsp}}19 combat sorties for artillery spotting. Not one autogyro was lost in action, while the unit was disbanded in 1942 due to the shortage of serviceable aircraft.<ref name="Maslov-2015" />