Carriers!

[Brownien]

How about we get to use those big catapults at the front of the carrier to launch? Could set up to spawn out already attached to the catapult, ready to fire, by clicking on a separate button to start the sortie. To launch, the catapult could be set to launch once the engine starts and runs up to full power. Reattaching to the catapult after rearming would be unnessecary unless once rearmed, or simply by being on the rearm pad of a carrier, a small text box comes up with the option to reattach, similar to how vehicle supplys works. Or after rearming, the player could taxi up to the end of the catapult and stop, allowing said text box to pop up in the corner, with the option to attach to the catapult, again like vehicle supplies act.

Also, we only have one country represented by the current task force. Why not modify the shape, and reskin it to represent a Japanese carrier or a british one? no need to change the firepower of the guns, just change the look of them to accomidate the nationality of the boat. This would add variety to the game along with being a great addition for any special events requiring carriers of different nations, especially when each team is searching for or attacking the enemy carrier, which could be confirmed by not only puffy ack but also the look of the carrier.

Any thoughts on this?

[M0nkey_Man]

From what I can see, they didn't start using them for military service until the mid 1950s.

[Brownien]

Incorrect catapults were used very often throughout the mid to latter half of the war. i just did a quick google search on the catapults use before posting and there were numerous hits on its use durring the war.

[MachFly]

Why?

None of our CV based aircraft need a catapult.

[Brownien]

A catapult would falicitate the launch of heavily laidened corsairs or hellcats, which can be difficult for some to launch normally, or especially when the cv is turning, making any kind of launch difficult.

[Jayhawk]

From what I read, it doesn't sound like it was used a lot, want to post your information on that?  Would it be available to every aircraft?

Also, you're going to catch a lot of flack that you want a catapult to make it easier.  Taking off with a heavy aircraft can be done, and with a little practice isn't really that hard.  Wait for the carrier to stop turning, full throttle and WEP, flaps towards the end of the deck.

[Babalonian]

Incorrect catapults were used very often throughout the mid to latter half of the war. i just did a quick google search on the catapults use before posting and there were numerous hits on its use durring the war.

The only catapults in operation during WWII were for seaplanes or light recon aircraft, where most returned to their ship after launching, landed in the water, and were then hoisted/fetched via crane out of the water and back aboard the ship.  (see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Bermuda_(52) )

Weather you choose to accept it or not, no catapult graced a carrier deck until after the British prooved its pheasability/concept in the early 1950s.

[321BAR]

From what I read, it doesn't sound like it was used a lot, want to post your information on that?  Would it be available to every aircraft?

Also, you're going to catch a lot of flack that you want a catapult to make it easier.  Taking off with a heavy aircraft can be done, and with a little practice isn't really that hard.  Wait for the carrier to stop turning, full throttle and WEP, flaps towards the end of the deck.

dont even need the flaps toward the end full flaps and no wep does fine just pull up manually

[MachFly]

A catapult would falicitate the launch of heavily laidened corsairs or hellcats, which can be difficult for some to launch normally, or especially when the cv is turning, making any kind of launch difficult.

I don't have a problem taking off on a fully loaded Corsair or Hellcat, just need a little practice that's all.

If the CV is turning just wait a minute or use rudder to compensate.

[Brownien]

Two HYDRAULIC catapults were fitted to every Essex class carrier in its original design. steam catapults were correctly cited to be first used in th 1950s by the British but its a fact that all catapults used durring ww2, on aircraft carriers, were hydaulically actuated. Im not saying adding catapults to the carriers are neccesary, but would be a neat way to launch. Its like saying we dont NEED more aircraft in the game, but it would be nice to have them.

[Ack-Ack]

The only catapults in operation during WWII were for seaplanes or light recon aircraft, where most returned to their ship after launching, landed in the water, and were then hoisted/fetched via crane out of the water and back aboard the ship.  (see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Bermuda_(52) )

Weather you choose to accept it or not, no catapult graced a carrier deck until after the British prooved its pheasability/concept in the early 1950s.

Most USN CVEs had a single catapult for launching aircraft.

This is a link to a site that has a few pictures of Wildcats being launched by a catapult off USS Makin Island.



ack-ack

[Jayhawk]

[thndregg]

A catapult would falicitate the launch of heavily laidened corsairs or hellcats, which can be difficult for some to launch normally, or especially when the cv is turning, making any kind of launch difficult.

I do just fine without one.

[Babalonian]

I stand corrected, forgot that the small CVEs had the cable and pulley... I think as a necessity.  This is an interesting study:

Circa '43:

Yorktown

Circa '44:

Intrepid

They started to showup permanentley in '44 (and started to see regular use/need), including the iconic dual front cats on the Essex - coinciding with increased aircraft weights and armaments.  Before 44'... I would assume they were as troublesome and problematic as beneficial.  They may of been standard to the original design for any hull laid during or after '44 - as also around this time they were starting to become a necessity due to increased aircraft weights.  By the end of the war, the Navy cites senior CAG Officers claiming to use the catapult's assistance on up to 40% of all launches... so even with improvements and the heavier aircraft by the end of the war, ~2/3 of aircraft were not needing/wanting catapult launches off a carrier deck.


And, If I do recall correctly, this is in small part one reason why the front main gears on navy tail draggers fold up and away from center, a cable yanking forward and center attached to both main gears in the middle is less likely to induce collapse.


There's no doubt that the idea was conceived of during WWII, if I recall either the German's or Japaneese were the closest to developing/implimenting the closest thing to modern day steam catapults we have on carrier decks.

[tunnelrat]

I do just fine without one.

I assure you, Brownien does just fine without one as well... this is the wishlist, and it sounds like he would like it if the game added this feature that was used during World War II.