Aircraft carrier deck material?

TLAM Strike · 10-09-10, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fastfed

But this is a more of a modern carrier, with a catapult and all..

WWII US and I think UK carriers had cats. IIRC the TBF Avenger needed them when it had a full payload.

The old Langley CV1 had a cat but it was removed at some point.

I think the old cats used cordite charges like the cats on surface warships (CAs and BBs etc.)

The deck is steel with a non-skid coating.

Raptor1 · 10-09-10, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

WWII US and I think UK carriers had cats. IIRC the TBF Avenger needed them when it had a full payload.

The old Langley CV1 had a cat but it was removed at some point.

I think the old cats used cordite charges like the cats on surface warships (CAs and BBs etc.)

The deck is steel with a non-skid coating.

The Essex-class? I'm quite certain the deck was made of wood, unless they rebuilt it later...

TLAM Strike · 10-09-10, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raptor1

The Essex-class? I'm quite certain the deck was made of wood, unless they rebuilt it later...

They would have had to when they started operating jet aircraft.

Raptor1 · 10-09-10, 12:47 PM

Ah, right, forgot about that.

bookworm_020 · 10-09-10, 04:49 PM

The first steel deck carriers in the US Navy were the Midway class, which just missed WW2. The change from wood to steel happened due to the experiences of Kamikaze attacks against British and American carriers. American carriers hit on the deck, were heavily damaged and unable to continue flight operations. They then had to return to a major port for repairs.

The British carriers had steel decks, this made for less room for aircraft and a hotter environment to work in, but when hit on the deck, they were able to resume flight operations after clearing the deck of debris.

clive bradbury · 10-10-10, 06:20 AM

Yes, the US Navy were quite envious of the RN steel decks, especially once kamikazes were about.

The RN oted for steel from the start because British carriers were expected to operate within the range of enemy land-based bombers e.g. the Med. This policy paid off when they moved to the Pacific as well.

Kazuaki Shimazaki II · 10-10-10, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clive bradbury

Yes, the US Navy were quite envious of the RN steel decks, especially once kamikazes were about.

The RN oted for steel from the start because British carriers were expected to operate within the range of enemy land-based bombers e.g. the Med. This policy paid off when they moved to the Pacific as well.

Another point of view would be here:
http://www.navweaps.com/index_tech/tech-030.htm

JSLTIGER · 10-11-10, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clive bradbury

Yes, the US Navy were quite envious of the RN steel decks, especially once kamikazes were about.

The RN oted for steel from the start because British carriers were expected to operate within the range of enemy land-based bombers e.g. the Med. This policy paid off when they moved to the Pacific as well.

The use of wooden decks on US carriers was also due to a fundamental difference in belief about the best placement of the strength deck. Americans preferred to have the strength deck be the hangar deck which allowed for greater overhead hangar height and a much larger air wing, whereas the British preferred the flight deck as the strength deck, which made for a smaller hangar deck and room for fewer aircraft, but allowed for the flight deck to take more damage before being put out of action.

10-09-10, 12:47 PM	#4
Raptor1 Navy Seal Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Stavka Posts: 8,211 Downloads: 13 Uploads: 0	Ah, right, forgot about that. __________________ Current Eastern Front status: Probable Victory

10-09-10, 04:49 PM	#5
bookworm_020 Navy Seal Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Sinking ships off the Australian coast Posts: 5,966 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	The first steel deck carriers in the US Navy were the Midway class, which just missed WW2. The change from wood to steel happened due to the experiences of Kamikaze attacks against British and American carriers. American carriers hit on the deck, were heavily damaged and unable to continue flight operations. They then had to return to a major port for repairs. The British carriers had steel decks, this made for less room for aircraft and a hotter environment to work in, but when hit on the deck, they were able to resume flight operations after clearing the deck of debris. __________________ "There is always one person in any organization who knows whats going on, That person must be fired"

10-10-10, 06:20 AM	#6
clive bradbury Captain Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: stoke-on-trent, UK Posts: 492 Downloads: 105 Uploads: 0	Yes, the US Navy were quite envious of the RN steel decks, especially once kamikazes were about. The RN oted for steel from the start because British carriers were expected to operate within the range of enemy land-based bombers e.g. the Med. This policy paid off when they moved to the Pacific as well.