Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Aircraft and Vehicles => Topic started by: Red Tail 444 on May 09, 2007, 09:27:33 AM

Title: P47s from Carrier (PTO 1945)
Post by: Red Tail 444 on May 09, 2007, 09:27:33 AM
I noticed this clip on YouTube today, featuring P47's sortie from a carrier

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRGYXMs9n1s&NR=1

No, I am not pining for game changes, and since I have no sound at work, I wonder if any modifications other than a tailhook were made to the aircraft.
Title: P47s from Carrier (PTO 1945)
Post by: Lusche on May 09, 2007, 09:33:57 AM
As far as I know there were no tailhooks on that P47s. This was merely a way to ferry them to the warzone.
Similar to British Spitfires ferried to Malta.

But an interesting find, thanks for the link.
Title: P47s from Carrier (PTO 1945)
Post by: Jonny boy 8 on May 09, 2007, 10:14:05 AM
yeah they had p47s take off the carrier just to deliver them to an island. but they did make a p47 with a tail hook but it was canceled because they where scared it would crash throught the carrier deck.

p51srule:aok
Title: P47s from Carrier (PTO 1945)
Post by: Red Tail 444 on May 09, 2007, 01:43:06 PM
Thanks for the replies :aok
Title: P47s from Carrier (PTO 1945)
Post by: StuB on May 09, 2007, 01:48:00 PM
Neat vid.

I'm curious as to how/where they were able to attach the cat bridles for the launches.
Title: P47s from Carrier (PTO 1945)
Post by: Krusty on May 09, 2007, 02:19:47 PM
It shows it to you at about 44 seconds.

There's a cable going to each gear, snagged in the middle around the shuttle. The cable probably broke or dropped of after the plane was in the air, I don't know the specifics.
Title: P47s from Carrier (PTO 1945)
Post by: EagleDNY on May 09, 2007, 02:58:57 PM
I thought the American CVs didn't start using catapults until after WW2.  

Anyone got any data on the early catapult systems?  Are they steam?

EagleDNY
Title: P47s from Carrier (PTO 1945)
Post by: Lusche on May 09, 2007, 03:26:04 PM
Im not an expert concerning CVs, but there were various kinds of catapults dating back to the 1920's. Even the old Langley had one (some?) installed.
There were compressed air, hydraulic or flywheel catapults, but I really don't know which carriers really used them.
Steam catapults were introduced in the 1950's.
Title: P47s from Carrier (PTO 1945)
Post by: VooWho on May 09, 2007, 03:30:05 PM
To me the catapults look more like large rubber bands placed around the wheels. That is pretty cool though, never thought I see P-47s take off from a CV on video. Modern catapults and the ones after ww2 where used on the nose wheel. These looked more like sling shots.
Title: P47s from Carrier (PTO 1945)
Post by: Krusty on May 09, 2007, 04:04:50 PM
Not elastic, the shuttle moves along a track (like modern ones) it just latches on to the main gear -- which were pretty strong on the P47s.
Title: P47s from Carrier (PTO 1945)
Post by: Guppy35 on May 09, 2007, 04:05:26 PM
They were 318th Fighter Group P47s launched from three different escort carriers to their new base on Saipan.

P40s of the 33rd and 57th FGs had been launched off carriers during Operation Torch in North Africa to get to their bases on land.

Obviously the Spitfire Vb and Vcs launched off HMS Eagle and USS Wasp for Malta are probably the most well known.
Title: P47s from Carrier (PTO 1945)
Post by: Widewing on May 09, 2007, 06:11:13 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Guppy35
They were 318th Fighter Group P47s launched from three different escort carriers to their new base on Saipan.

P40s of the 33rd and 57th FGs had been launched off carriers during Operation Torch in North Africa to get to their bases on land.

Obviously the Spitfire Vb and Vcs launched off HMS Eagle and USS Wasp for Malta are probably the most well known.


(http://home.att.net/~Historyzone/P-47catapult.JPG)

(http://home.att.net/~ww2aviation/Saipan-Jugs.jpg)

My regards,

Widewing
Title: P47s from Carrier (PTO 1945)
Post by: Brooke on May 10, 2007, 02:14:52 AM
The official reason that the P-47 was never used as a carrier plane is that it was found that single carriers were not heavy enough to stop a landing P-47.  Tests were performed with two fleet carriers chained together, which provided sufficient stopping weight for the P-47, but this arrangement proved unweildy in practice.
Title: P47s from Carrier (PTO 1945)
Post by: StuB on May 10, 2007, 12:03:31 PM
Thanks, Widewing.  

I notice in the top pic that there seems to be a "hold-back" device attached to the tail wheel assembly as well.  I guess all they needed was a hook to be completely navalized?  

I like the paint job on the drop tank too ......

Quote
Originally posted by Widewing
(http://home.att.net/~Historyzone/P-47catapult.JPG)

My regards,

Widewing
Title: P47s from Carrier (PTO 1945)
Post by: Nilsen on May 11, 2007, 11:26:48 AM
Ive even seen jets launched of carriers.

P51ssucks:aok
Title: P47s from Carrier (PTO 1945)
Post by: Red Tail 444 on May 11, 2007, 01:29:03 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Brooke
The official reason that the P-47 was never used as a carrier plane is that it was found that single carriers were not heavy enough to stop a landing P-47.  Tests were performed with two fleet carriers chained together, which provided sufficient stopping weight for the P-47, but this arrangement proved unweildy in practice.


Sorry, I'm a little slow today, it might be the flu, or lack of sleep, or lack of blood to the brain since I can't really breathe right now....can you explain this to me so that my boys (11, 13) can understand it?

Stopping weight on carriers? this is completely new to me...thanks!
Title: P47s from Carrier (PTO 1945)
Post by: Brooke on May 11, 2007, 02:39:52 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Red Tail 444
Sorry, I'm a little slow today, it might be the flu, or lack of sleep, or lack of blood to the brain since I can't really breathe right now....can you explain this to me so that my boys (11, 13) can understand it?

Stopping weight on carriers? this is completely new to me...thanks!


It was a lame attempt at a joke on my part, implying that even the full weight of a carrier would not be enough to stop a big P-47 when it tried to land on one.  I know, I know -- keep my day job. :)
Title: P47s from Carrier (PTO 1945)
Post by: Krusty on May 11, 2007, 02:42:52 PM
(*pity rimshot*)
Title: P47s from Carrier (PTO 1945)
Post by: Red Tail 444 on May 11, 2007, 07:41:29 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Brooke
It was a lame attempt at a joke on my part, implying that even the full weight of a carrier would not be enough to stop a big P-47 when it tried to land on one.  I know, I know -- keep my day job. :)



Arrg....hook, line, and sinker...never even felt the hook!:D

I just bought some pseudo enephenedrin or something, had to give them damn nearly 3 forms of ID and retinal eye scans...sheesh
Title: P47s from Carrier (PTO 1945)
Post by: Treize69 on May 11, 2007, 10:49:59 PM
(http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/g10000/g14548.jpg)
(http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/g60000/g66753.jpg)

Wildcats preparing to be catapulted off the USS Long Island.

(http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/h94000/h94880.jpg)
(http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/g260000/g269035.jpg)

FM-2s being catapulted, notices the catapult wires falling away after they clear the deck.

(http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/k05000/k05339.jpg)

Hellcat preparing to be "shot" off the deck.

Remember also thet the Cat chackles for the F4U-1 were the basis for the field-produced bomb shackles designed and tested by VF-17 before Vought ever made factory bomb racks for it.

All naval aircraft since the '20s have been designed with catapult gear, but it wasn't until the Jet-age that they were mandatory to get the plane off the deck, they were used mainly for low-wind, high weight or short-deck (like Jeep-Carrier) takeoffs. Most prop planes accelerated well enough to be able to fly off the deck under normal conditions without needing them, it was the low thrust-to-weight early jets (and the heavy payloads on later ones) that made their use mandatory after WWII.
Title: P47s from Carrier (PTO 1945)
Post by: Brooke on May 12, 2007, 01:47:28 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Krusty
(*pity rimshot*)


Maybe instead it should be "wa wa waaaaaaaa" followed by canned laugh track.
Title: P47s from Carrier (PTO 1945)
Post by: Karnak on May 12, 2007, 04:00:49 AM
Immediately post war some Spitfire Mk XIVs were delivered to someplace in southeast asia by being launched from a carrier.  I don't recall were exactly and am too lazy to look it up right now, but I bet Dan knows off of hand.
Title: P47s from Carrier (PTO 1945)
Post by: Angus on May 12, 2007, 06:48:01 AM
I did find a XIV squadron in the book "Aces High" by Shores, that operated in the Pacific theater.  Wonder if it was the same squadron, - anyway, that was a long time ago during an argument with none other than Izzy and I´m too tired to look it up now.
The Spits launched from carriers for Malta BTW, were full loaded with Slipper tank and went off without a catapult. Those decks were somewhat shorter than on the U.S. carriers as well, AFAIK.
They did however use half-flaps for the takeoff. Since the Spit only has the up and down pos, it was done by fixing them with a piece of wood - once airborne the pilot would then drop flaps, the piece would fall off, and then put flaps up again. Simple.
Title: P47s from Carrier (PTO 1945)
Post by: hellcatz on May 17, 2007, 05:15:18 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Guppy35
They were 318th Fighter Group P47s launched from three different escort carriers to their new base on Saipan.

P40s of the 33rd and 57th FGs had been launched off carriers during Operation Torch in North Africa to get to their bases on land.

Obviously the Spitfire Vb and Vcs launched off HMS Eagle and USS Wasp for Malta are probably the most well known.


A spitfire from the USS Wasp losts its belly tank and made a sucessful landing and in 1940 Hawker hurricanes made a succesful landing on a british carrier forget name
Title: P47s from Carrier (PTO 1945)
Post by: frank3 on May 17, 2007, 09:48:07 AM
The Tunderbolt taking off at 1:25 seems to have some kind of vapor trail behind him, could it be a rato?
Title: P47s from Carrier (PTO 1945)
Post by: 38ruk on May 17, 2007, 11:38:24 AM
Quote
Originally posted by frank3
The Tunderbolt taking off at 1:25 seems to have some kind of vapor trail behind him, could it be a rato?


Thats the exhaust from the turbo-supercharger .
Title: P47s from Carrier (PTO 1945)
Post by: frank3 on May 19, 2007, 06:18:56 AM
Ah yes, that explains alot :)
Title: catapults in ww2
Post by: TOMCAT21 on May 19, 2007, 10:50:15 AM
catapults used in ww2 were of the compressed air type. i know on the yorktown class there were 2 forward(i believe)..