Africa and Spain. Both need a refit. A full rebuild is examined and found uneconomical (it would cost almost as much as building a new CVL), and would take too long (2 1/2 years). Accordingly they are planned for a major refit lasting 3-6 months as soon as the new Ark Royal is available; this will involve making the flight deck a full length and covering in more of the lower deck (this will allow them to carry 48 planes as before, but the new , larger planes), a refit to the engines (basically to do as much refurbishment as they can in the time available), and general improvements and repairs. It is hoped to get the material ready in advance so as to reduce the time of the refit, as they are aware the situation in Europe is steadily deteriorating.
As a result of the larger number of planes to be carried on the new carriers, the FAA reviews its squadron size. Its viewed as important to not break up squadrons where possible, but the old 12-plane ones look rather inefficient. After some studies, they decide to go for 18 as the new size (it's thought that an 18 plane torpedo or dive bomber attack is about the optimal for a single strike), while retaining a 'small' 12-plane squadron where these are too large for the desired aircraft mix.
Ark Royal would have a squadron of fighters, dive bombers and TBR (54 planes), plus a 12 plane squadron of TBR, for a total of 66 planes. This is a few more than designed, but they can just fit them in and in any case expect a few on deck at any time for operations (the 18 plane TBR squadron will be the strike squadron, the 12-plane one will handle reconnaissance and A/S work). Half the fighters are allocated to defence, the other half to escort, although if no fighter opposition is expected they will all be retained for fleet defence.
In April a problem was encountered with the 20mm Hispano cannon. The Air Ministry had been evaluating it in Hurricanes and Spitfires, and an unforeseen issue had arisen. The original gun was mounted upright, fed by a 60-round drum. In order to fit in the thin wings of the new fighters, it had to be mounted on its side, and it didn't seem to like the position. The 60-round magazine was also seen as insufficient, and a belt-fed system was thought to be necessary. The Air Ministry, pushed somewhat by the FAA representative, who was eager to see the gun available to the navy, passed this information on to Marc Birkigt at Hispano-Suiza for investigation. As the drawings for the gun were already being examined for translation to imperial measurements, it was suggested that they could also look at possible solutions and collaborate with Hispano. The firm was rather reluctant to allow this as the gun had not yet been licensed, and the Air Ministry was not pressing the issue hard. However barbed comments along the line of 'if you won't license it we will, and then we MAY let you have some' from the Navy got them to release the money (which had already been allocated by the Treasury) rather more quickly.
Ark Royal, the first purpose-built aircraft carrier for the Royal Navy, commissioned in July. The carrier was earmarked for an immediate series of trials and exercises, with the squadrons embarking with the new Goshawk and Cormorant as soon as they were considered operational.
Only days after this, an incident at the Marco Polo bridge in China developed into a full scale war between Japan and China. This caused mixed feelings in the Navy - on the one hand it would probably require more strength to be sent to the area to act as a deterrent. On the other, if the Japanese were spending their resources on a land war, that left them less money to expand their fleet, which was already worryingly powerful .
As a result of increasing war tensions, especially in Germany and Japan, the Royal Navy carrier building was speeded up. Two more fleet carriers were laid down in April to the 'Formidable' design, and two further light fleet carriers would be laid down in May. There was
As a result of the larger number of planes to be carried on the new carriers, the FAA reviews its squadron size. Its viewed as important to not break up squadrons where possible, but the old 12-plane ones look rather inefficient. After some studies, they decide to go for 18 as the new size (it's thought that an 18 plane torpedo or dive bomber attack is about the optimal for a single strike), while retaining a 'small' 12-plane squadron where these are too large for the desired aircraft mix.
Ark Royal would have a squadron of fighters, dive bombers and TBR (54 planes), plus a 12 plane squadron of TBR, for a total of 66 planes. This is a few more than designed, but they can just fit them in and in any case expect a few on deck at any time for operations (the 18 plane TBR squadron will be the strike squadron, the 12-plane one will handle reconnaissance and A/S work). Half the fighters are allocated to defence, the other half to escort, although if no fighter opposition is expected they will all be retained for fleet defence.
In April a problem was encountered with the 20mm Hispano cannon. The Air Ministry had been evaluating it in Hurricanes and Spitfires, and an unforeseen issue had arisen. The original gun was mounted upright, fed by a 60-round drum. In order to fit in the thin wings of the new fighters, it had to be mounted on its side, and it didn't seem to like the position. The 60-round magazine was also seen as insufficient, and a belt-fed system was thought to be necessary. The Air Ministry, pushed somewhat by the FAA representative, who was eager to see the gun available to the navy, passed this information on to Marc Birkigt at Hispano-Suiza for investigation. As the drawings for the gun were already being examined for translation to imperial measurements, it was suggested that they could also look at possible solutions and collaborate with Hispano. The firm was rather reluctant to allow this as the gun had not yet been licensed, and the Air Ministry was not pressing the issue hard. However barbed comments along the line of 'if you won't license it we will, and then we MAY let you have some' from the Navy got them to release the money (which had already been allocated by the Treasury) rather more quickly.
Ark Royal, the first purpose-built aircraft carrier for the Royal Navy, commissioned in July. The carrier was earmarked for an immediate series of trials and exercises, with the squadrons embarking with the new Goshawk and Cormorant as soon as they were considered operational.
Only days after this, an incident at the Marco Polo bridge in China developed into a full scale war between Japan and China. This caused mixed feelings in the Navy - on the one hand it would probably require more strength to be sent to the area to act as a deterrent. On the other, if the Japanese were spending their resources on a land war, that left them less money to expand their fleet, which was already worryingly powerful .
As a result of increasing war tensions, especially in Germany and Japan, the Royal Navy carrier building was speeded up. Two more fleet carriers were laid down in April to the 'Formidable' design, and two further light fleet carriers would be laid down in May. There was
Similar Books
