Carriers: Some General Questions

[Serenity]

Now, I know jack ***** about WWII carriers. And rather than sift through hours of articles and documents that make absolutely no sense to me, I thought Id come here and ask you folks, who tend to put it in english

So, I have several questions about World War Two American Fleet Carriers.

1) Now, I heard they had catapaults? Is this correct? And if so, how does one attack a catapault to a tail-dragger?!?

2) What was the aircraft compliment of a VERY LARGE carrier? Im talking the best-of-the-best American carrier?

3) What was a crew compliment like?

For those of you who will be kind enough to respond with something other than "google is your friend", thank you very much for your time.

[leitwolf]

1) like this:


[ripped off from your taxes at work]

2) 90-100+ airplanes. (Essex Class)

3) 2,600crew. (Essex Class)

EDIT: found a catapult pic.

[Serenity]

Thanks so much!

[Angus]

Catapults were also used to launch spotters from Battleships, and fighters from merchant vessels. Oh, in the RN, but in the US navy also?
There is a good thread on this forum about carriers, - is not so far back in time I belive.

[MiloMorai]

Serenity, if you can find 3 of books, Anatomy of the Ship Intrepid, Anatomy of the Ship Gambier Bay and Anatomy of the Ship Victorious, they are worth the read. The first 1/3 of each is has chapters on the the concept, design, mods, color schemes, general arrangement hull structure and protection, machinery, a/c, boats and construction and operational history. The other 2/3 of the book has very detailed scale drawings.

The series has several more books on 'modern' warships (subs, BBs, cruisers, destroyers), and sailing ships (both war and non-war types).

see (not all are listed) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anatomy_of_the_Ship_series

[gripen]

There are several different kind of catapults used during WWII. US carriers used system seen in the picture posted above by leitwolf; the plane stood in it's own gear and the catapult was connected to the hook in the plane (if available) or landing gear (as an example P-47s were launched from the carriers that way). The catapult used in the ships without flight deck (and system planned for the German Carrier Graf Zeppelin) was quite bit different; plane stood in the catapult rail (landing gear in, if there was rectrable landing gear).

[FBplmmr]

some carriers used conveyor belts to both launch aircraft and mystify the enemy.




http://forums.hitechcreations.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=197189&highlight=conveyor+belt

[Serenity]

OMFG, not THAT discussion again, lol! I have never seen as many people make as many stupid statements at once...

[DiabloTX]

You obviously don't spend a lot of time in the Free Multiplayer forum.