us navy and catapults on carriers

[davebender]

Or where it was easy to mount the catapult machinery. Looks small on the flight deck but most of the catapult machinery is underneath.

I served on the U.S.S. America during 1983 to 1985. By alternating between bow and side they can launch an airstrike pretty quick.

 

[delcyros]

It´s not unsurprising that catapults are unfrequently encountered in ww2 period carriers.
Parts of the explenation has already been mentioned above. The advent of airplane optimised for low take off speed and bening low speed characteristics, making most use of high lift devices and comparably low wingloads rendered the immediate need to accelerate an A/C secondary.

(This later changed with the advent of jet powered A/C with high wingload and high take off weight, which required assistence for safe take off in limited areas)

But also keep in mind the working principles of these catapults. They were compressed air or pneumatic driven, creating a potential severe fire and schock hazard in case of battle damage. None of the catapults were steam driven and feed by the main machine boilers. This technology was pioneered by the seaplane catapult ship SCHWABENLAND prior to ww2 during it´s antacrtic cruises (triggered by the need to have a cold weather proof solution to catapult these 10to seaplanes) but didn´t became standart until after the war in US carriers.