Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Aircraft and Vehicles => Topic started by: Serenity on May 19, 2007, 11:26:06 PM

Title: Carriers: Some General Questions
Post by: Serenity on May 19, 2007, 11:26:06 PM

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 :D

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.

Title: Carriers: Some General Questions
Post by: leitwolf on May 20, 2007, 01:48:08 AM

1) like this:

(http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/g10000/g14548.jpg)
[ripped off from your taxes at work (http://www.history.navy.mil/)]

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

3) 2,600crew. (Essex Class)

EDIT: found a catapult pic.

Title: Carriers: Some General Questions
Post by: Serenity on May 20, 2007, 03:04:18 AM

Thanks so much!

Title: Carriers: Some General Questions
Post by: Angus on May 20, 2007, 03:21:47 AM

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.

Title: Carriers: Some General Questions
Post by: MiloMorai on May 20, 2007, 03:36:38 AM

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

Title: Carriers: Some General Questions
Post by: gripen on May 20, 2007, 03:51:28 AM

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).

Title: Carriers: Some General Questions
Post by: FBplmmr on May 20, 2007, 01:48:52 PM

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

:D


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

Title: Carriers: Some General Questions
Post by: Serenity on May 20, 2007, 02:19:40 PM

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

Title: Carriers: Some General Questions
Post by: DiabloTX on May 20, 2007, 06:51:24 PM

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