HMS Furious

Jim O · #1 (**permalink**) July 23rd, 2006, 11:22 AM

This ship has an interesting history having been built as a "light battle cruiser" and then had a landing deck added to convert it to an aircraft carrier. I read the following on a mailing list:

Quote:

The first air strike of the war from carrier-borne aircraft was from the British carrier HMS Furious. On April 11, 1940, 18 Swordfish from 816 and 818 Squadrons took off from the deck of the carrier to bomb enemy ships in Trondheimsfjord, Norway. All returned safely.

I can't seem to find any other specific info about this other than that she was involved in operations off the Norwegian coast in April, 1940. Can anyone substantiate that?

I did find some interesting photos of her conversion at the US Naval Historical Center site. If interested see http://worldwartwozone.com/photopost...ry.php?cat=515.

Klaus · #2 (**permalink**) July 24th, 2006, 06:39 AM

a_furious3a.jpg
This seems to be your ship.

It allready served in World War I and was dismantled in 1948.

http://www.zeppelin-museum.dk/D/germ...f/angriff.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Furious_(47)

Hobilar · #3 (**permalink**) July 26th, 2006, 05:36 AM

On the previous day reconnaissance had revealed the presence of German Warships in Trondheim. These were the Cruiser Hipper and her four accompanying Destroyers of Group II which had transported 1,700 troops to sieze this important Norwegian harbour.

HMS Furious was at the time the only Royal Navy Aircraft Carrier in home waters and was fitting out in the Clyde when the Germans launched their attack on Norway. Hastily two squadrons of Swordfish torpedo bombers were embarked and the Furious set off to join with the fleet already in Norwegian Waters. The plan was to attack German shipping at Bergen but was changed when it was revealed that that target was within reach of the protection of Luftwaffe land based aircraft.

Trondheim however was still outside of the orbit of the Luftwaffe, and so the target for the Furious was changed en-route. Although defended by gun batteries at the entrance of the Fjord the German had seized the harbour by daringly racing past the guns at 25 knots flashing misleading signals at the shore as they raced past. The Defenders being unable to find the range in order to effectively respond.

At 0400 hrs on the 11th of April HMS Furious launched eighteen Swordfish aircraft to commence the attack. Flying down the Fjord they could only find two Destroyers in shallow water. On the previous evening the German Commander on the Hipper had decided that his ship was too vulnerable to just such an attack as the British were planning and had taken the Cruiser accompanied by one Destroyer out to sea again. This was a wise move for the Hipper had already sustained a 130 ft hole in her side as a result of her encounter with the Glowworm and the fuel tankers destined for his resupply had failed to arrive. Of the other three Destroyers left behind, two had serious mechanical defects whilst the third had insuffient fuel to make the return journey.

The Swordfish pilots swept into the attack as they had often rehearsed, but because their intended targets were in shallow water the Torpedoes all hit the seabed and exploded harmlessly. The attack had been a complete failure but all of the aircraft were able to return to the Furious without loss.