The movement of a piston, a series of pulleys and cables fired into a chamber and an 8-inch shell filled with black powder, a cradle holding the plane was literally fired down the catapult track. This in essence amounted to being fired from a cannon since the plane accelerated from 0 to a speed of about 60 knots within 2 feet of travel. Prior to launch the ship would turn to a heading that would place the relative wind about 30 degrees off the bow and the catapult would then be trained outboard to put the wind directly down the track. This served to expedite the launch and allow the ship to return to its station earlier than otherwise. First it is important to explain that the ocean has several motions, which affect the ship, boats and aircraft.
Swells are rhythmic action of the water and result mainly from tides, storms and earthquakes.
Another is chop, caused largely by wind. Swells in the landing area are predictable and can be judged by the pilot and pose no big problem to operations unless they are extremely high. Understand that a ship turns from the stern, not by the bow turning as in the case of driving a car by guiding the front wheels. The process started with the ship taking a course 45 degrees out of the wind. Charley flag on the starboard yardarm indicted to the pilot that recovery would be made on the starboard side of the ship.