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Ark Royal soon contributed to
another ‘first’ on September 26 when
one of her Skuas downed a Dornier
Do 18 seaplane, having come to the
rescue of the submarine Spearish. But
her position had been revealed in the
fray, as demonstrated by the arrival of
several Junkers Ju 88 bombers. The
ship fended them off, but not before
one unloaded its cargo. Thankfully for
the carrier, another quick manoeuvre
saved the ship.
A LEGEND IS BORN
Two close calls in under two weeks
sowed the seeds for Ark Royal’s
budding reputation as a ‘lucky ship’.
A useful propaganda tool for sure, yet
no doubt each encounter only served
to remind the crew of their own
mortality.
Testament to the value placed
on the ship, countless erroneous
rumours of Ark Royal’s sinking would
circulate throughout her existence,
long before the actual reality. As a
major scalp of the British fleet to claim,
the publicity value would have been
colossal. She was assumed sunk after
this latest episode, and the Nazi spin
master Joseph Goebbels suffered severe
embarrassment making the claim,
when in fact she was still very much
in operation. These tales only acted to
cement her legendary status. But with a
bounty on her head, the Kriegsmarine
remained resolute that it would catch
up with the Ark Royal in the end.
BUSINESS AS USUAL
But for now, Ark Royal had work to
do across various theatres of war. In
spring 1940 she was involved in the
Norwegian campaign, before being
redeployed to the Mediterranean,
joining Force H in late June. Here, Ark
Royal took part in several significant
encounters, including the Battle of
Cape Spartivento against Italy’s Regia
Marina, when she survived another
spate of bombing attacks, and later
Operation Excess to provide support to
the Western Desert Force.
Often Ark Royal was tasked with
hunting prizes of her own, including
Germany’s AdmiralGraf Spee. The
carrier would play an indirect role
in the German pocket battleship’s
sinking in December 1939, although
in fact the Graf Spee was scuttled by
her own captain. Holed up for repairs
in Montevideo, the Royal Navy used
false radio correspondence to trick
Graf Spee’s captain into believing Ark
Royal had arrived to attack. In fact,
the British ship was still some distance
away yet, but the mere suggestion of
her presence was enough to convince
the captain to take matters into his
own hands.
RIGHT
On board the 'Ark'
in March 1940.
RIGHT
A Swordfish lifts off
from Ark Royal's
flight deck, HMS
Echo and Rodney or
Nelson are starboard
of the carrier's bow.
TIMELINE
September 16, 1935: Laid down at Cammell Laird,
Birkenhead
April 13, 1937: Launched
December 16, 1938: Commissioned
September 14, 1939: Near-miss from torpedoes from
U-39, U-30 sunk
September 26, 1939: Another near-miss from bombing
December 17, 1939: Admiral Graf Spee scuttled
1940: Deployed in Norway campaign
November 27, 1940: Battle of Cape Spartivento
May 27, 1941: Bismarck sunk
November 13, 1941: Hit by torpedo from U-81
November 14, 1941: Sunk on attempted tow to port
Ark RoyalArk RoyalArk RoyalArk RoyalArk RoyalArk RoyalArk RoyalArk RoyalArk Royal soon contributed to soon contributed to soon contributed to soon contributed to soon contributed to soon contributed to soon contributed to soon contributed to soon contributed to major scalp of the British fleet to claim, major scalp of the British fleet to claim, major scalp of the British fleet to claim, major scalp of the British fleet to claim, major scalp of the British fleet to claim, major scalp of the British fleet to claim, major scalp of the British fleet to claim, major scalp of the British fleet to claim, major scalp of the British fleet to claim, major scalp of the British fleet to claim, major scalp of the British fleet to claim, major scalp of the British fleet to claim,
RIGHT
On board the 'Ark'
BUSINESS AS USUAL
But for now,
do across various theatres of war. In do across various theatres of war. In
spring 1940 she was involved in the spring 1940 she was involved in the
Norwegian campaign, before being
redeployed to the Mediterranean,
joining Force H in late June. Here, joining Force H in late June. Here,
RoyalRoyal
encounters, including the Battle of
Cape Spartivento against Italy’s Regia
Marina, when she survived another Marina, when she survived another
spate of bombing attacks, and later spate of bombing attacks, and later
Operation Excess to provide support to
the Western Desert Force.
hunting prizes of her own, including hunting prizes of her own, including
Germany’s
carrier would play an indirect role
in the German pocket battleship’s in the German pocket battleship’s
