CV Catapults

[Widewing]

Something we don't have is catapults. U.S. WWII vintage carriers had hydraulic catapults. With a full flight deck, there was not enough available flight deck to deck run aircraft. Thus, for a big Alpha Strike, the first 30 or so aircraft would be catapulted off the bow. Once there was adequate flight deck length, the balance would deck run.

I'd like the option to select catapult. This would spawn you near the bow, unable to move. To launch, go to max power and/or WEP and the cat shoots you off three seconds later.

This would eliminate the issue of players trying to counter the turning of the carrier with rudder.

[Schen]

Sounds like fun +1

[Saxman]

Would definitely be a neat feature to have. +1

[waystin2]

+1

[Karnak]

I like the idea.

[100Coogn]

Good idea, but how would it work when a bunch of folks launch at the same time?

Coogan

[Spikes]

Good idea, but how would it work when a bunch of folks launch at the same time?

Coogan

I suppose like it does now...each player is provided with one, since there are no collisions.

[earl1937]

Something we don't have is catapults. U.S. WWII vintage carriers had hydraulic catapults. With a full flight deck, there was not enough available flight deck to deck run aircraft. Thus, for a big Alpha Strike, the first 30 or so aircraft would be catapulted off the bow. Once there was adequate flight deck length, the balance would deck run.

I'd like the option to select catapult. This would spawn you near the bow, unable to move. To launch, go to max power and/or WEP and the cat shoots you off three seconds later.

This would eliminate the issue of players trying to counter the turning of the carrier with rudder.

Super Idea!! Plus 1,000 and 100 perks for you if they decided to implement that idea. I am not sure how many carriers had that catapult capability  in WW2. Do you have any idea how many were in use as late as 1945?

[Zacherof]

Great idea!!!
Heavy D jabo runs might be easeir now

[Wiley]

This would eliminate the issue of players trying to counter the turning of the carrier with rudder.

This alone is worth the price of admission.  +eleventy.

Wiley.

[Widewing]

Super Idea!! Plus 1,000 and 100 perks for you if they decided to implement that idea. I am not sure how many carriers had that catapult capability  in WW2. Do you have any idea how many were in use as late as 1945?

Yorktown, Enterprise, Hornet (CV-5, CV-6 and CV-8), almost Essex class, all CVL and CVE (one cat, port side bow). Yorktown, Enterprise, Hornet were built with a stern cat as well. During sea trials, they were required to demonstrate a launch while steaming in reverse. These were later removed as they proved more a burden than an advantage. Yorktown, Enterprise, Hornet and early Essex class also had cross hanger deck cats. These were almost never used and were later removed.

Essex was initially built without any cats, but this was quickly found to be a liability and one was later installed during her early 1944 refit. After the war, Essex was upgraded to handle Jets and a second cat was installed. 8 of the Essex class were built with one cat, all of the rest had two.

[matt]

+1

[tuba515]

+1

[Tinkles]

+1 eleventy-two  

Tinkles

<<S>>

[Arlo]

Catapult launches are already modeled .... only off the back of the deck, slung backwards. 

But seriously .....

"In drawing up the preliminary design for Essex, particular attention was directed at the size of both her flight and hangar decks. Aircraft design had come a long way from the comparatively light planes used in carriers during the 1930s. Flight decks now required more takeoff space for the heavier aircraft being developed. Most of the first-line carriers of the pre-war years were equipped with flush deck catapults, but owing to the speed and size of these ships very little catapulting was done except for experimental purposes.

With the advent of war, airplane weights began to go up as armor and armament got heavier; aircrew complements also increased. By the war's end in 1945, catapult launches would become more common under these circumstances, with some carrier commanding officers reporting up to 40% of launches by catapult."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essex_class_aircraft_carrier

If we're attempting to make the carrier experience in AHII 'complete' then I would vote yes to cat launches if:

1. Players had the option of spawning on deck at a 'cat' or spawning 'mid deck' for a non-cat take-off. Currently,
we spawn aft deck for launching. Granted, we also take off with a wind neutral environment on the deck. 'Heading
into the wind' was a take-off and landing necessity.





(I'd be interested in seeing the hydraulic catapult as a damageable object. Deck elevators, as well. If all the
deck elevators are damaged it would be equivalent to the fighter and bomber hangars down on a land base.)


An F6F Hellcat ready for catapult take off from ESSEX, WWII

For additional optional carrier operation ideas:

• Foldable wings to lower lower for take off, and canopies that can be opened and closed.
• Landing and rearming requiring taxiing back to the middle elevator and waiting there for sixty seconds.
• Modeling an Akagi class to operate from, as well, which doesn't have cats (for event immersion).

Geez, Arlo .... take a simple idea and .....