Ark Royal Sinks After Being Hit By Torpedo

Northern Advocate, 15 November 1941, Page 5

Ark Royal Sinks After Being Hit By Torpedo

i LONDON, November 14. THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER ARK ROYAL HAS BEEN SUNK WHILE IN TOW AFTER HAVING BEEN TORPEDOED BY A GERMAN SUBMARINE. The number of casualties is not yet known. It is known that a very large number of the ship’s company was taken off. Her normal complement was 1600. The casualties were not heavy. The Axis powers time and again claimed to have sunk her. and more recently the Italians made the claim. Now the U-boats have at last found their mark on the Ark Royal.

An Admiralty communique announced that reports indicate that casualties are fortunately not heavy, as it is known that a very large number of the ship’s company was taken off. The Ark Royal was torpedoed east of Gibraltar while returning to that port late yesterday afternoon. It was hoped she might be brought into port, but she developed a heavy list and sank early this morning. Glorious Record Of Service The war service of this famous ship was outstanding in everything, including the standard of efficiency and high achievement which characterised her operations. She hunted U-boats, searched for raiders, and provided fighter protection for troops and convoys, in addition to playing a vital part in the destruction of the Bismarck. During the first weeks of the war she was heavily attacked by German aircraft, and the Germans claimed that she had been sunk on September 26. 1939. The airman who was alleged to have carried out this attack was decorated and feted in Germany. For months thereafter German broadcasts repeatedly asked the question: “Where is the Ark Royal ? ” In fact, she was undamaged, and taking part in the search for the German battleship Graf Spee. She intercepted one German supply ship and the work of her reconnaissance aircraft was instrumental in several other German supply ships being rounded up. Tnroi.ghout the Norwegian campaign the Ark Royal rended splendid service, her aircraft harassing the enemy, and providing protection for Allied troops, a,-; well as warships and troop convoys. When the Allies withdrew from southern Norway, the Ark Royal went to Narvik and was one of the last British ships to leave northern Norway. In the Mediterranean By July 1940. the Ark Royal was with the Mediterranean squadron commanded by Vice-Admiral Somerville, where she served for the remainder of her gallant service, and carried out many successful operations in the western Mediterranean. The Italian High Command claimed that she sustained a direct hit with a bomb, but this was as unfounded as earlier German claims to have sunk her. In November, 1940, the Ark Royal took part in the pursuit of the Italian fleet south-west of Sardinia. In this engagement her aircraft hit an Italian battleship of the Littorio class with torpedo hits, and also hit Italian cruisers and destroyers. In February, 1941. the Ark Royal took part in the operations concerned with the heavy naval bombardment of Genoa. Her aircraft dropped tons of bombs on'the oil refinery at Leghorn aerodrome and the railway junction at Pisa. Pursuit of Bismarck On May 26, it seemed as if the Bismarck might succeed in reaching occupied France, but a torpedo striking force from the Ark Royal sealed her fate. Torpedo hits were secured by Swordship aircraft amidships on the Bismarck, and on the starboard quarter. The Bismarck’s speed was reduced and her steering gear damaged, so that she was brought to action by the Home Fleet and destroyed. Since then, the Ark: Royal has again been serving in the Mediterranean, and played a vital part in affording fighter protection to the passage of important convoys, and other operations against the enemy. A Fine Bag In her brilliant service, over 100 German and Italian aircraft were shot down or severely damaged by aircraft from the Ark Royal, 67 in the Mediterranean alone. The Ark Royal was the third ship to bear the name. The first was the 800-ton flagship of Lord Howard of Effingham at the defeat of the Armada in 1588. The second was a seaplane-carrier cf 7400 tons, which served in the Mediterranean in the last war, and was present at Gallopoli in April, 1915. .