I've recently seen a documentary (Ch 4, I think) which stated that RN Aircraft Carriers were equipped with catapults by the end of WW2. Having always had an interest in carriers and read a few books, it's the first I've heard of catapults on WW2 carriers.
Er, and at the start of W.W.II as well?
Ark Royal is most obviously equipped; note the two tracks and the dip on the flying off deck between them on the bow. I suspect the query comes from a change in the type (steam, not mechanical?) as it's not a big deal that they were there.
HMAS Manoora, and all the County Class Cruisers of the RAN and RN had catapults for Seagull V and Walrii in '39 (Gone, replaced by radar, and for more room for ack ack in '43.) among many others, including most British Battleships. There were catapults on Japanese and American ships and carriers throughout W.W.II and planned for the German carrier Graf Zepplin.
The Germans were firing Dornier Wals, and later Do18 and others as mailplanes from merchant ships in the thirties; to extend the range across the Atlantic.
Farnborough had a catapult (or 'accelarator') for tests in the thirties; see the British Pathe website for footage of the Seagull V prototype being fired off. Used to test RN aircraft and other items.
The Avro Manchester (and IIRC) the other British heavy designs were stressed for catapult (or 'accelarator' again - It's like 'chassis' not 'undercarriage' or 'gear') launch, as the theory pre-war was that was better than putting tarmac on grass airfields.
These were all cordite fired, except the Carrier examples. Part of the Walrus launch process was the pilot was shown, on a tray (drinks sir?) the charge bag before it was loaded in the chamber, to 'prove' the 'plumbers' (torpedo chaps who looked after these things - not, surprisingly, 'guns') weren't going to screw up. Din't always work though.
They were'nt regarded as 'rockets' at the time. I think they landed after (in a 'turn slick') rather than surfacing like a duck!
The Peto and M2, worked like that, as previously stated.
The big change was the hooks and strop arrangement we are familiar with today. In W.W.II the RN and I believe the rest used a bloody great trolley (like a shopping cart!) that the a/c had to be attached to to be fired off, and the trolley stopped with a 'bang' at the end of the track, to be wound back and reused. Most clumsy, and there's few pics of these in action on carriers - perhaps they were a secret weapon!
I've never come across a reference to a landing deck on a CAM ship; though unhooked Hurricanes did land on the carrier HMS Glorious when escaping Norway. Despite this, Glorious was sunk on the way home while learning how to fight a modern war, with 'Bing' Cross and his brave pilots. Flyboy, you may have confused them with Escort Carriers which had Swordfish and Wildcats - but not Hurricanes. I don't think it's likely without a hook, gear, room and a trained captain, but stranger things...