Hangar deck catapult operations

[pampa14]

The early Essex-class carriers had been built with a hangar-level catapult. It was called the HIVA catapult and shot planes out of the starboard forward hangar deck. The Essex's were designed to have 3 catapults (two on the flight deck bow and one in the hangar bay). The hangar catapult was for launching scout planes (pre-radar) without disturbing the deck park. It was deemed so important that when it became known that it threw off the weight distribution, the port side bow deck catapult was left off. Due to delays, only six ships were actually fitted with this catapult and by then radar was in use and the need for scout planes was eliminated. Begininning with Ticonderoga the hangar cat was omitted and both bow cats installed. Eventually all Essex's lost the hangar cat and regained the port side cat. The only carrier to keep the hangar catapult through the end of the war was USS Hornet (CV 12). See below some photos of hangar deck catapult operations:


Hangar deck catapult operations




Hope you enjoy!

[Dave Homewood]

Wow, that would be a scary ride! I thought carrier aircraft had to take off squarely into wind?

[beagle]

be even scarier landing back in the hangar

[davidd]

Beagle,
I don't think they actually attempted to land back in the hangar (although strongly suspect you already know this!) Still, I was not aware of these catapults, so many thanks to Pampa 14 for putting up the irrefutable evidence - great stuff!
David D

[beagle]

yep, I was just kidding, but I did hear a rumour years ago that someone flew a Sioux thru 3 sqn hangar, but not quite sure that's possible.

or was it???

[nuuumannn]

Not heard of these nor seen the pics before either. Very interesting I guess that's the beauty of a power assisted take off; you don't necessarily need to be facing into wind. As an aside, the British carriers Glorious and Courageous and the Japanese carriers Akagi and Kaga had auxiliary flying off decks stepped ahead of and below the main deck to enable scouts to take off whilst the main deck was being used for launching or spotting aircraft, although no catapult was fitted to these ships in that position.

yep, I was just kidding, but I did hear a rumour years ago that someone flew a Sioux thru 3 sqn hangar, but not quite sure that's possible.

I once read a story of a Royal Naval Air Service pilot who flew a Sopwith Camel through an airship hangar, ensuring that the dorrs were open at both ends before he did it, but another guy tried the same on another date, but the opposite door was closed, resulting in a bit of a mess on the hangar floor!

[beagle]

just another excuse for the groundies to grab a broom.

[Dave Homewood]

Actually I guess this isn't too different from the Hurricat take offs from merchant ships, and I guess the Walrus and other types launching from destroyers.

A Sioux through the No. 3 Squadron hangar would have to have been a good way to sweep the place out, maybe it was Thursday afternoon I.E. Beags?

An airship hangar wouldn't be a lot of a challenge for a Camel, stacks of room, so long as the airship isn't inside.

[Ian Warren]

The hangar catapults installed five ESSEX class CV9-CV13, the H-IVA/H-IVB/C the beam 93 ft and catapult was 86.7 feet long and could apply a thrust 7.3 tons and throw the aircraft a Wildcat out at 90 mph ... "A wild ride" whats at the end off the tunnel a pilot might say

[steveh]

I reckon the pucker factor would have been out of sight not only a short distance but with deck beams above, no thank you! Interesting though & thanks for putting the link up Pampa, there is some really good stuff on that site.
Steve.