The Catapult
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| ID | 1791052 |
About The Catapult
World War Two experimental catapult unearthed by archaeologists
An experimental catapult designed to launch World War Two bomber planes into the sky has been excavated.
The prototype Royal Aircraft Establishment Mark III Catapult was unearthed at The Site of a development at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire.
It was made to enable take-offs using shorter runways and so the planes could be loaded with more fuel.
The contraption was built between 1938 and 1940 when The Site was RAF Harwell.
However, The Project was abandoned without ever launching an aircraft, because the engines would wear out and the design did not properly fit the bomber planes.
The Mechanism was Taken Out and a normal runway built over The Top .
The technology was a precursor to Catapult Armed Merchant (CAM) ships, via rocket-propelled catapults.
How was The Catapult meant to work?Source:
Archaeologists at The Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA) have now recreated a 3D digital replica of The Remains .
Project officer Susan Porter said: " This fascinating structure reminds us of the rapid experimentation and innovation of the interwar years and World War Two.
" Crucially, recording the location and appearance of every inch means that The Catapult is preserved by record for Future Generations . "
The Catapult has now been dismantled to allow construction works in the area to continue, though The Remains are being archived.
Excavations also uncovered large lights from another nearby runway, and a Spigot Mortar-type gun emplacement used to defend it from attack.
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Source of news: bbc.com
The Catapult Photos
