Britain at War – August 2019

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Another major target was the
Kriegsmarine’s equally iconic Bismarck,
and Ark Royal would assume a
pivotal role in her ultimate sinking.
With other British Navy ships low
on fuel after a fruitless chase, Ark
Royal was deployed to finish the job.
Swordfish loaded with torpedoes
were launched, eventually managing
to locate and hit the vessel (after first
inadvertently attacking their own
ship, Sheield, thankfully saved by

ARK ROYAL (91)

ineffective magnetic detonators). The

first torpedo, although a direct hit,

caused only relatively minor damage

to Bismarck, but a second disabled the

port rudder, leaving her with no choice

but to go round in circles until repairs

could be made. This allowed the Royal

Navy’s reinforcements to catch up

with Bismarck and she sank after being

scuttled in the ensuing barrage of fire.

Objective completed, Ark Royal

returned to her duties in the

Mediterranean, transporting aircraft to

Malta to support the campaign, which

at this point was swinging in favour of

the Axis powers following the fall of

Greece.

THE ARK’S LUCK RUNS OUT

The impact that Ark Royal had on the

war was as brief as it was momentous.

Almost three years to the day since her

first captain took command, her luck

ran out. The iconic carrier sank on

November 14, 1941, after being hit by

a torpedo from U-81 the day prior, off

Gibraltar.

Only one crewmember (Able Seaman

Edward Mitchell) died from the

attack, presumably on initial impact.

But the damage was considerable and

the remaining 1,487 crew members

were swiftly ordered to abandon ship.

Despite efforts to stem the intake of

water and tow the ship back to port for

repair, she capsized, broke in two and

sank.

Following an inquiry, Captain

Loben Maund was later court-

martialled and found guilty on two

counts on negligence. In the ensuing

pandemonium immediately following

the hit, and in the clamber to save

lives, it was argued that the captain

didn’t implement the damage control

measures fast enough.

A hugely expensive ship and key

naval asset, it’s quite understandable

that the Admiralty would seek to

identify culpability for Ark Royal’s loss.

Yet while the captain is ultimately

responsible for the ship, Maund’s

mauling was perhaps somewhat unfair

given the circumstances.

Firstly, loss of radio communication

upon impact meant Maund’s order to

shut off the engines to limit intake of

water wasn’t received. With the ship

heavily listing to one side, and with the

recent rapid sinkings of fellow carriers

Courageous and Glorious ingrained

in his mind (Courageous within 20

minutes), Maund was acting in his

LEFT

A stricken Ark Royal

shortly after being

torpedoed.

BELOW

The carrier, seen

from an approaching

 Swordfish.

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