Carriers!!

A diagrammatic representation of the damage sustained by USS Yorktown on the 4th June.


The USS Yorktown had been abandoned on the 4th June. When it became apparent that she was not going to sink she was re-boarded and attempts made to bring her under control. The destroyer the USS Hammann came alongside to assist in these operations. It was at this point, with the carrier lying dead in the water that Japanese submarine I-168 struck. One torpedo was to hit the Hammann causing catastrophic damage that quickly sunk her. Two others passed under the Hamman and proved to be the fatal blow for the Yorktown.


USS Hammann (DD-412) sinking with stern high, after being torpedoed by Japanese submarine I-168 in the afternoon of 6 June 1942. Photographed from the starboard forecastle deck of USS Yorktown (CV-5) by Photographer 2nd Class William G. Roy. Angular structure in right foreground is the front of Yorktown's forward starboard 5-inch gun gallery. Note knotted lines hanging down from the carrier's flight deck, remaining from her initial abandonment on 4 June.



A diagrammatic representation of the damage sustained by USS Yorktown on 6th June 1942 when the destroyer USS Hamman was alongside her.



SBD Dauntless dive bombers from USS Hornet (CV-8) approaching the burning Japanese heavy cruiser Mikuma to make the third set of attacks on her, during the early afternoon of 6 June 1942. Mikuma had been hit earlier by strikes from Hornet and USS Enterprise (CV-6), leaving her dead in the water and fatally damaged. Photo was enlarged from a 16mm color motion picture film.



Japanese cruiser Mikuma, photographed from a USS Enterprise (CV-6) SBD aircraft during the afternoon of 6 June 1942, after she had been bombed by planes from Enterprise and USS Hornet (CV-8). Note her shattered midships structure, torpedo dangling from the after port side tubes and wreckage atop her number four eight-inch gun turret.

I know she sank later but she took a fearful pounding.

Photograph taken from aft of VICTORIOUS' flight deck showing HMS INDOMITABLE and EAGLE. A Hawker Sea Hurricane and a Fairey Albacore are ranged on VICTORIOUS' flight deck.



Arming a Hawker Sea Hurricane fighter on board HMS INDOMITABLE

HMS Eagle in the Mediterranean in February 1942 during Operation Spotter. A Supermarine Spitfire flies off HMS EAGLE to reinforce the air defence of Malta. Fifteen Spitfires, flown by replacement pilots for the much depleted No. 249 Squadron RAF, reached the island successfully during this operation.



Operation Pedestal, 11 August, 1942: The loss of HMS EAGLE and the first air attacks: A general view of the convoy under air attack showing the intense anti-aircraft barrage put up by the escorts. The battleship HMS RODNEY is on the left and the cruiser HMS MANCHESTER on the right.



11 August: The loss of HMS EAGLE and the first air attacks: HMS EAGLE rolling over on to her port side after being torpedoed.

Just to be clear...Eagle was sunk by Submarine, not by air attack

Here is a photo I have not seen befrore - The 3 Sisters ;
http://www.hazegray.org/navhist/carriers/images/rn/three-cv.jpg
from hazegray.org

some images of British and Commonwealth Light fleet Carrier profiles. First is HMS Triumph side profile as she appeared around 1946. Second is Triumph plan view. Third is the HMAS Sydney side profile, taken from the oficial Navala architects plans (there are 38 sheets showing her deck by deck, and section by section). last photo is again HMAS Sydey, plan view. Both shots of Sydney are as she appeared in Korea

HMAS Sydney was one of a class of relatively small and uncomplicated light fleet carriers which in Korea operated 24 Hawker Sea Fury and 14 Fairey Firefly fighter bombers. This ship was launched on 3 September 1944 as HMS Terrible and was unfinished at the end of WWII in Europe in May 1945. The Australian Government took over the ship on 16 December 1948 and renamed her Sydney. From September 1951 to January 1952 Sydney served with the United Nations Command in Korean waters where her aircraft carried out 2366 sorties

The Americans lent Sydney a Sikorski helicopter for pilot rescue duties. After initial reluctance, based on concerns about committing Australia's main fleet unit in a deteriorating world situation, the Australian Government agreed to deploy the carrier for a short period to allow the Royal Navy to refit its carrier HMS Glory. Sydney was well prepared for the deployment, being given priority for men and stores but, with other commitments to Korea, this was a strain on the RAN's limited resources.

Sydney commenced operations on 5 October 1951 under command of Captain D. H. Harries. On 11 October she flew a record 89 sorties, an effort bringing praise from American and British authorities, USS New Jersey stating that Sydney's gunnery spotting was 'the best she has yet had'. On 25 and 26 October three aircraft were lost, the last involving a dangerous pickup of shot-down aircrew by the ship's helicopter in a real life play out of the "Bridges at toko Rii. Enemy infantry attempting to capture the aircrew were suppressed by fire from Sea Furies from Sydney that flew constant support, until extraction by the helo. Her close escort included HMA DD Anzac, a Daring Class Destroyer

Normal daily operations aimed at 54 sorties although this was often difficult to achieve on an axial deck carrier requiring a constant movement of aircraft around the deck, often in foul weather, especially as a freezing winter set in. In October, Typhoon Ruth caused damage to the carrier and the loss of 5 aircraft.

Sydney's piston engine aircraft were invaluable for ground attack duties. Normally the Fireflies carried bombs and the Sea Furies rockets. Both types mounted four 20mm cannon. Targets attacked included troops, gun positions and transport infrastructure. Sydney's aircraft were credited with causing 3000 communist casualties as well as the destruction of 66 bridges, seven tunnels, 38 railway sections, seven sidings, five water towers, three locomotives, 59 wagons, 2060 houses, 495 junks and sampans and 15 guns. They also carried out target spotting and reconnaissance, for which the two-seat Firefly was particularly well suited, as well as combat air and antisubmarine patrols around the carrier and her escorts.

Enemy anti-aircraft fire was the main danger. Sydney had 99 aircraft hit and nine were shot down. Casualties were three aircrew killed and six wounded.

parsifal said:

Just to be clear...Eagle was sunk by Submarine, not by air attack

Click to expand...

yeah, they could have been clearer about that.

Good stuff guys!

August, 1942: Operation Pedestal- The score-board for the successes of HMS INDOMITABLE's air group painted on the island.



12 August: HMS INDOMITABLE on fire after being bombed. A Dido class cruiser, HMS CHARYBDIS, is screening the carrier.



Damage to HMS INDOMITABLE's flight deck.

HMS Hermes look at those lines like a Clipper ship

Wonder who that is crossing the T to her rear?

stug3 said:

Wonder who that is crossing the T to her rear?

Click to expand...

Looks like an R class Battleship but thats as far as I can go.

U.S. aircraft carriers USS Saratoga (CV-3) (foreground) and USS Enterprise (CV-6) with aircraft spotted for launch, 1942.



Japanese Navy aircraft carrier Ryūjō – with 9,800-ton standard displacement. Her light displacement was intended to exploit a loophole in the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922. Under the Treaty, aircraft carriers under 10,000-ton standard displacement were not regarded as "aircraft carriers". She was sunk 8/24/42.



The damaged and immobile Japanese aircraft carrier Ryujo (center) photographed from a USAAF B-17 bomber, during a high-level bombing attack in the battle of the Eastern Solomons on 24 August 1942. The destroyers Amatsukaze (center left) and Tokitsukaze (faintly visible, center right) had been removing her crew and are now underway.

I have always been fascinated by the early experimental carriers.

HMS Furious in her first incarnation as a semi carrier



secound version



Landing on deck, it must have made the pilots squeeze tightly

HMS Pegasus part seaplane carrier and part wheeled aircraft carrier. The forward hanger was for 4 Fighters usually Sopwith 2F1 Camels. The aft hanger was for 4 seaplanes usually either Short 184s or Fairey Campanias.

HMS Campania a worn out ex Cunard liner a holder of the Blue Riband converted into an experimental carrier.



The old girl sinking in Scapa Flow after her anchor dragged and she drifted onto the ram bow of HMS Royal Oak flooding the engine rooms.

HMS Ben-my-Chree she was the pride of the Isle Of Man Steam Packet company and still holds the steam powered record for a run between Liverpool and Douglas. Bought by the Navy in 1914 and converted to a seaplane carrier. Sunk by a shore battery off Turkey.

What all the above experiments led to HMS Argus a converted liner ex SS Conte Rosso. The original Covered Wagon mother of all aircraft carriers.