User:Saberwyn/Ark Royal sinking

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[edit] Aircraft

HMS Ark Royal in 1939, with Swordfish of 820 Naval Air Squadron passing overhead
HMS Ark Royal in 1939, with Swordfish of 820 Naval Air Squadron passing overhead

Numerous Fleet Air Arm squadrons were posted aboard Ark Roya during her service, with an average of four at any given time. Although designed to operate with up to 72 aircraft,[1] the development of larger aircraft during the carrier's construction meant that numbers were limited to between 50 and 60.[2] On entering service, most of Ark Royal′s squadrons were equipped with either Blackburn Skuas, which were used in the fighter and dive bomber roles, or Fairey Swordfishes, which performed the roles of reconnaissance and torpedo bombing. From April 1940 onwards, squadrons equipped with Skuas were upgraded to the newer Fairey Fulmars; like their predecessors these were used as fighters and bombers. On occasion, the carrier also operated Blackburn Roc fighter-bombers (from April 1939 to October 1940) and Fairey Albacore torpedo bombers (during October 1941); these were replacement aircraft used to boost squadron numbers. In June 1940, Ark Royal was host to 701 Naval Air Squadron, a training squadron which operated Supermarine Walrus reconnaissance amphibians.



I've dug up some information, specifics about losses, etc are a bit of a nightmare to come by though. I've put in what I could find about those squadrons operating from the start. As you can see the Roc, Walrus and Albacore were occasionally flown off, probably as stop gap replacements.

  • Five squadrons embarked in August 1939 (had been working up individually beforehand) -
    • No. 800 and No. 803 - both flying Skuas
    • No. 810, No. 818 and No. 821 - all flying Swordfishes

Blackburn Skuas - Dive bombers. Heavily armed but slow and under-powered. Are replaced aboard Ark Royal from April 1940 onwards by squadrons equipped with the Fairey Fulmars Fairey Fulmars - Bombers, also used as dive bombers. Heavily armed, but again under powered and not very maneuverable. Considered reliable and sturdy, with long range. Fairey Swordfish - Torpedo bombers/spotter aircraft/reconnaissance aircraft. Slow, but famously durable.

[edit] All squadrons operated

[edit] Embarked on formation, January 1939

  • 800 Jan 1939-April 1941 Skua II
  • 810 Jan 1939-Sept 1941 Swordfish I
  • 820 Jan-Sept 1939 Swordfish I
  • 821 Jan 1939-April 1940 Swordfish I

[edit] Embarked by outbreak of war, September 1939

  • 803 April 1939-Oct 1940 Skua II/Roc I
  • 818 Aug-Oct 1939 Swordfish I
  • 820 Sept 1939-June 1941 Swordfish I

[edit] Embarked by Norwegian Campaign, April 1940

  • 801 April-May 1940 Skua II
  • 807 April 1940-Nov 1941 Fulmar II

[edit] Embarked by beginning of Mediterranean Operations, June 1940

  • 701 June 1940 Walrus I
  • 818 June -July 1941 Swordfish I

[edit] Embarked as replacement aircraft???, December, 1940

  • 821X Dec 1940-Jan 1941 Swordfish I

[edit] Embarked by beginning of main Malta Convoys and aircraft deliveries, June, 1941

  • 800Y June 1941 Fulmar I
  • 825 June 1941-Nov 1941 Swordfish I
  • 816 July 1941-Nov 1941 Swordfish I
  • 812 Sept 1941-Nov 1941 Swordfish I
  • 808 Oct 1941-Nov 1941 Fulmar II
  • 828 Oct 1941 Albacore I/Swordfish I

As far as it goes, I think 800, 810, 820, 821 embark in January 1939. 803 embarks in April 1939 and 818 in August 1939. 818 leaves in October and operates off Furious. 801 and 807 embark in April 1940, 807 bringing the new Fulmars. 801 doesn't stay long, by May they're aboard Furious. 821 has been devastated by losses against the Scharnhorst, and are no longer an operational squadron. By June, Ark Royal is reinforced after losses sustained over Norway, and the disastrous attack on Scharnhorst by 701 (a training squadron, probably temporarily assigned for experience, but who don't go to the Mediterranean later that month) and 818, who return from a couple of months flying off mainland airbases, where they had gone after leaving Furious. A flight from the devastated 821 squadron briefly appears in December 1940, by January they have gone, probably to be absorbed into 815 squadron. A radical shakeup appears to be taking place in mid 1941. The Skuas have gone, the squadrons previously operating them have presumably been upgraded to the new Fulmars. 800 (Skuas) have gone in April, though an upgraded flight with Fulmars briefly returns in June. The Swordfish squadrons 810, 818 and 820 are all gone in June, July and September, replaced by the new Swordfish squadrons 825 (June), 816 (July) and 812 (September). Another Swordfish squadron, 828 appears in October but seems to have been reassigned to Malta almost immediately. Another Fulmar squadron, 808 arrives in October. The squadrons aboard Ark Royal at her sinking are 807 and 808 (Fulmars) and 812, 816 and 825 (Swordfish).

As far as I can tell, numbers fluctuated according to losses, what the factories could produce, where the Admiralty felt reinforcements were most needed, and how often Ark Royal could take on new aircraft. Around a dozen was usually the ideal number, but there appear to have been smaller squadrons.

[edit] No. 800

One of those attacking the Konigsberg from RNAS Hatson. Lost four aircraft attacking the Scharnhorst. Appears to be with Victorious by April 1941, and later Argus.

[edit] No. 803

Lost two Skuas over the Fanad Head incident. Was the squadron that made the first enemy aerial kill. Was aboard Glorious by April 1940. Was one of those attacking the Konigsberg, lost all but two of their aircraft attacking the Scharnhorst. Later seems to be operating on other carriers.

[edit] No. 810

With Ark Royal off Norway in 1940, and later at Mers el Kebir, attacking the battleships Strasbourg and Dunkerque. Involved in bombing the Italian mainland and the attack at Dakar, attacked the battleship Richelieu. One of those defending Ark Royal at Spartivento, made bombing raids on Tirso Dam, Sardinia, Leghorn and La Spezia during 1941. Spent between March and May 1941 aboard Illustrious. One of the planes from either 810 or 818 squadrons scored the crucial hit on the Bismarck.

[edit] No. 818

Formed with 9 Swordfish in August 1939. With Furious off Norway from April 1940. Returned to Ark Royal in June 1940, involved in attacks at Mers el Kebir, specifically the battleship Strasbourg. Also involved in attacks on Sicily, and on the Italian battleship Littorio at Spartivento. Covered Malta convoys, made bombing and mining operations on Leghorn, Genoa, Pisa and La Spezia naval docks in February 1941. Scored two hits on the Bismarck.

[edit] No. 821

Sank U-39 after her unsuccessful attack on Ark Royal. Was with her through operations in 1939/1940 and went with her to Norway in April 1940. Bombed enemy positions, attacked the Scharnhorst. Disbanded in December 1940. Remaining planes seem to have been split, some to Argus, some to Ark Royal becoming part of 815 squadron


  1. ^ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Rossiter_48-9
  2. ^ Rossiter. Ark Royal, pp. 50–1.