Japenese Carriers

[caryc]

I keep seeing pictures of Japanese aircraft carriers with the turned up noses on the end of their flight decks to get that plane started up quickly. Why hasn't anything like that appeared on our carriers? What do you pilots here have to say about it. Good idea or not? Nevermind, I found my answer. It is kind of interesting if you care to read it.

https://www.navylookout.com/royal-navy-aircraft-carrier-ski-jumps-a-history/

 

[Bob Wright]

The British Harrier could not take off vertcally with an ordnance load, so their carriers had that ramp to get them airborne.

But as to World War II Japamnese carriers, I never saw any with the inclined ramp.

I'm wondering if the photos you are referring to show the carriers with the elevated flight decks. These reveal a bunch of daylight between the flight deck and the main deck below. Can you post a photo?

Bob Wright

 

[Bob Wright]

Here's what I'm referring to:

Bob Wright

 

[Dan in MI]

I believe I've seen pics of Chinese carriers with ski jumps.

A quick check just showed Chinese and Russian versions.

 

[woodsy]

Well, caryc, that article you mentioned pretty much explains it all. I had known about the history of those jets and their carriers, but that article pulls it all together. Thanks.

 

[caryc]

The British Harrier could not take off vertcally with an ordnance load, so their carriers had that ramp to get them airborne.

But as to World War II Japamnese carriers, I never saw any with the inclined ramp.

I'm wondering if the photos you are referring to show the carriers with the elevated flight decks. These reveal a bunch of daylight between the flight deck and the main deck below. Can you post a photo?

Bob Wright

I was wrong, it was a Chinese carrier that I saw pictures of on TV. It's not a raised up ramp, it's built right into the bow.

 

[dannyd]

Jump jets like the Harrier AV-8B or F-35, the Soviets and British both used them.

Way cheaper than having a catapult system and easier to repair bomb or missile damage.

 

[bykerhd]

I think that ramped bow carrier was one the Russians sold the Chinese after the Soviet Union broke up. Could be wrong.

 

[sceva]

I don't see any catapults' on it

 

[Jeepnik]

Most VTOL & STOL aircraft don't have the ability to use catapults.

 

[Fox Mike]

The Brits have had that type in use for a long time.

 

[needsmostuff]

The ghost of Evil Knievel just rolled over .
Just don't let any of those Moto Cross MX dudes near that thing.

 

[Wyandot Jim]

What I have been told, by a pretty knowable person, is with that type of Carrier you can not launch and recover aircraft at the same time. Also you cannot launch off of the angle deck and the bow at the same time. All of our Carriers are capable of that.

Shooting one from the angle and the bow

 

[caryc]

Thanks Jim, I was waiting for your reply. I knew you'd have something to say about it. It looks rather short to me. Can they land a regular fighter jet on that thing and launch it again. It would seem rather expensive to build that thing for only one type of aircraft.

 

[dannyd]

The Aircraft Carrier is going to suffer the same fate in the next Major War as the Battleships in World War 2.

Spent 1984 and 1985 following the one in Jim's picture.

 

[caryc]

The Aircraft Carrier is going to suffer the same fate in the next Major War as the Battleships in World War 2.

Spent 1984 and 1985 following the one in Jim's picture.

Were you on a destroyer?

 

[dannyd]

Were you on a destroyer?

Nope, not that lucky, a Perry Class Frigate, in March of 1985 we managed to have a major Engine Room fire that almost put us out of commission before even starting our long cruise.

When the Captain asks all personal not actively involved in fighting the fire to go to their abandoned ship stations, you know you maybe in trouble.

 

[XUSNORDIE]

Pulled alongside a UK Carrier in the IO in late 80s...had the ski jump and it was unusual to see. It was smaller, and of course only had helos and harriers (as I recall). We don't need that stuff....our Gator Navy can handle it just as well.

 

[Jeepnik]

The Brits invented the steam catapult, but have abandoned it. The angle deck does allow faster launching, but the big thing was if an aircraft crashed on landing they could still launch aircraft.

 

[JiminMaine]

Here's what I'm referring to:


View attachment 41061

Bob Wright

Most of those with the open bow under the flightdeck started life as cruisers or some other large ship. Even the first few US carriers were like that.

If ou want to read up on interesting carriers read about the USS Sable and USS Wolverine, two sidewheeler carriers.

 

[Bob Wright]

Incidentally, among the first aircraft carriers were blimps. The USS Akron was one, and I believe I passed the site where it crashed in Ohio.

As to blimps, the US only had enough helikum at the time to allow only one to operate at the time. The ships shared the helium. And helium was a closely guarded wartime commodity!

Bob Wright

 

[JCK]

I was wrong, it was a Chinese carrier that I saw pictures of on TV. It's not a raised up ramp, it's built right into the bow.

That is the Chinese carrier Liaoning formerly Russian Kuznetsov class carrier Varyag. It is MUCH smaller than a U.S. carrier. And few Chinese aircraft have the capability to take off from it and none with a full weapons and/or fuel loading.

 

[g5m]

That is the Chinese carrier Liaoning formerly Russian Kuznetsov class carrier Varyag. It is MUCH smaller than a U.S. carrier. And few aircraft have the capability to take off from it and none with a full weapons and/or fuel loading.

You beat me to it. I believe the Chinese bought it when it was under construction when the Soviet Union collapsed. They bought it with the cover story of it being for an amusement park or some such. With Google maps I used to scan the Chinese coast and regulary find it docked up near Korea.