They are there to absorb the slap of the bridle when the shuttle hits the
water brake. No need now that we're all nose-tow. But some of the ships
were built anticipating the need to bridle launch aircraft and they were
equipped with the catcher on cat 1.

R / John

"Max Richter" wrote in message
...
Hallo,

i noticed that on Nimitz-class-carriers some catapults have on the end of
the deck an overhanging outrigger. Other catapults on the same ship don´t
have it.
I think this thing has something to do with the older startmethod using a
sling of steelcable. But i am under the impression that this method fell
in disuse in the Navy, so why is it still there and only on some spezial
catapults on a ship.
Greetings
Max