Our friends at @NavalMuseum reminded us that #OTD in 1952 the navy announced the adoption of the steam catapult for use on board aircraft carriers. So, we thought we would celebrate steam with the following. A thread 1/5

The Aviation Boatswain& #39;s Mates, Launching and Recovery Equipment (ABE) operate, maintain, & perform maintenance on steam catapults, and associated equipment... 2/5

ABEs operate catapult hydraulic systems, retraction engines, water brakes, jet blast deflectors, deckedge and ICCS, and jet blast deflector control panels, and ... 3/5

... associated equipment; perform aircraft handling duties related to the operation of aircraft launching and recovery equipment. 4/5

Our catapults can launch up to 80K lbs, at 140 knots. Pictured here is an F/A-18F Super Hornet, attached to the "Fighting Swordsmen" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 32, launches from the flight deck. 5/5