really weird us navy launching on aircraft carriers ww2 ???

[sabredriver]

Ive come across info on the essex? class carriers had a HANGER deck level cataplut launching system and it was rarely used due to pilot pucker factor raised around 500%

anyone know about this really odd launching system? how would it worked?

[Tulio]

I don't know about the system you mention, but the Brits (when they ruled the waves) used a short catapult system on merchant vessels, to launch Hurricanes, IIRC. but this was on top of the vessel.

I am assuming that you mean a catapult system inside the hangar, launching out to sea, right?

Very interesting.

Saludos,


Tulio

[sabredriver]

yes literally OUT the hanger door is what im told... the catapult are built into the floor and i asusme really short take off... REALLY short.

[sabredriver]

http://www.cva-12.com/cv-12_hanger_deck_launch.html

here the answer

[Owen Miller]

I believe they were called athwarts (sp?) mounted catapults.
I don't remember if the olf Lex and Sara had them but I know
the YKTN class and the first Essex class ships did. The intent
was to be able to launch more quickly. They did not see a lot
of use and were not incoporated into later Essex class ships
Midway class, or subsequent designs.

[airnutz]

I believe they were called athwarts (sp?) mounted catapults

Athwartship launch would imply to me..IIRC my naval terms..would be a catapult launching perpindicular to the centerline of the ship. So did these cats launch out the side of the hangar deck?

Sabredrivers link described a forward hangar deck catapult, but didn't divulge detail of its
orientation of launch from the ship...

[Jiggersfromsphilly]

If you get a chance to see the movie , "A Wing and a Prayer" (1944) you will see footage from the USS Yorktown while it was working up in the Caribbean in 1943. There is footage of a hangar deck cat shot in the movie !

http://www.ussyorktown.com/yorktown/

[Owen Miller]

Yes, they launched perpendicular to the centerline
of the shop. One to port and one to stbd.

[tom d. friedman]

great pic. i've seen film footage of the op, hairy indeed!!!

[Jerry O'Neill]

I believe the system was dropped from use as it was fairly hairy on take-off. Imagine taking a big, fat, heavy TBF off from no-wind hanger deck into an instant 30+ kt, 90 degree crosswind!!!

I think it was smart to eliminate it. Battleships could at least adjust the take off angle into the crosswind a little bit.

Jerry