THE NEW ARK ROYAL

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 93, 13 January 1939, Page 16

THE NEW ARK ROYAL

Flight Deck Nearly 800 Feet Long

THREE AIRCRAFT LIFTS

A number of representatives of the Press were permitted to visit H.M.S. Ark Royal, the Navy’s new aircraftcarrier, recently completed and delivered by Cammell Laird and Co., Limited, and now the flagship of Rear-Admiral G. C. C. Royal. The ship is of particular interest as the first of her size—22.000 tons—to be designed from the first as an aircraft-carrier, says the naval correspondent of “The Times.”

In general appearance she is similar to the large aircraft-carriers already in service, the Courageous and Glorious, having a small bridge structure attached to the funnel which is set over to one side so as to leave the flight deck free of all obstructions, fore and aft. But she differs from them in having only one flight deck, extending over the full length of the ship, instead of one-third of .its length, at the fore end, at a lower level. This flight deck is impressive in its height and great length—nearly 800 ft. overall including the rounded portions that overhang the stem and stern of the hull. Speed In Handling. Earlier aircraft-carriers have only two aircraft lifts, one at each end of the flight deck, giving access to the hangars below it. The Ark Royal has three, more or less abreast the funnel, and it is expected that this arrangement will improve the speed and ease of handling aircraft. ' The size of an aircraft-carrier is governed by the number of aircraft she is designed to carry, which dictates the size of the hangars round which the ship Is built. Every other feature or fitting which a ship is required to possess has thus to be accommodated in that part of the ship’s hull which is left over after the hangars have been built in the middle of it. Yet that space is adequate for all needs to be satisfied on a comfortable scale. Workshops and storerooms are such as would be envied by those accustomed to the cramped quarters of battleships and cruisers. The messdecks and living spaces are spacious enough for the inclusion of many comforts unthought of afloat a few years ago. The sick-bay is ample for the needs of a ship which, when in full service, will be the principal home of some 1500 people. Convenience And Comfort. Petty officers’ messes each have their pantries .with hot and cold water laid on, electric hot cupboards for keeping meals warm, and even'electric toasters. Even in broadside messes the stools are surfaced with spronge-rubber cushions, and the decks of all living spaces are

covered with a rubber composition which has the merit of being both clean and silent. S'o complete is the equipment of the ship that it includes both a chapel and a post office. The ship is not unique in all these Conveniences and comforts, for they are being-incorporated, so far as possible, in many men-of-war now being built; but she is unique in at least two respects. She is probably the only ship afloat in the world which, carries her fore steaming light in the hull in the eyes of the ship: and slip is the only ship in the Navy whose battle honours —two only—are the Armada and the Dardanelles. There is on Ihe ship’s half deck a model of the first Ark Royal —originally named Ark Raleigh—presented by its fashioner: the original herself could have be, n comfortably accommodated on one of the present ship’s aircraft lifts.