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Aviation History
1935
1935 - 0386.PDF
Xft FLIGHT. FEBRUARY 21, i935, run of about sixty feet. When both ends are retracted the catapult can be turned in any direction to give a take off into the wind. Our photographs show it both retracted and extended. The " Osprey " rests on a cradle which is attached to an endless cable, which passes round the pulley wheels of the discharging ram. Before launching, the craoie is run back to the rear end of the catapult. The cordite charge is inserted and fired by order of an officer, the cable draws the cradle forward, accelerating up to about 48 knots it may be up to 56 knots in a heavier type catapult) until the front stops are reached, when the aircraft is shot forward into the air with engine running at full revolutions. The "Osprey" is by that time air borne. During this process the pilot keeps his head firirly back against a pad, while the observer, facing alt, braces himself against the rear of his cockpit, and neither is any the worse for the shock of the rapid acceleration. The pilot who flies the " Osprey " off the Leander has now been catapulted over a hundred and twenty times and thinks nothing of it. The functions of catapult floatplanes cannot yet be said to be cut and dried. When a cruiser is working singly 01 a trade route, the seaplane would be used for general reconnaissance. In a fleet action the " Ospreys " might be used as fighters, though the possession of floats does not improve their aerobatic qualities. The use of sea planes is limited by the weather There are degrees of roughness in the sea when a floatplane could not make a safe landing after its flight. It is, therefore, under con. sideration to experiment with amphibian flying boats, such as the Supermarine " Seagull V," on cruisers, as they are more seaworthy and have a longer endurance than the floatplanes. Being amphibians, they could be used on carriers as well as on cruisers. The development of this catapult branch of the Fleet Air Arm should be very interesting to follow. THE SERVICES RUGBY TOURNAMENT Royal Navy versus Royal Air Force By Major F. A. de V. ROBERTSON T HE Royal Navy and Royal Marines beat the Royal Air Force at Twickenham last Saturday by two goals and a try (13 points) to one goal and a try (8 points) in the first match of the Inter-Services Rugby Tournament. This match is easier to describe • than to summarise and criticise. There was a great deal of dull play and of indif ferent play, but there were patches of excitement and brilli ance, and the run of the scores kept the spectators guessing righ< up to near the end as to which side would win. The best conclusion is that this R.A.F. XV of comparative novices she A c-d possibilities of becoming a really first-rate side. The day was gloomy and overcast, with a strong west wind blowing. By the time this wind had got round the stands it was doing all sorts of peculiar things, and often the corner flags at the two ends of the ground were blown in opposite directions at the same time. Consequently no one could fore tell what would happen to a kicked ball. Both sides started in uncertain mood. Tackling and pass ing were alike wobbly. In the first two minutes an airman wrapped himself (apparently) firmly round one of Lane's legs, but still allowed the Navy three-quarter to wriggle free and run on. As a result Wheadon nearly got over for the Navy. Other R.A.F. tackling showed an equal lack of clean ness and firmness. The wind kept bringing the ball to Lane on the Navy's right, and he was always dangerous. After ten minutes the R.A.F. improved, and some pretty passing on their right took the game into the Navy's twenty-five, where Simmons missed a shot at a penalty goal. Five minutes later he had another free kick from farther out, and made a very good shot. The game was going to and fro, with nothing much in it. The R.A.F forwards got their share of the ball in the scrums, but heeled very slowly. In spite of this, Parker and G A. Walker did some very clever things in getting their three-quarters moving, and the latter showed skill in handling and enterprise in trying to make openings. The Navy three-quarters, who had more chances, usually made a hash of their passing and bunched together. Scoring Begins After twenty-six minutes of rather dull give-and-take play, suddenly the Navy scored a try, though the reason why they did so would be rather hard to find. It was chiefly a matter of good backing up. Lane, running with rather less than his usual determination, found himself (that seems the best way of putting it) with only Ashton in front of him and at least three men at his elbow. Ashton made a really noble effort to confuse them, and delayed his tackle until the very last second, but Lane gave the ball to Walsham who had a straight run in He could not get round behind, and the erratic wind played havoc with Forrest's place kick. A rash kick ahead gave Gosling an excellent chance to drop a goal, but he too fniled to allow for the wind. At that point the R.A.F. suddenly became inspired. A very good combined movement to the right took them almost on to the Navy s line, and though the Navy cleared for a moment, Morgan sent the ball back with a clever kick. The pressure was kept up, and resulted in &. A. Walker going over for a very good try. Ihe wind did not prevent Simmons placing a fine goal, and the Air Force took the lead at 5—3. A quarter of an hour later came the most sensational inci dent of the match. A kick ahead by the Navy was fielded by Ashton well inside his own twenty-five. Three Navy men confronted him, but he cut across their bows. Amid shouts from the spectators of " kick " (which seemed the wisest thing to do), Ashton brushed aside two or three half-hearted tackles and then a great gap yawned before him. Increasing his pace, he went right through it, past the half-way line, into the Navy twenty-five, with his own three-quarters falling into line beside him. It was a glorious run and quite un expected. Then his pace began to flag, so he gave the ball to S. G. Walker, and he to Thompson, who scored far out. The kick failed, but the R.A.F. now looked almost certain winners. Half-time was whistled with the score at 8—3. In the second half the Navy in turn woke up, and instead of half-hearted running and fumbled passes, we saw at last what they really could do. The skill and pace of their attacks broke up the formation of the defence, and only desperate tackling by R.A.F. individuals, running across the field, prevented a really big score from mounting up. First Wheadon got awav and passed to Lane (it is not very often than one wing three- quarter feeds the other), and Lane made one of his very thrustful runs. Someone brought him down near the line, but too late to save the score, for Darling went over for a try, and Gosling kicked a goal. That made the scores equal Soon after Sladen broke clear and sent Lane off again, but the latter was firmly grounded this time. The Navy forwards were getting the ball out well at this period, but one chiefly admired the smart opportunism of the Navv men. Seven minutes after Darling's try the Navy kicked ahead and followed up well. Lane got the ball and made another great run. This time Watkins took his pass and scored, and Gosling kicked another rgoal, putting the Navy ahead bv r3—8, and settling the issue of the match. Ashton tried to make another run, but chose the wrong occasion and was tackled with the ball. This almost let the Navy in again, but a free kick set the Air Force attacking again, and the Navy had to touch down. S. G. Walker and Church in turn made good runs, and one airman tried a drop at goal, but the Navy defence held. Ashton made another run. and set his three-quarters going, but all was of no avail- The teams were :— ROYAL NAVY.—Lt. C. G. Gosling (H.M.S. Galatea): Lt. H. I- F. Lane (R>£ •^tition, Nciheravon), Ldg, Seamnn C. Criddle (R.N. Bks., Devonport). U- £ • Bladen (H.M.S. Titania). Lt. G. M. Wheadon (R.N. Bks.. Portsmouth); Lt. J-^V Walsham (R.N.C., Greenwich), Sub.-Lt. S. V. Welch (R.N.E. College, iwonpw I.t. I. G. Avlen (R.N.C. Greenwich), Schoolmaster D. J. Tarr (H.M.S, '-Fl''",„J Lt. E. G. Nixon (R.N.C., Greenwich), Lt.-Cmdr. T. W. Forrest (H.M.S. f^K (capt.), Marine G. Webb (H.M.S. Caledon), Pay." Sub.-Lt. J. K. WatkmS U£j Tlks.,Devonpnrt), Sub.-Lt. G. P. Darling (H.M.S. Dolphin), Lt. R. J. I ua" (H.M.S. Excellent). ROYAL AIR FORCE.—P/O. P. W. Ashton (Manston): L.A/C. W. R "<"Sf (Worthy Down), P/O. W. C. A. Church (Sealand), P/O. S. G. Walker ((.ran P/O. I. M. Thompson (Sealand), P/O. G. A. Walker (Sealand), P/O. J. \- ",,.,, (Catterick) ; L.A/C. A. E. Simmons (Henlow), L.A/C. W. V. Reynolds (Hen u P/O. R. H. Waterhouse (Donibristle), L.A/C. D. C. Muirhead (Norfolk), fi • . C. E. St. J. Beamish (Digby), (capt.), P/O. R. H. S. McConnell <Mt. Batten), n S. Wilson (Halton), A/C.L J. Holland (Upper Heyford). J
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