THE FLEET AIR ARM

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23364, 25 June 1941, Page 6

THE FLEET AIR ARM

VALUE OF AIRCRAFT CARRIERS PART PLAYED IN PRESENT WAR (P.A.) AUCKLAND, June 24 The essential part played by aerocarriers in modern war at sea was outlined by Vice-Admiral Sir Guy u Royle. C.8., C.M.G., R.N., formerly Fifth Sea Lord in command of me Fleet Air Arm, who is visiting Auckland. Admiral Royle, who is accompanied by Lady Royle, is on his way to Australia to take up his new post as First Naval Member of the Commonwealth Naval Board. While New Zealand he will have “Hi lions with the Government and naval St Orid of the world’s teodmg authonties on aircraft-carriers, Admiral Royle spoke with enthusiasm of the work ot the Fleet Air Arm in the Present war He also recalled that as Re .m>Adm mal (Air) he had flown his flag.Biritam s famous aircraft-carrier Ark Royal, sunk several times by enemy propa ganda; but still in fact doing yeoman " e “lt C< inay not be generally I'eal'sed that the somewhat elderly Fairey Swordfish torpedo-carrying oeroplanes of the Fleet Air Arm have done far more damage to men-of-war than any other form of attack in this war. Ad miral Royle said. They sank the Itai ianf battleship Cavour at the Dunquerke at Oran, damaged two ol the latest Italian battleships, put the French Richelieu out of and were responsible for bringing tti Bismarck to her final destruction with three torpedo hits. We in the Navy have no doubt 1 that carriers are an essential part of the fleet organisation, whether it is for purposes of reconnaissance. protecting the fleet from air attack by means of fighters fl°wn from carriers, attacking ships m hartaoui, or for slowing down ships at sea, as was done with the Bismarck and the Littorio at Cape Matapan. We think this war has _ definitely proved the value of carriers.”

Protecting Merchant Ships , Better protection for merchant shipping against long-range German bombers, which were taking toll of British ships, was forecast by Admiral Hoyle. He said the obvious answer to the problem was to give merchant shipping better armament, and to have thoroughly-trained gun crews to deal with’ low-flying raiders. Short-range anti-aircraft guns were now being provided for Britain’s merchant fleet, and special training of crews m their new equipment was in progress. With new equipment and expert crews he believed that a counter would be provided to German air attacks. These long-range raiders attack at very low altitude,” he said. “Sometimes they fly just above a ship’s masts, and a short-range anti-aircraft weapon is needed to deal with them. The Germans are using extensively for this form of attack a bomber converted from the Focke-Wulf Condor civilian machine, which has long range and fairly high speed, about 250 knots. ’ The burden being carried by the Royal Navy was mentioned by Admiral Hoyle, who said that the unspectacular part of the Navy’s work was proceeding steadily. Shipping lanes were being kept open, and convoys were gettting through; but to enable this to be done the Navy was being “stretched” to the utmost. “We had five navies doing the work in the last war,” he said. “There were American, Japanese, French, Italian, and our own; but now we are fighting a lone fight, and the Royal Navy is doing the job of the whole five. In addition the uncertain attitude of the French Navy adds to the difficulties. “The advent of air attack also makes the whole problem very much more difficult," he continued. “We reckon, however, that the unspectacular part, which goes on day after day, is going very satisfactorily. We have transferred vast armies from the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand to the Middle East without loss. Channel and coastal convoys proceed without interruption under the protection of tne Navy and the Royal Air Force, and we have kept the western approaches to Britain open. "If we had bases in Southern Ireland the problem of getting supplies and food into the country would be greatly simplified,” Admiral Royle added. "We could then use the south of Ireland route as well as that north of Ireland.” t

Admiral Royle, who was met on arrival by Commodore W. E. Parry, Chief of the Naval Staff, will spend tomorrow in Auckland. He will probably leave for Wellington in the evening to discuss naval matters with Government representatives before continuing his journey to Australia,