Catapault launched Aircraft with Torpedoes or Rockets

[tigercat]

I have never heard of any catapault launched aircraft carrying out a torpedo attack so I'm assuming that  because of how they were launched carriage of a torpedo was impossible. Now what I'm thinking is say you had a catapault aircraft with an internal bombay which could fit a torpedo or you fitted the aircraft with RP3 racks under the wing how would that have affected things in WW2

For example at the Battle of the River Plate the allies had 3 aircraft

[rickshaw]

The problem is weight.  Most torpedos weight over a thousand+ pounds.  Either you need an aircraft with a larger wingspan or a much more powerful engine and then you need a considerably more powerful catapult than what was carried or fitted onto most warships, particularly cruisers.

[NARSES2]

Could the Swordfish floatplane be catapault launched ?

[tigercat]

Yes it was a Swordfish on Warpspite that helped her sink all those German Destroyers in Norway

[PR19_Kit]

Presumably we're talking about non-carrier catapults here? The ones fitted to cruisers and battleships etc.

[Rheged]

The problem is weight.  Most torpedos weight over a thousand+ pounds.  Either you need an aircraft with a larger wingspan or a much more powerful engine and then you need a considerably more powerful catapult than what was carried or fitted onto most warships, particularly cruisers.

I remember reading somewhere that the Arado  caried by Graf Spee  dropped a couple of scare charges  on  one of the merchant ships  later sunk by the raider........is this likely to be accurate, or is it another case of memory decay  on my part?

[NARSES2]

Yes it was a Swordfish on Warpspite that helped her sink all those German Destroyers in Norway

Right my memory had hell up for once then  Could she have carried a torpedo ? prsumably she could carry small bombs and smoke flaots etc

[tigercat]

Here we go so she could and did carry bombs.

Swordfish were used tentatively for escort duty at the very beginning, until they had a chance to prove themselves. This soon came to pass, when a floatplane version, flown by W.M.L. Brown  off the HMS WARSPITE was used to spot for the guns of that ship, resulting in the destruction of seven German destroyers. (Brown dealt the finishing blow to one of these with a bomb from his aircraft). Shortly afterwards, the same pilot executed the first dive bombing attack by the Fleet Air Arm, resulting in the sinking of a U-boat.

Presumably we're talking about non-carrier catapults here? The ones fitted to cruisers and battleships etc.

Yes Cruiser / Batleship catapults

[rickshaw]

I would assume that the Swordfish had a choice - floats or a Torpedo.  I also suspect that the float struts would have impeded carriage of a Torpedo.

[PR19_Kit]

I would assume that the Swordfish had a choice - floats or a Torpedo.  I also suspect that the float struts would have impeded carriage of a Torpedo.

Actually they don't.

The floats on a Swordfish don't have inter-float struts, they're strutted diagonally up to the fuselage, presumably just so they could carry torps. Here's a piccie of one in that configuration.

[pyro-manic]

There's a very simple solution - use the crane that recovers the floatplane back aboard ship in reverse - set it in the water and let it take off normally! The issue is speed, of course - it's not going to be anywhere near as quick as catapult launch - but it would be possible.

[rickshaw]

I would assume that the Swordfish had a choice - floats or a Torpedo.  I also suspect that the float struts would have impeded carriage of a Torpedo.

Actually they don't.

The floats on a Swordfish don't have inter-float struts, they're strutted diagonally up to the fuselage, presumably just so they could carry torps. Here's a piccie of one in that configuration.

So it comes down to, is the catapult strong enough to launch it at that weight.

Putting the aircraft into the water would work.  I wonder, could it be done while the ship is under way?   Picking up could.  I suppose if a quick-release hook was used it would be possible but it might be a bit too much for what were essentially fairly fragile structures, particularly if there is any sea running at the same time.

If the catapult position could be changed to the bows, you could get more lift from over the bow wind as carriers did. 

[Rheged]

If the catapult position could be changed to the bows, you could get more lift from over the bow wind as carriers did. 
I now have a surreal picture in my head of a super CAM ship with a RATO assisted Torpedo  Beaufighter ready to go.     AAAAAGH!!!

[PR19_Kit]

I now have a surreal picture in my head of a super CAM ship with a RATO assisted Torpedo  Beaufighter ready to go.     AAAAAGH!!!

Now you've planted the thought you can bet that just such an model will appear in plastic before the year is out. 

[NARSES2]

Tigercat and Kit. Thanks for the info on the Swordfish floatplane  

I'll have to re-read my books covering the two Narvik battles - been looking at taking the Royal Norwegian Mail ship cruise up the Norwegian coast. Don't think she stops at Narvik though