'OK4wire' has a good memory but like a piece of string - it all depends. In the Sea Venom / Gannet era the catapult stroke length was reportedly 90 feet. The Venom was limited to about 4.5 lateral G for catapulting so was limited in hot conditions, nil wind in the tropics (a familiar refrain perhaps hence SRVLs for the BeeBabies). The A4G Skyhawk was not so limited with a 9 lateral G limitation. It was said a 'warshot' could fling the A4G at max weight 24,500 lbs under any conditions except HADES. However CHLOE would have been the only bit of metal to undergo such torture.
After collision with USS Frank E. Evans in 1969 the repaired bow included a 'bridle catcher' with provision to lengthen the catapult by some ten feet. How much stroke length that meant has never been clear. Anyway by 1970-71 the actual stroke length was increased to 100 feet - some say 105 feet - with parts from HMCS Bonaventure. And I guess we can take that as stroke length. I can recall being told the catapult stroke was 100 feet long late 1971 early 1972. The slow motion film of catapulting the A4G was to see how the 'bridle catcher' was working. Centreline stores would have the fin removed so that the 'catcher wire' would not interfere with it. Aboard USS Kearsage [a wood decker] in 1969 when cross decking our one and only buddy refuel tank at that time was damaged by the arrangement of the 'bridle catcher'.
Last edited by SpazSinbad; 14th Mar 2017 at 07:42.
Reason: Kearsage