Warbird Information Exchange

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?

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

_________________
Why take the best part of life out of your life, when you can have life with the best part of your life in your life?

I am one of them 'futbol' people.

Will the previous owner has pics of this double cabin sample

GOOD MORNING, WELCOME TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Press "1" for English.
Press "2" to disconnect until you have learned to speak English.

Sooooo, how am I going to know to press 1 or 2, if I do not speak English????

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.

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

here the answer

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.

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...

_________________
He bowls overhand...He is the most interesting man in the world.
"In Peace Japan Breeds War", Eckstein, Harper and Bros., 3rd ed. 1943(1927, 1928,1942)
"Leave it to ol' Slim. I got ideas...and they're all vile, baby." South Dakota Slim
"Ahh..."The Deuce", 28,000 pounds of motherly love." quote from some Mojave Grunt
DBF

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/

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

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

_________________
tom d. friedman - hey!!! those fokkers were messerschmitts!! * without ammunition, the usaf would be just another flying club!!! * better to have piece of mind than piece of tail!!

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

_________________
"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."