Axis aircraft carriers Aquilla & Graf Zeppelin

[Simon Gunson]

I was interested to learn recently that Aqilla had two steam catapaults.
Did Graf Zeppelin have catapaults too ?

Also how did they intend to arrest aircraft ?
I've seen a photo of a Fleischer aircraft similar to a Ju-87 stuka which had an arrester hook. Does anybody know much on the topic ?

Also what was the real reason they never put these boats to sea ?

[ChrisMAg2]

For the Graf Zeppelin:
After the loss of battle ship Bismark, the Kriegsmarine did not see any possibilitiy or was not allowed any further sea/ ocean offensive operations. With this the carrier was obselete.
This is what I understand.
Regards
Christian M. Aguilar

[varjag]

I was surprised to hear that the AQUILA was going to get steam-catapults.I thought they were a post-war British patent...did some Italians beat the Brits to it? As for the G/Zeppelin Chris is entirely right - it had no prospects after the BISMARCK episode. And - one might add, also before it - it was built as a German gesture to 'keep up with the Jones'es' - but Germany lacked the time and experience to ever turn it into a battleworthy carrier. The same goes for AQUILA.

[DrG]

I was interested to learn recently that Aqilla had two steam catapaults.

The Aquila had 2 compressed air catapults made by the German company Demag. Also the Sparviero (a smaller aircraft carrier under construction in 1943) had 1 catapult, but I don't know of what kind (probably a Demag too).

Also how did they intend to arrest aircraft ?

All the aircrafts (Reggiane RE 2001OR Ariete, FIAT G.50bis/OR Freccia for Italy and the Junkers Ju 87C-0 Stuka, Messerschmitt Bf 109T and Fieseler Fi 167A for Germany; in April-May 1943 Italy ordered 12 Fi 167 and a Flettner Fl 282 Kolibri elycopter, thus also them would have been used on the Aquila) had arrest hooks.

I've seen a photo of a Fleischer aircraft similar to a Ju-87 stuka which had an arrester hook. Does anybody know much on the topic ?

It was the Fieseler Fi 167A-0, a biplane with a fuselage very similar to the Ju 87.

Some links:
Italian Carriers (a detailed text about the delopement of carriers in Italy)
Drawings and photos of the Aquila:
http://digilander.libero.it/shinano/Ita ... uttivo.htm
http://digilander.libero.it/shinano/Ita ... metria.htm
http://digilander.libero.it/shinano/Ita ... grafie.htm
Drawing and photo of the Sparviero:
http://digilander.libero.it/shinano/Ita ... grafie.htm
German Naval Aviation
German Aircraft Carriers

[Simon Gunson]

Thanks for those links DrG. I assumed they were steam catapaults and did not think they were compressed air. Doesn't pay to assume things.

The Brits therefore solved the steam issue with two long rubber balloons I think which closed behind the steam driven shuttlecock to prevent steam pressure escaping. Yeah Varjag I was surprised and then i found the photo of a Stuka launch.