Understanding the Devastating Loss of British Aircraft Carriers During WWII

In the tumultuous landscape of World War II, the Royal Navy faced untold challenges, one of which was the loss of multiple aircraft carriers. This article delves into the various factors that contributed to the sinking of these vessels and highlights the specific carriers lost, their circumstances, and the broader implications on naval warfare and strategic decisions.

The Circumstances of British Carrier Losses

During World War II, the Royal Navy experienced significant losses, with the British losing a total of 8 aircraft carriers throughout the conflict. These losses were not evenly distributed, with an initial pattern of several loss events occurring at the beginning of the war and later, it was the US Navy who faced greater carrier losses due to kamikaze attacks.

Initial Losses by Enemy Action

The first major loss of a British aircraft carrier occurred in 1939 with HMS Courageous: it was sunk on September 17th in the North Atlantic, southwest of Ireland, by a torpedo from German submarine U.29. At the time, HMS Courageous was on an anti-U-boat patrol with a destroyer screen in the Western Approaches to the British Isles.

HMS Glorious suffered a more dramatic fate in 1940. On June 8th, while sailing independently from northern Norway at the end of the Allied evacuation, it was sunk by 11-inch gunfire from German battlecruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, west of the Lofoten Islands in the Norwegian Sea. This event underscores the vulnerability of isolated carriers when tasked with roles unsuitable for their capabilities.

Later Losses and Kamikaze Attacks

Later in the war, major losses were predominantly suffered by the U.S. Navy due to kamikaze attacks. However, the Royal Navy also lost two carriers to Japanese aircraft. In 1942, HMS Hermes was sunk off the southeast coast of Ceylon by Japanese carrier dive-bombers while it was returning to Trincomalee with the British Eastern Fleet.

Another carrier, HMS Eagle, was lost in similar circumstances. It was sunk on August 11th, 1942 in the Western Mediterranean, north of Algeria, by a torpedo from German U-boat U.73 while providing air cover for the Gibraltar/Malta convoy Pedestal.

The Role of Command and Protection

While enemy action undoubtedly played a significant role in these losses, internal command decisions and the unsuitability of task assignments also contributed. For example, HMS Courageous, a ship ill-suited for anti-U-boat patrol, was caught off guard and subsequently sunk.

Furthermore, the structure of the ships made a difference. British carriers, such as HMS Ark Royal, featured armor steel decks which provided better protection against kamikaze attacks. In contrast, U.S. carriers with wooden flight decks were more susceptible to such attacks, leading them to become targets for kamikaze pilots.

The Legacy of These Losses

The sinking of these British carriers had profound implications for naval strategy. It highlighted the need for better command and task management in naval operations. Additionally, it underscored the importance of protecting carriers with appropriate defensive structures, especially in times of increased threat.

Additional Resources

To gain a deeper insight into the Royal Navy's losses during World War II, consider the following links:

List of Royal Navy losses in World War II Royal Navy losses in World War 2 - Aircraft Carriers Atlantic Theater aircraft carrier operations during World War II List of aircraft carriers operational during World War II WW2 British Aircraft Carriers List of Royal Navy losses in World War II - Wikipedia

Through this detailed exploration, one can better understand the complexities and challenges faced by the Royal Navy during this period of history.