A photograph shows a landing craft descending the stern chute of a wartime conversion. Navies had used the underlying launch method even earlier, placing modern claims of revolutionary ramp-launched boats in a much longer history. A stern ramp can be useful while still drawing on an established concept. The comparison distinguishes a new application of existing equipment from the rediscovery of a familiar naval technique.
Notable Point · 27:23-28:02
Stern-ramp boat launching has a long history
A wartime stern-chute launch shows that navies used ramp-launched small boats long before the concept acquired modern force-multiplier language.