Q&A · 57:36-58:14

How could a hybrid carrier recover seaplanes?

A stern recovery ramp offered a practical way to combine a flight deck with seaplane handling, although converted liners raised stability concerns.

Question

Could a purpose-built full-flight-deck seaplane carrier use a well deck to bring its aircraft aboard?

Short answer

The Royal Navy considered a stern ramp rather than a well deck, allowing a seaplane to power partway aboard before a winch completed recovery.

Notes

The proposed recovery arrangement was a stern ramp rather than a flooded well deck. A seaplane would approach under its own power and then be winched the rest of the way aboard. Purpose-built ships could incorporate that geometry from the outset. Liner conversions were less suitable because their fine, high-speed hull proportions did not automatically provide the transverse stability wanted for flight-deck operations.