HMS Ark Royal, British aircraft carrier, WW2

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SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2
by Lt Cdr Geoffrey B Mason RN (Rtd) (c) 2003

HMS ARK ROYAL - Fleet Aircraft Carrier
including Convoy Escort Movements

edited by Gordon Smith, Naval-History.Net

HMS Ark Royal
(NP/Ben Titheridge, click photographs for enlargements)

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ARK ROYAL Class Fleet Aircraft Carrier ordered from Cammell Laird of Birkenhead under the 1934 estimates. The ship was launched on 13th April 1937 as the third RN warship to carry the name, which dates from 1587 and has a direct association with naval aviation extending over several generations. She was completed in November 1938 and saw extensive and illustrious service during WW2 before her loss three years later.

G e n e r a l I n f o r m a t i o n

In 1931 work commenced on the design of a new Fleet Aircraft Carrier which would be the first of a new generation of this type of warship. The later ships of the ILLUSTRIOUS class which followed were basically of the same design.

HMS ARK ROYAL was ordered in the 1934 Build Programme from Cammell Laird of Birkenhead and entered service in November 1938. The build cost was £3.215M.

The design provided a full length flush flight deck and hangars on 2 desks. Three lifts were fitted for transfer of aircraft to and from hangar level and two cranes were used for recovery of seaplanes. Special stowage arrangements were design for boats with a new type of system for launching. The 'sandwich' protection intended for protection against torpedoes was clearly not effective when the ship was sunk in 1941!

The ship had a deep displacement of about 27,000 tons as designed and was 800 feet in overall length with a beam of 94 feet and mean draught of 23 feet. Armour protection was provided for hangar area, deck and machinery compartments and was used in the subsequent ILLUSTRIOUS Class. The armoured Flight Deck undoubtedly saved these ships when they were hit by Japanese KAMIKAZE aircraft. The Arrester gear was also of improved design as was another novel feature, a hinged telescopic mast sited in the centre of the Flight Deck for navigation lights.

Eight twin 4.5" guns with a dual capability for surface and air defence and 6 multiple pom pom mountings for close range AA use comprised the main armament.

The propulsion machinery consisted of three propellers driven by steam turbines giving 102,000 shaft horsepower to provide a designed speed of 30.75 knots which was exceeded on trials. Three Boiler Rooms with separate but adjacent boiler rooms were used.

Although the original aircraft requirement asked for 72 aircraft to be carried only 60 were allowed for for in the finished design and this was reduced to 54 when modern heavier types were embarked. The original complement was about 1,600 but was increased after the outbreak of war when radar and more close range anti-aircraft weapons were fitted.

HMS ARK ROYAL was probably the best known British aircraft carrier during WW2 and was frequently claimed to have been sunk by the Germans. She was involved in the disastrous naval operations in Norway before going to the Mediterranean in June 1940. Full details of her service are provided in the Chronology.

Her loss after being hit by a torpedo from U81 clearly demonstrated weaknesses in the damage control arrangements compounded by poor training of personnel in the correct way to deal with extensive flooding. In this case caused by a hole of about 115 feet length. Initially the ship was abandoned because of lack of electric power for fire fighting, but later some key personnel were re-embarked. Despite their herculean efforts, largely incorrectly applied the ship sank on 14th November a day after being hit.

Following an inquiry into her loss extensive design changes were introduced into all new ships and arrangements for damage control in existing ships were modified. Design changes included alterations in electrical power distribution and control with diesel generators fitted to ensure electric power was available if the normal supply from steam driven generators was interrupted. Damage control policies to reduce the effects of flooding were introduced as a matter of urgency and the number of battery operated emergency lighting units was substantially increased.

B a t t l e H o n o u r s

ARMADA 1588 - CADIZ 1596 - DARDANELLES 1915 - NORWAY 1940 - SPARTIVENTO 1940 - MEDITERRANEAN 1940-41 - BISMARCK Action 1941 - MALTA CONVOYS 1941

H e r a l d i c D a t a

Badge : On a Field Blue, an Ark Silver, crowned Gold upon 5 wavelets Gold.

M o t t o

Desire n'a pas Repos : 'Desire has not rest'

D e t a i l s o f W a r S e r v i c e

1 9 3 9

September

3rd Deployed with Home Fleet in NW Approaches and North Sea patrols.

14th Under attack by U39 which failed.

26th Provided air cover for Home Fleet units in Heligoland Bight during recovery of

damaged submarine HMS SPEARFISH. Under air attack for first time.

October Deployed at Freetown with Force K with HM Battlecruiser RENOWN in search for

commerce raiders between African coast and Brazilian waters.

9th Aircraft sighted German supply tanker ALTMARK but were deceived into believing

her to be the US tanker DELMAR.

November

5th Intercepted and captured German ss UHENFELS which was later used by Britain as

cargo ship. Aircraft searches also resulted in interceptions by other ships.

December Diverted to join British ships at Montevideo waiting for German battleship GRAF

SPEE to leave port. Called at Rio de Janeiro for fuel.

1 9 4 0

January Atlantic deployment with Group in continuation.

to Covered part of return passage from Falklands to Devonport of damaged cruiser

February HMS EXETER.

March Transferred to Mediterranean for joint work-up and flying exercises with the

aircraft carrier HMS GLORIOUS. Took passage to Malta.

31st Sailed for Alexandria with HMS GLORIOUS.

April

8th Commenced work-up with HMS GLORIOUS in Eastern Mediterranean.

Training programme cancelled.

9th Passage to Gibraltar with HMS GLORIOUS.

(See CARRIER GLORIOUS by J Winton).

16th Transferred to Home Fleet and took passage to Scapa Flow.

23rd Sailed for Norway with HMS GLORIOUS escorted by HM Cruisers BERWICK and CURLEW

screened by HM Destroyers HYPERION, HEREWARD, HASTY, FEARLESS, FURY and JUNO.

(Operation DX - This was the first use by the RN of a Task Force including an

an aircraft carrier with the prime purpose of providing fighter protection for

warships, offensive strikes against shipping and shore targets as well as anti-

submarine patrols).

25th Commenced anti-submarine patrols and provided Combat Air Patrol (CAP) for the

defence of Fleet units.

27th Passage to Scapa Flow refuel and embarked aircraft.

29th Returned to Norway escorted by HM Battleship VALIANT.

30th Covered evacuation from Andalsnes and Molde.

May Norwegian coast deployment in continuation.

13th Covered bombardment at Narvik by Fleet units and a landing by French troops.

18th Supported military operations with HM Aircraft Carriers GLORIOUS and FURIOUS.

(Note : This was the first time more than two aircraft carriers had operated as

one unit since the outbreak of war).

June Deployed in support of evacuation of allied Expeditionary Force (Operation ALPHABET).

1st Sailed from Scapa Flow with HMS GLORIOUS screened by HM Destroyers HIGHLANDER,

DIANA, ACASTA, ARDENT and ACHERON.

2nd ALPHABET commenced.

3rd Carried out patrols and bombing operations when weather permitted until 6th.

7th Deployed at Narvik to cover evacuation.

9th Provided air cover for last evacuation convoy to UK.

Aircraft searched for German battleships SCHARNHORST and GNEISENAU which were

reported at sea.

(These ships sank HMS GLORIOUS - See above reference)

11th Unsuccessful bombing attack by SKUA aircraft on HIPPER at Trondeim. Eight SKUA

aircraft were lost.

14th Returned to Scapa Flow.

(For details of the disastrous naval operations off Norway see NARVIK by Donald

MacIntyre and ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett).

28th Transferred to Force "H" at Gibraltar on formation.

July

2nd Deployed with Force "H" to secure transfer, surrender or destruction of French

warships at Mers-el-Kebir and Oran (Operation CATAPULT).

Aircraft laid mines off Oran to deter any escape from port.

(For details see THE RELUCTANT ENEMIES by W Tute

7th Joined Force "C" in Force "H" for cover passage of military convoys.

8th Planned aircraft attacks on Cagliari not made in view of heavy air attacks made south of Minorca.

22nd Deployed with Force "H" to carry out attacks on shipping in Bay of Biscay.

25th Operation cancelled and returned to Gibraltar.

31st Covered aircraft delivery to Malta by HM Aircraft Carrier ARGUS with ships of

Force "H" including HM Battlecruiser HOOD and HM Cruiser ENTERPRISE.

(Operation HURRY).

(For details of operations in Mediterranean between 1940 and 1941 see The Naval

Staff Histories and THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D MacIntyre).

August

2nd Detached to launched air attack on Cagliari as a diversion (Operation CRUSH).

30th Covered passage of reinforcements to Alexandria with Force "B" comprising HMS

ARK ROYAL, HM Battlecruiser RENOWN and HM Cruiser SHEFFIELD screened by ships

of the 8th Destroyer Flotilla (Operation HATS).

September

1st Launched attacks on Elmas and Cagliari in Sardinia as a diversion.

(Operations SMASH and GRAB)..

October Withdrawn for docking and took passage to Liverpool escorted by H M Destroyers FORTUNE,

FORESTER and GREYHOUND.

8th Routine docking at Liverpool.

November

3rd Passage from Scapa Flow with H M Battleship BARHAM, H M Cruisers BERWICK and

GLASGOW.

6th Resumed duties with Force "H" on arrival at Gibraltar.

7th Covered passage of reinforcement ships to Alexandria with HM Cruiser SHEFFIELD

and six destroyers as Force "B" (Operation COAT).

9th Launched air attacks on Elmas and Cagliari as a diversion. (Operation CRACK).

15th Covered aircraft delivery to Malta by HM Aircraft Carrier ARGUS with HM Cruiser

SHEFFIELD and HM Cruiser DESPATCH screened by Force "H" destroyers.

(Operation WHITE).

25th Covered Malta convoys and transfer of HM Cruisers SOUTHAMPTON and MANCHESTER

to Eastern Mediterranean with HMS RENOWN, HMS SHEFFIELD and HMS DESPATCH

screened by destroyers of Force "H" (Operation COLLAR).

27th Detached from Force "H" ships with HM Destroyers JAGUAR and KELVIN when Italian

battleships VTTTORIO VENETO and GIULIO CEASARE with cruisers and a destroyer

screen were sighted off Cape Spartivento. When enemy ships retired and were not brought to

action to ensure safe passage of convoy this decision was criticised but a subsequent Board of

Enquiry supported the local decision.

(For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and Nasval Staff History.

December.

14th Deployed with Force "H" in Atlantic off Azores in search for commerce raiders.

.20th Deployed for escort of HM Battleship MALAYA and merchants ships from Malta with Force

"H" (Operation HIDE).

27th Carried cut further search off the Azores with Force "H" which was restricted by

weather conditions.

1 9 4 1

January

7th Covered transit of HM cruiser BONAVENTURE, HM Destroyers JAGUAR and JUNO to join

Fleet in Eastern Mediterranean and passage of convoy to Malta and Pireaus with HMS RENOWN,

HM Battleship MALAYA, HMS SHEFFIELD and destroyer screen. (Operation EXCESS).

February

2nd Launched air attacks on Tirso Dam, Sardinia escorted by HMS RENOWN, HMS MALAYA

and HMS SHEFFIELD (Operation PICKET).

6th Cover bombardment of targets at Genoa by HMS RENOWN and HMS MALAYA.

(Operation GROG).

9th Launched air strikes on La Spezia oil refinery and air minelay in entrances to harbour.

12th Deployed with HMS SHEFFIELD to cover passage of Convoy SLS65 for Sierra Leone

after an attack by German cruiser HIPPER on earlier SL54.

17th Joined HMS RENOWN and destroyers to escort military Convoy WS6 to Middle East.

21st Relieved and returned to Gibraltar

March

8th Deployed with HMS RENOWN, HMS SHEFFIELD and HM Cruiser ARETHUSA to join ships

of Home Fleet in patrol off Best to prevent German battleships SCHARNHORST and GNEISENAU from

entering harbour.

10th Detached with HMS RENOWN to join HMS MALAYA, HM Destroyer FAULKNOR and HM

Destroyer FORESTER as escort for Convoy SL67

19th Detached on relief and deployed in search for ships captured by SCHARNHORST and

on passage to Germany with prize crews. Two were later intercepted and scuttled

with one ship POLYKARP being retaken.

21st Aircraft sighted SCHARNHORST but further reports prevented by fog.

Resumed patrol off Brest.

24th Returned to Gibraltar to refuel.

April

2nd Carried out Malta aircraft delivery with HMS ARGUS escorted by HMS RENOWN and

HMS SHEFFIELD (Operation WINCH).

6th Deployed with HMS RENOWN and HMS SHEFFIELD in Atlantic to search for commerce raiders.

16th Returned to Gibraltar.

24th Joined HMS RENOWN and HMS SHEFFIELD with screen of destroyers from Force "H" to

cover passage of HM Cruisers DIDO, HM Cruiser ABDIEL and ships of 5th Destroyer

Flotilla (including HMS KELLY) to Eastern Mediterranean concurrent with a Malta

aircraft delivery (Operations DUNLOP and SALIENT).

May

6th Joined same Force "H" ships as DUNLOP to cover transit of major military convoy

taking tanks to Eighth Army and the passage of HM Battleship QUEEN ELIZABETH, HM

Cruisers NAIAD, FIJI, GLOUCESTER and 6 destroyers to join Fleet in the Eastern

Mediterranean (Operation TIGER).

12th Under air attack on return passage.

19th Aircraft delivery with HM Aircraft Carrier FURIOUS escorted by HMS RENOWN and

SHEFFIELD (Operation SPLICE).

23rd Deployed with HMS RENOWN, HMS SHEFFIELD and HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, FORESIGHT,

FORESTER, FORTUNE, FOXHOUND and FURY in search for German Battleship BISMARCK.

26th Aircraft sighted and shadowed BISMARCK. Inadvertent attack on HMS SHEFFIELD was

fortunately unsuccessful !

Later launched torpedo strikes which disabled steering and propellers of German

ship which enabling Fleet surface action (See BATTLESHIP BISMARCK by Mullenheim

Rechberg and The Naval Staff History for full details).

29th Returned to Gibraltar with Force "H" ships.

June

5th Carried out Malta aircraft delivery with HMS FURIOUS escorted by HMS RENOWN and

HMS SHEFFIELD (Operation ROCKET).

8th Deployed with HMS RENOWN and HMS SHEFFIELD to meet HM Cruiser HERMIONE and HM

Aircraft Carrier VICTORIOUS and escort them into Gibraltar.

13th Carried out Malta aircraft delivery with HMS VICTORIOUS escorted by RENOWN and

HMS HERMIONE (Operation TRACER).

27th Made two Malta aircraft deliveries to Malta with HMS VICTORIOUS escorted by HMS

RENOWN and HMS HERMIONE screened by destroyers (Operations RAILWAY I and II).

July

21st Covered passage of Malta convoy with Force H ships reinforced by HM Battleship

NELSON, HM Cruisers EDINBURGH, MANCHESTER and ARETHUSA screened by destroyers

of 4th Destroyer Flotilla, Home Fleet (Operation SUBSTANCE).

(See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN)

29th Covered personnel convoy to Malta with HMS NELSON screen by ships of 4th and 8th

Destroyer Flotilla (Operation STYLE).

August Deployment with Force "H" in continuation.

21st Deployed with HMS NELSON and HMS HERMIONE screened by HM Destroyers NESTOR (RAN)

FORESTER, FORESIGHT, FURY and ENCOUNTER for multiple operation to cover minelay

by HM Minelaying Cruiser MANXMAN off La Spezia and to carry cut air strikes on

Tempia, Sardinia.

September

8th Carried out two aircraft delivery to Malta with FURIOUS covered by HMS NELSON

and Force "H" destroyers (Operation STATUS I and II).

24th Part of Force "A" with HM Battleships NELSON, RODNEY and PRINCE OF WALES with a

screen of 9 destroyers to cover passage of Malta convoy to Sicilian Narrows.

(Operation HALBERD - For details see above references).

October

16th Made aircraft delivery to Malta covered by HMS RODNEY and HMS HERMIONE.

(Operation CALLBOY).

November

10th Made aircraft delivery to Malta with HM Aircraft Carrier ARGUS covered by HMS

MALAYA, HMS HERMIONE and ships of 19th Destroyer Flotilla (Operation PERPETUAL).

13th During return passage to Gibraltar hit by torpedoed fired by U81 150 miles east

of Gibraltar. Took on heavy list and lost all power. HM Destroyers LAFOREY and

LEGION stood by stricken ship and Crew were taken off. After ship was taken in

tow by tugs from Gibraltar some personnel rejoined but were unable to control flooding or

extinguish fires.

14th Ship sank after list slowly increased. The loss of this efficient and effective

ship severely weakened Fleet resources in the Mediterranean.

Casualty Lists were published on 17th and 20th November 1941. (Casualty List - note on casualties)

Addendum

Convoy Escort Movements of HMS ARK ROYAL

by Don Kindell

Date convoy Joined convoy Convoy No. Left convoy Date convoy

sailed as escort arrived

01/03/41 10/03/41 SL 067 19/03/41 26/03/41

06/05/41 06/05/41 TIGER 12/05/41 12/05/41

24/09/41 24/09/41 HALBERD 27/09/41 27/09/41

(Note on Convoys)

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