Flight deck .26 hangars Graf Zeppelin-class aircraft carrier

1 flight deck & hangars

1.1 hangars
1.2 elevators
1.3 launch catapults
1.4 arresting gear
1.5 wind barriers
1.6 island

flight deck & hangars

the graf zeppelins steel flight deck, overlaid wooden planking, 242 m (794 ft) long 30 m (98 ft) wide @ maximum. had slight round down right aft , overhung main superstructure not stern; being supported steel girders. @ bow, carriers have open forecastle , leading edge of flight deck uneven (mainly due blunt ends of catapult tracks), did not appear have caused undue air turbulence. careful wind-tunnel studies using models confirmed this, revealed long low island structure generate vortex on flight deck in these tests when ship yawed port. considered acceptable hazard when conducting air operations.

hangars

the graf zeppelin class s upper , lower hangars long , narrow unarmored sides , ends. workshops, stores , crew quarters located outboard of hangars, design feature similar of british carriers. upper hangar measured 185 m (607 ft) x 16 m (52 ft); lower hangar 172 m (564 ft) x 16 m (52 ft). upper hangar had 6 m (20 ft) vertical clearance while lower hangar had 0.3 m (1 ft 0 in) less headroom due ceiling braces. total usable hangar space 5,450 m (58,700 sq ft) stowage 43 aircraft: 20 fieseler fi 167 torpedo bombers, 18 in lower hangar, 2 in upper hangar; 13 junkers ju 87c dive bombers in upper hangar , 10 messerschmitt bf 109t fighters in upper hangar.

elevators

the graf zeppelin class had 3 electrically operated elevators positioned along flight-deck s center-line: 1 near bow, abreast forward end of island; 1 amidships; , 1 aft. octagonal in shape, measuring 13 m (43 ft) x 14 m (46 ft), , designed transfer aircraft weighing 5.5 tons between decks.

launch catapults

two deutsche werke compressed air-driven telescoping catapults installed @ forward end of flight deck power-assisted launches. 23 m (75 ft) long , designed accelerate 2,500 kg (5,500 lb) fighter speed of approximately 140 km/h (87 mph) , 5,000 kg (11,000 lb) bomber 130 km/h (81 mph).

a dual set of rails led catapults forward , midship elevators. in hangars, aircraft hoisted crane - method proposed essex-class carriers of united states navy, rejected time-consuming - onto collapsible launch trolleys. aircraft/trolley combination lifted flight deck level on elevator , trundled along rails catapult start points. when catapults triggered, burst of compressed air propel moveable slideways within catapult track wells forward.

as each plane lifted off, launch trolley reach end of slideway remain locked in place until tow attachment cables released. once slideways retracted catapult track wells , tow cables unhooked, launch trollies manually pushed forward onto recovery platforms, lowered forecastle on b deck, rolled upper hangar re-use via secondary set of rails. when not in use, catapult tracks covered sheet metal farings protect them harsh weather.

eighteen aircraft have theoretically been launched @ rate of 1 every 30 seconds before exhausting catapult air reservoirs. have taken 50 minutes recharge reservoirs. 2 large cylinders holding compressed air housed in insulated compartments located between 2 catapult tracks, below flight deck level above main armored deck. positioning afforded them light protection potential battle damage. insulated compartments electrically heated temperature of 20 °c (68 °f) in order prevent ice forming on cylinder piping , control equipment compressed air vented during launches.

it intended outset of graf zeppelins aircraft launch via catapult. rolling take-offs performed in emergency or if catapults inoperable due battle damage or mechanical failure. whether practice have been strictly adhered or later modified, based on actual air trials , combat experience open question, given limited capacity of air reservoirs , long recharging times necessary between launches. 1 advantage of such system, however, graf zeppelins have launched aircraft without need turning ship wind or under conditions prevailing winds light provide enough lift heavier aircraft. have launched , landed aircraft simultaneously.

to facilitate rapid catapult launches , eliminate necessity of time-consuming engine warm-ups, 8 aircraft kept in readiness aboard german carriers on hangar decks use of steam pre-heaters. these keep aircraft engines @ operational temperature of 70 °c (158 °f). in addition, engine oil kept warmed in separate holding tanks, added via hand-pumps aircraft engines shortly before launch. once aircraft raised flight deck level via elevators, aircraft oil temperature maintained, if need be, through use of electric pre-heaters plugged power points on flight deck. otherwise, aircraft have been catapult-launched engines have been @ or near normal operating temperature.

arresting gear

four arrester wires positioned @ after end of flight deck 2 more emergency wires located afore , abaft of amidships elevator. original drawings show 4 additional wires fore , aft of forward lift, possibly intended allow recovery of aircraft on bows, these may have been deleted ship s final configuration. assist night landings, arrester wires illuminated neon lights.

wind barriers

two 4 m (13 ft) high, slitted steel wind barriers installed afore midships , forward elevators. these designed reduce wind velocity on flight deck distance of approximately 40 m (130 ft) behind them. when not in use lowered flush deck allow aircraft pass on them.

island

the position of graf zeppelins superstructure in relation flight deck.

the graf zeppelins starboard-side island housed command , navigating bridges , charthouse. served platform 3 searchlights, 4 domed stabilized fire-control directors , large vertical funnel. compensate weight of island, carrier s flight deck , hangars offset 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in) port longitudinal axis. design additions proposed in 1942 included tall fighter-director tower, air search radar antennas , curved cap funnel, latter intended keep smoke , exhaust gases away armored fighter-director cabin.

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