Fighter catapult ships (FCS) also known as Catapult Armed Ships were an attempt by the Royal Navy to provide air cover at sea. Five ships were acquired and commissioned as Naval vessels early in the Second World War, and these were used to accompany convoys. The concept was extended to merchant ships which were also equipped with rocket-assisted launch systems and known as Catapult Aircraft Merchantmen (CAM ships). Both classes could launch a disposable fighter (usually a Hawker Hurricane) to fight off a threat, with the pilot expected to be rescued after either ditching the aircraft or bailing out close to the launching ship.
The ships There were five fighter catapult ships, collectively known as the Pegasus class. Two, Patia and Springbank, were lost during the war. They were each equipped with a Fulmar or "Hurricat" (an adapted Hurriane Mk.1A).
FCS combat launches
See also Aircraft cruiser – Type of warship CAM ship – British merchant ships with onboard fighter aircraft List of aircraft carriers of World War II List of ships of World War II Merchant aircraft carrier – British and Dutch civilian limited-purpose aircraft carriers used in WWII
References
Citations
Sources Barker, Ralph (1978). The Hurricats. London: Pelham Books. ISBN 0-7207-0994-6. Pauly, John; Truebe, Carl E.; Wilde, Doug & Wilterding, John H. (2012). "Question 14/48: Catapult Armed Merchant Ships". Warship International. XLIX (2): 160–170. ISSN 0043-0374.