Courageous. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com
Eagle. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com
The American Consulate at Valetta, Malta wrote the US State of Secretary on 11 June 1928 No. 275 that the British aircraft carrier HMS Courageous (1) arrived at her new station Malta. She replaced the HMS Hermes (2) now present in the Far East but still a significant increase for the Fleet Air Arm of the Mediterranean Fleet while the Courageous was almost twice the size of the Hermes. The air force personnel on board of the Courageoius was nearly as large of that of the Hermes and Eagle (3) together. Her Fleet Airm Arm was commanded by Wing Commander Robert Leakie and consisted of Nos. 404a and 407 fitted out with Flycatchers, Nos. 445-446 fitted out with Fairey 3F aircraft and Nos. 463-464 fitted out with Darts. Commanding officer of the Courageous was captain Aubrey Lambert, R.N.
Notes
1. Building ordered on 14 March 1915, laid down as a battle cruiser by Armstrong Whitworth with yard number 895 on 26 March 1915, launched on 5 February 1916, completed on 4 November 1916, converted into an aircraft carrier June 1924-Feburary 1928 and sunk by the German submarine U-29 on 17 September 1939
2. Based on a cruiser hull-design using a seaplane carrier design dating 1916 but which was enlarged and modified in a design dating April 1917. Building ordered in April 1917, laid down by Armstrong Whitworth on 15 January 1918, launched on 11 September 1919, commissioned on 18 February 1924, reclassified as training ship on 16 July 1938, again as aircraft carrier on 24 August 1939 and sunk during a Japanese air attack on 9 April 1942.
3. Building ordered as Chilean battle ship Almirante Cochrane on 29July 1912, laid down by Armstrong Whitworth with yard number 858 on 20 February 1913, launched on 8 June 1918, purchased on 28 February 1918, commissioned on 20 February 1924 and sunk by the German submarine U-73 on 11 August 1942.
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