aircraf catapult for WWII frigates

HMCS Snowberry is a Flower Class Corvette, she could never handle a steam catapult.

There were 3 Fletcher Class Destroyers that were converted for trials with a catapult, but none entered service operationally. As Blackwolf pointed out, aside from carriers, the only other ships aside from capital ships to carry aircraft were the CAM ships.

Let me know what you're trying to accomplish, and we'll start from there.

Jeff Herne

Here's a closer shot of a Hurricane which, according to the information I have, was carried aboard EMPIRE TIDE...



THIS page has some relevant info; scroll down to List of ships (main convoy) according to sequence of departure. It's of no use to a modeler, but it's interesting stuff.

Here's an extract from an online message archive of a special interest group of some sort:

QUOTE: Subject: Cam ships - Hurricanes >> Were any of these ships painted in camoflage? Or just grey like most mercantmen.? Did the Hurricane fighter have any special markings? << Hurricane Markings Standard RAF camouflage pattern, but upper surface colours extra dark sea grey and dark slate grey over medium sea grey undersides. Prop black with yellow blade tips and sky spinner. Up til early 42 they carried a sky fuselage band just forward of the tail and the roundels would be type B on the top of the wing, A under the wing and A1 on the fuselage with type A fin stripe. Early in 42 the sky band was deleted and the type A and A1 roundels and flash changed to C and C1 roundels and flash. Squadron codes caried on operations were LU forward of the roundel on both sides, and the individual aircraft code aft of the roundel. These would be either sky or medium sea grey. Empire Tide carried a Hurricane in the early scheme coded NJ*L at one time, possibly for trials, although the photo is apparently dated 1943. Interestingly, the ships name clearly visible just aft of the bridge is abbreviated to E TIDE. Another photo of this ship shows large irregular rectangles along the hull in a lighter shade of "grey" (B&W photo!) This is almost certainly fresh paint from a touch up job rather than any camouflage pattern, but it's an authentic way of breaking up an otherwise dull overall grey model. A photo of a Hurricane on a catapult in the later scheme shows it without squadron codes. The Hurricanes were mounted on the catapult ready to launch, wheels up and flaps drooped approx 30 degrees. Gun shell ejection ports were plugged, the plugs being attached to lines to the catapult handrails.

There is contradictory information here, but it should be useful nonetheless...

Happy New Year!


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A Hurricane? I believe you are thinking of a CAM ship. The fighter would be launched on a one-way flight to defend the convoy against aircraft and then ditch in the water. See if these links show what you are talking about:
http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/maritime/exhibitions/boa/camships.asp
http://www.ahoy.tk-jk.net/macslog/TheDevelopmentoftheCatapu.html

If I recall correctly there was a Fletcher class ship that had catapults installed, Jeff would have the right answer on this, he did write THE book on the ship class....

oh sorry for not being too clear I think im talkingabout the steam catapluts that were used to launch recon planes out in the midel of the ocean.
i saw a couple pictures of them and it was mounted on the top of a large turret on a destroyer and there was a hurricane on the catapult

You mean K guns???

Jeff