Things have changed just a tad since 1962. Bridles are no longer used. All Navy aircraft now use a launch bar attached to the nose landing gear.
I served on CVA-42, ‘60-’62. I was in catapults and operated a console that launched the aircraft.
The hold-back on the rear of the aircraft prevented a violent jerk on the front of the aircraft when the shuttle launched the aircraft.
NOTHING was attached to the nose gear and there was wasn’t a violent force on the gear. There was a bridal attached to two hooks under the nose of the aircraft and around the shuttle, as well as two cables to retain the bridal on the boom (horn) when the aircraft lifted off the deck.
We had a squadron of A-3D Sky Warriors, weighing about 55-60 thousand lbs. with a nuclear load, and had no problem launching them.
That old CVA (FDR) was a sister ship to the Midway and Coral Sea carriers. ...I’m confident that modern CVNs can generate the steam power to launch today’s aircraft. EMALS appears to be a very expensive and unproven alternative, but I welcome any improvements.
Confusing people with actual knowledge of the subject, again? ;-)
Things have changed just a tad since 1962. Bridles are no longer used. All Navy aircraft now use a launch bar attached to the nose landing gear.