[KC Jones]

For Navy carrier personnel I've got a question about the antenna-looking things protruding off the sides.

While working in Japan at Yokosuka Naval Base I was told that the antenna-looking things were for static electricity discharge.

In the States, some other Navy guy I asked said they were for low-frequency radio.

Another said they were for parking aircraft off the sides.

And yet another said for parking aircraft off the side with their rear hanging out they bolted down a plank/ramp on the deck to wheel the airplane back.

Here is a historical picture:



and here are a couple I took (they look like wires and not capable of supporting an airplane):





So my question is, what are the antenna-looking things actually for ?

Thanks,

KC