Carriers and fuel

[Chris21wen]

Hyperthetical question, but I was hoping it had occured in my PBEM game.

If a carrier runs out of fuel can it still launch aircraft. Should be no, but I bet it isn't.

[Terminus]

Why shouldn't that be possible? WWII escort carriers could launch aircraft whilst at anchor.

[Shark7]

They should be able to, though I would guess that the plane loads would have to be adjusted as they will not be getting the 30 kts head wind usually provided by the moving carrier. That 30kts does make a big difference on how much take-off weight can be.

[Terminus]

This is true, but survival-launching aircraft would definitely be possible.

[BPRE]

Hi,

I've seen the AI run out of fuel on it's carriers and when receiving inbound strikes not a single fighter took off.

I guess it's rather unusual for people to end up in such a situation (at least in the places the AI tend to do it [:D]) so it's probably not noticed.

/BPRE

[Chris21wen]

Turning into the wind and 30kts across the deck were deem essential for any a/c with a decent load.  Good pilots might make it off and landing would be even more hazardous.

[tocaff]

A hazardous carrier landing!  Now that's funny as everyone knows that they're all semi controlled crashes.

[bigjoe96912]

Catapults catapults catapults, they all had them and yes they could launch an aircraft with a decent load at a full stop, been there done that (Americans had them anywho)

[Shark7]

True they had catapults, but the catapults were designed to launch the A/C at a certain weight with a certain airspeed over the deck. Even with the catapults, losing 30kts of headwind speed would require an adjustment of the a/c take-off load to reduce weight. Basically, the easiest way to reduce take-off weight is to 1) reduce ordnance or 2) reduce fuel. So you have a choice of less weapons or less range, or both.

[herwin]

ORIGINAL: Terminus

Why shouldn't that be possible? WWII escort carriers could launch aircraft whilst at anchor.

They had a catapult and they used it. Couldn't launch a deckload strike that way, though.

[bigjoe96912]

Ok if you are out of gas why are you worried about launching a strike!!!! Duh let them Hellcats fly!!!!!!!

[Jorm]

ORIGINAL: bigjoe96912

Ok if you are out of gas why are you worried about launching a strike!!!! Duh let them Hellcats fly!!!!!!!

I think the OP was concerned as often carriers had to activly steam into the wind to launch a strike.
so erm, DUH!!! to you

[JWE]

Don’t think it’s necessary to achieve 30 knots for operations. Your average Bogue CVE was built on a C3-S-A1 freighter hull and had a top speed of 16.5 knots. Your average Sangamon CVE was built on a T3 tanker hull and had a top speed of 18 knots.

[treespider]

ORIGINAL: bigjoe96912

Catapults catapults catapults, they all had them and yes they could launch an aircraft with a decent load at a full stop, been there done that (Americans had them anywho)

So what's generating the steam for the catapults?