Aircraft catapults

[moot]

We have US carriers, though, right?  I'm pretty sure at least one of the planes can't take off with its heaviest load.  Maybe that's not a problem anymore, since the increase in ship speed (then again I think someone said the speed hadn't changed after all).

[DaddyAck]

yes but it would be easier to get to speed and you wouldn't need flaps to get a F4F of the deck.

Um...

I never ever need flaps for that, ever.

Some of the F4Us could use the help.

Moot, I ususally back my 100% fuel 2 x 1K bombs and rocket laden coursair up.  Ill back it up to the arresting cables as far back as I can get.  After that, there is sufficient deck length to get airborne with a little WEP and a notch of flaps just befor ethe end of the deck. 

[Coshy]

Um...

I never ever need flaps for that, ever.

Moot, I ususally back my 100% fuel 2 x 1K bombs and rocket laden coursair up.  Ill back it up to the arresting cables as far back as I can get.  After that, there is sufficient deck length to get airborne with a little WEP and a notch of flaps just befor ethe end of the deck. 

I've haven't had any problems taking up a fully loaded corsair from a CV. 2 notches of flaps & WEP. F6, F4U are even easier.

[DPQ5]

Only on British carriers as far as I recall.  US and Japanese carriers didn't use catapults, but their fleet carriers were significantly larger than British fleet carriers.

actualy american carriers such as the enterprise had catapualts, after it was refiteded thow

[Beefcake]

If I can get a damaged B24, with only 3 engines, off the deck then you can get a fully loaded F6F or F4U off the deck.

[moot]

That's a great comparison

[Shuffler]

You can take off and land anything on the CV. Since H2H went away you can only land a 163 as the launch dolly drops away when taking off.

[waystin2]

Only on British carriers as far as I recall.  US and Japanese carriers didn't use catapults, but their fleet carriers were significantly larger than British fleet carriers.

Hello Karnak,

I actually came across some info in Battle 360 the other day.  The Enterprise was fitted with catapults in late 43 to augment her abilities.  Anyone have a concrete source of info on this?

[Jiblowey]

We use the full length of the ship to take off. But in WWII they only used 1/2 of the ship to take off.

So Unless the make it so planes dont spawn on top of each other, then we really dont need them.

[Widewing]

Gentlemen, all Essex class CVs were fitted with bow cats. All Yorktown class (including Enterprise and Hornet) were originally built with hanger deck cats. These were later removed and Enterprise was fitted with bow cats, as was Saratoga.

By 1945, getting a cat shot was as common as a deck run. Crowded decks and heavily loaded aircraft meant that there was not enough open deck to get airborne. Thus, for a large strike force, catapult launches were standard until there was enough empty deck space. Catapults were fitted to CVs, CVLs and CVEs.





Did you folks know that some US carriers were fitted with bow arresting gear? Part of these carrier's work-ups included recovering aircraft while the ship steamed backwards. This installation was to allow the recovery of aircraft should the aft flight deck be damaged by a crash or enemy action.

My regards,

Widewing

[Widewing]

Oh, and one more thing..

You do not need to back up on the carrier deck to get airborne. All you need to do is drop full flaps and use max power. Add WEP if it makes you more comfortable. Every carrier aircraft has been tested at max load and all get airborne without having to back up as long as you use full flaps.

I'm often amazed at how many players don't use flaps for landing either...

My regards,

Widewing

[Rolex]

Widewing speaks the truth...

His first photo is the same CV modeled in the game - the USS Randolph (CV-15) on her first cruise prior to being damaged by a kamikaze hit later in the month.

The second photo of the USS Sangamon (CVE-26), the first of four Sangamon class escort carriers, which were only 553' long and able to produce only a little more than 18 knots.

I think it would be fantastic to have the catapult modeled and CVEs introduced.

(Added) I just tested again.

1. Yes, you can launch the F6F-5 and F4Us with full ord and fuel using full flaps using auto-take off or manually.
2. The CV steams at the same speed it always has - 1,000 fpm (34.5 mph) unless making turns.

[SD67]

I've never had any issues taking off with a fully loaded aircraft apart from my own errors.
A cat launch would be cool though.

[McLovin1]

Um...

I never ever need flaps for that, ever.

Moot, I ususally back my 100% fuel 2 x 1K bombs and rocket laden coursair up.  Ill back it up to the arresting cables as far back as I can get.  After that, there is sufficient deck length to get airborne with a little WEP and a notch of flaps just befor ethe end of the deck. 

how do you back it up?

[moot]

Carefuly.