Aerial striking force of the British Royal Navy (RN). Early in the twentieth century, RN aviators duplicated Eugene Ely’s feat of launching aircraft from ships. In 1911, a successful launch occurred from the battleship HMS Africa. Subsequently, the period after 1914 saw further development of RN seaplane tenders and attempts at carrier conversions. The RN commissioned its first aircraft carrier, HMS Argus, in 1918.

The Royal Naval Air Service of World War I became the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) in 1924. Initially it remained integral to the Royal Air Force. Consequently, problems concerning personnel and procurement of suitable aircraft hampered the FAA’s growth. Adopting the RAF’s squadron structure, the FAA possessed only 232 aircraft by 1939,most of them technically obsolescent. That condition changed dramatically under the pressures of war. By mid-1945, the FAA counted more than 1,600 aircraft in 73 squadrons. These aircraft flew from more than 50 fleet, light, and escort carriers.

The FAA’s aircraft included several well-received U.S. types: the Grumman F4F Wildcat (Martlet in RN service) and F6F Hellcat as well as the TBF Avenger; the FAA also operated the Chance-Vought F4U Corsair.

British-made aircraft also supplied the FAA. The venerable Fairey Swordfish biplane torpedo-bomber (the “Stringbag”), though obsolete, was remarkably versatile and long-lived. Fairey also supplied the Barracuda torpedo-bomber and the Firefly reconnaissance-fighter. Hawker contributed the Sea Hurricane (the RN’s first single-seat monoplane carrier- borne fighter). Supermarine modified its immortal Spitfire as the Seafire, and Blackburn Aircraft supplied Skua dive-bombers and the Firebrand fighter/torpedo-strike aircraft. Though making a significant contribution to the Allied victory, the FAA suffered severe reductions after 1945 as the Royal Navy was reduced to a peacetime establishment.

References Chesneau, Roger. Aircraft Carriers of the World, 1914 to the Present: An Illustrated Encyclopedia. London: Arms and Armour, 1992. Grove, Eric J. Vanguard to Trident: British Naval Policy Since World War Two. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1987.