Why do Aircraft Carriers have the Island on the right ?
Port
Probably goes way back in time. Ships docked on the port side because the steering oar was on the starboard side..German backbord and steurer bord. The island would hinder loading so was stuck on the right hand side. Simples.
If the veering left theory held water then it would have to be reversed in the southern hemisphere due to the coriolis effect.
If the veering left theory held water then it would have to be reversed in the southern hemisphere due to the coriolis effect.
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It may have been because most American aircraft engines rotated right-hand, looking form the cockpit, which at low airspeed and high power, would induce a torque roll to the left ... away from the aircraft carrier "island". I can't explain British carriers, which had to handle engines rotating to the left, but, then again, the British drive on the wrong side of the road ... or sumthin'.
Cheers,
Grog
Cheers,
Grog
When driving a ship you are required to "give way to the right" meaning that any vessel approaching you from the right hand side has right of way. It therefore makes sense that the driver is on the right side,(Starboard side) to see any stand on vessels. Carriers may perhaps follow this principal
It may have been because most American aircraft engines rotated right-hand, looking form the cockpit,
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When driving a ship you are required to "give way to the right" meaning that any vessel approaching you from the right hand side has right of way. It therefore makes sense that the driver is on the right side,(Starboard side) to see any stand on vessels. Carriers may perhaps follow this principal (sic)
All the aviation related theories, however technically commendable, are therefore very much downstream.
I would also suggest that, contrary to Ivor's suggestion, the Andrew Miller connotation is fairly widely known in the Royal Navy.
Jack
Quite amusing to see all the theories projected in a 14 year old thread until finally Reefrat comes up so quickly with the simple answer that would have made most sense to the senior officers who would have dictated the requirement in the design of the first purpose-built aircraft carriers, and could or would not have been aviators themselves in that era. The captain's sea cabin in virtually every reasonably large power-driven vessel is on the starboard side for precisely that reason so that, when called up by the officer of the watch regarding a close quarters navigational situation, they can if necessary look out and promptly see for themselves what's what on the "danger" side.
All the aviation related theories, however technically commendable, are therefore very much downstream.
I would also suggest that, contrary to Ivor's suggestion, the Andrew Miller connotation is fairly widely known in the Royal Navy.
Jack
All the aviation related theories, however technically commendable, are therefore very much downstream.
I would also suggest that, contrary to Ivor's suggestion, the Andrew Miller connotation is fairly widely known in the Royal Navy.
Jack
Still to be referenced on page 18, along with fascinating mention of electric powered ships earlier in the article
Captain Coriolis Mandolin is a left hand plucker.
It may have been because most American aircraft engines rotated right-hand, looking form the cockpit, which at low airspeed and high power, would induce a torque roll to the left ... away from the aircraft carrier "island"
As to why the island is where it is seems to fall into the Royal Navy's lap. The first purpose designed carrier ever was HMS Hermes, initially it was designed to have an island on both sides with a full length deck running between them. The result of flight trials on the Eagle and Argus prompted a design change for the island to be placed to starboard, the reason given in texts being pilots preferred to turn to port if overshooting, the standard left hand circuit and having a clear view of the deck on downwind would be my assumption as well. The aircraft embarked on the Hermes, Fairey Flycatcher fighters and Fairey IIID, had the same rotation as the Griffon, so torque effects don't seem to have been a consideration.
https://www.naval-encyclopedia.com/UK/ww1/hms-hermes
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The first purpose built carrier.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Hermes_(95)
Construction was suspended after Hermes was launched in September 1919 as the Admiralty awaited the results of flight trials with Eagle and Argus. Her design was modified in March 1920 with an island superstructure and funnel to starboard, and the forward catapult was removed.[5]The logic behind placing the island to starboard was that pilots generally preferred to turn to port when recovering from an aborted landing.[6] A prominent tripod mast was added to house the fire-control systems for her guns.[5]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Hermes_(95)
Last edited by NutLoose; 16th Aug 2020 at 08:58.
Aeroplanes keep to the left, as do cars in any civilised country, so the island had to be on the right. The Cousins copied the design before realising that their cars had the wheel on the wrong side, too late mate.
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I suppose that much depends upon when the left hand circuit became standard practise. If it was in place before the advent of the aircraft carrier then it would be common sense to place the island where a pilot could see the "runway" at all times during the circuit - hence the island on the right.
After initially deciding to build the island in the middle, they had a change of heart and plumped for the right...