Of escort carriers, LSOs, and Torpedos

[P51FAN]

While still trying to figure out the bit about the kagero, I will figure that out later, as I have a few minor problems to fix, plus a few things I was curious about.

1. After replacing the default Essex class aircraft carriers in Tom Sanford's Reduction of Iwo Jima Campaign, I was coming in for a landing on the USS Antietam following one of the missions; and I am getting waved off, when I am still 1400 (Meters?) from the carrier's deck.

2. When trying to trying to takeoff from the Virtual Navy's Yorktown, with the B24 guy's overhauled F6F-3 Hellcat loaded with Rockets, I end up exploding before I even have a chance to start the engine. And if I start in the air, I start descending uncontrollably. I had the decent problem once before, when I gave the TBD 250 torpedoes. However, once all the torpedoes were gone, the problem went away. With the Hellcat, it does not, even if I do fire all 6 rockets.

3. Trying another Reduction of Iwo Jima mission, switching to a TBF loaded with a torpedo, as I would thing that rockets would be used more for land-based targets, rather than as an anti-ship weapon. And as I read that by late in WWII, that a Bliss-Leavitt Mark 13 torpedo could be used effectively at up to 18900 feet. So, I decided to try it out. The mark 13 torpedo I dropped from 4800 somethings, made it less than one-half of that distance. What in the .dp file controls the effective distance of a weapon?

4. From some of the pictures I have seen of Landing Signal Officers, most I have seen have paddles that look like this, although a few have paddles like those that Lieutenant David McCampbell is seen using here. Were the paddles a matter of personal taste, the squadron's choice, or something else?

5. Where would I find more info on Escort and Light carrier operations?

6. Where does the U.S. Navy get the V from for fixed wing aircraft squadrons?

Thanks!

[TARPSBird]

Re question #6:
The "V" designation for USN heavier-than-air squadrons dates to General Order 541 of 1920. The other designation assigned was "Z" for lighter-than-air squadrons (airships and dirigibles). Here's the whole history:
http://www.history.navy.mil/download...y/chapter1.pdf

[sc7500]

Re Question 5:

Wikipedia can sometimes be more wrong that right, but these pages are pretty close to spot on:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_carrier
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escort_carrier
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_aircraft_carrier
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.answers.com/topic/aircraft-carrier

SC

[P51FAN]

Wikipedia can sometimes be more wrong that right

That is why I do not believe everything that is on wikipedia, although it can be a useful tool. Thanks for the links.

Also, I think I may have the problem with the USS Essex worked out. It has to do with a value in the flight_deck_section parameters:
[flight_deck_section]
width=32.577024
length=262.128
takeoff_start=-.5,16.7801544,-115
takeoff_stop=-.5,16.7801544,120
landing_start=0,500,5000
landing_touch_down=1.279999,16.7801544,-126.0524784
landing_stop=1.279999,16.7801544,0

From what I can see, changing the landing_start line so it it reads like the following; fixes the problem of the LSO waving you off prematurely: landing start=0,500,-5000.
Thanks to Rockster234 for the solution.