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The Sinking of the Ark Royal

The wreck of the aircraft carrier Ark Royal, discovered by divers in December 2002 and recently explored in a ´óÏó´«Ã½ documentary programme, lies 3,500 feet under the Mediterranean Sea. Her loss on the 13/14th of November 1941 was a major blow to the pride and prestige of the Royal Navy.
Sea power in the 1930’s was the first line of defence in the British Empire and for the British Fleet to operate without land-base cover; the Ark Royal was launched on the 16th of November 1938, as the first purpose-built aircraft carrier. Built at Cammell Laird shipyard, the design was inventive and original and with a compliment of 1,600 officers and men and 60 aircraft, the largest of any British man-of-war.
Her reputation was soon enhanced in the chase for the German Battleship Bismark, which her Swordfish aircraft attacked and torpedoed. She also served with the well-known ‘Force H,’ UNDER vice-Admiral Somerville and steamed 205,000 miles on war operations. On several occasions, her loss was announced in enemy newspapers and radio broadcasts.
The events unfolded under cover of darkness on 10th of November 1941. Under the command of Captain L.E.H. Maund, the Ark Royal, along with Argus, Malaya, the cruiser Hermoine and seven destroyers edged out of Gibraltar harbour. Due to bad weather conditions and a day later that expected, 28 Hurricanes took off from Ark Royal and a further six from Argus, escorted by Bristol Blenheims overhead, headed for Malta to reinforce the beleaguered island.
On 13th of November, the day dawned fine and clear, without a hit of trouble, and after confirmation that all the despatched aircraft had arrived safely in Malta, the convoy began to turnabout. In the mid-afternoon, with the Rock of Gibraltar in view, 12 aircraft took off from the Ark Royal as 14 other aircraft circled above, waiting to land.
At 15.41 hours, just after the penultimate, the 13th machine had landed, the ship, cutting through the water at 18 knots was struck by a torpedo on the starboard side and began to list heavily.
The Captain realized he had no choice but to give the order to abandon ship and retain only the essential crew required to get her back to the safety of Gibraltar Harbour.
In a matter of hours, the sea water flooded into the boiler-room and with key crew members evacuated, when the water level reached the main switchboard all power was lost to the pumps, the lights went out and the engines stopped. In a vain attempt to salvage the ship, at 19.30 hours a line was cast and, at two knots, a tug began to tow the stricken ship towards the visible sanctuary of Gibraltar Harbour. The crew worked all though the night, but by 03.00 hours, after 14 hours, on 14th November the list had reached 35 degrees and the crew who remained were eventually evacuated, the operation futile.
There was nothing else for the survivors to do than to watch the final moments of this once fine ship. Majestically, she dipped another 10 degrees and, as water lapped over her flight deck, turned over and slowly sank.
The Ark Royal’s death was recorded at 06.13 hours in nautical position 36 deg. 03’N — 4 deg. 45’W, as an expanded oil slick surfaced on the sea.
Only 13 miles from salvation, the only casualty, apart from the Royal Navy’s pride, was Able Seaman Edward Mitchell, who was killed in the initial explosion and later reported as missing in action. The remainder of the crew, crammed aboard the support vessels, returned to Gibraltar and lived to fight another day.

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