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Catapult and arresting gear officers play a crucial role in supervising aircraft launch and recovery operations on a naval ship. Their primary focus is to ensure that these highly technical and critical operations are conducted safely and efficiently.

During aircraft launches, these officers are responsible for managing the catapult systems, which involve coordinating the timing and mechanics required for launching aircraft from the flight deck. They ensure that all procedures are followed, and that personnel are in safe positions before an aircraft is launched.

Similarly, when recovering aircraft, these officers oversee the use of arresting gear, which is essential for safely bringing aircraft back to the ship. This requires precise timing and coordination, as well as a thorough understanding of aircraft behavior during landing to safely engage the tailhook with the arresting wires.

In contrast, while maintaining communications is vital for flight operations, and scheduling flight operations is important for overall task management, these functions do not directly relate to the specific duties of catapult and arresting gear officers. Their niche expertise is centered on the direct oversight of aircraft operations, which is why supervising aircraft launch and recovery is the correct answer.