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British Aircraft Carriers 1939–45
Description
With war against Germany looming, Britain pushed forward its carrier program in the late 1930s.
In 1938, the Royal Navy launched the HMS Ark Royal, its first-ever purpose-built aircraft carrier. This was quickly followed by others, including the highly-successful Illustrious class. Smaller and tougher than their American cousins, the British carriers were designed to fight in the tight confines of the North Sea and the Mediterranean. Over the next six years, these carriers battled the Axis powers in every theatre, attacking Italian naval bases, hunting the Bismarck, and even joining the fight in the Pacific.
This book tells the story of the small, but resilient, carriers and the crucial role they played in the British war effort.
Table of Contents
The origins of naval aviation, and the growing importance of aircraft carriers in naval warfare.
Design & Development
The chronological development of these Carriers, and covering modifications made during their operational lives.
Operational History
The service history of 14 Fleet Aircraft Carriers.
Carrier Operation
The way aircraft were handled on a typical British wartime fleet aircraft carrier, including a description the way launching operations were conducted.
Carrier Aircraft
The types of aircraft carried by these carriers, and their relative merits, and touches on the way they were used in action.
Carriers in Action
Three actions involving British aircraft carriers; Taranto (1940), Matapan (1941) and the sinking of the Bismarck (1941)
Bibliography
Product details
| Published | 20 Dec 2012 |
|---|---|
| Format | Ebook (PDF) |
| Edition | 1st |
| Extent | 48 |
| ISBN | 9781849080804 |
| Imprint | Osprey Publishing |
| Illustrations | Illustrated throughout with 40 photos and 8 pages of colour illustrations |
| Series | New Vanguard |
| Short code | NVG 168 |
| Publisher | Bloomsbury Publishing |
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