Hello Everyone,
Reading Surgeon on Iwo and two points of naval gunfire got my attention.
The author, James Vedder, mentions an announcment that the navy closed to 7000 yards to bombard. What ships would close to such a close distance? Battleships, cruisers?

and he mentions a spotting seaplane being struck by a shell and losing its tail so it immediately fell out of control to crash.
So spotting seaplanes still useful even in 1945 to control ship borne gunnery? Primarily BBs and CA/CL or also other?

Thanks Everyone.