identified as a full squadron then attacked in similar glide bomb attacks over the course of the next hour or so. This time, indi cation was given by radar, and four of these planes were shot down either approaching or after their attacks by the CAP. No more planes were shot down by the close range AA, although a number of planes were damaged. What was noticeable, and worrying, for the force was the ineffective nature of the 4" and 4.5" AA fire, although it had been warned pre-war that this would only be effective against horizontal bombers (presumably attacking in formation). Although there were a number of near misses, no ships were hit by any of the bombs.
Admiral Forbes later stated in his despatch that 'the control personnel were obviously unprepared for such high performance divebombing', and as a result a review was to take place on how to better control and coordinate the close range AA defences of the fleet. It had also been noted that considerable improvements needed to be made to the control and direction of the carriers defensive aircraft - fortunately the Germans had attacked in singletons, minimising the inexperience of the organisation.
The next series of carrier operations took place after the 5th October, when it was confirmed that Germany did indeed have commerce raiders at sea - this had been anticipated, but not confirmed until then. It was suspected that at least one of their pocket battleships was somewhere at sea, probably in either the North or South Atlantic where the bulk of unescorted merchant ships were.
This had been allowed for in pre-war planning - indeed, this was one of the reasons for building the light carriers in the first place. A number of them were therefore allocated to the hunting groups (in particular those felt least likely to have good land based air cover.
Venerable was detached from Home Fleet to the South Atlantic as part of raider hunting group G, with the cruisers Cumberland and Exeter (later Ajax and Achilles as well)
Courageous was detached from Home Fleet to the We st Indies as part of raider hunting group N with the French ship Strasbourg.
Glorious was detached from Home Fleet to the Cape of Good Hope as part of raider hunting group H with the cruisers Shropshire and Sussex
Ark Royal was detached from Gibraltar and was based on Pernambuco as part of a raider hunting group K with the battlecruiser Renown
Eagle (which had already been in the Far East) was based at Ceylon as part of Raider hunting group I, with the cruisers Cornwall and Dorsetshire.
As per the pre-war plans, e ach carrier was accompanied by two of the carrier escort destroyers, to protect her and to help in close search and identification of a suspected raider. Given the nature of the threat, the light carriers carried an airgroup of 12 TBR and 12 DB , all of which could be used for reconnaissance, and three fighters. Given the time of year and the deployment areas, the FAA considered the use of a small deck park quite acceptable.
The rest of the carrier force was held with the Home Fleet; partly as a reserve for deployment as needed, and partly because they had the least experienced aircrew (the more experienced, with the exception of those of the Illustrious, having been sent with the deployed carriers). They were as far as possible conducting exercises, particularly the aircrew, for Operation Chastise (while this operation had been developed over the last two years and trials and exercises conducted, many of the pilots allocated were not familiar with the techniques that would be required). It was expected that Colossus, Vengeance and Hermes at least would be allocated to convoy escort duties once the system was in full operation. (the Admiralty was also looking ahead to the protection of high value Canadian troop convoys which would be sailing soon and would require a heavy escort)
On the 9th of October, aircraft from the Ark Royal, which was on passage to Freetown with her two escort
Admiral Forbes later stated in his despatch that 'the control personnel were obviously unprepared for such high performance divebombing', and as a result a review was to take place on how to better control and coordinate the close range AA defences of the fleet. It had also been noted that considerable improvements needed to be made to the control and direction of the carriers defensive aircraft - fortunately the Germans had attacked in singletons, minimising the inexperience of the organisation.
The next series of carrier operations took place after the 5th October, when it was confirmed that Germany did indeed have commerce raiders at sea - this had been anticipated, but not confirmed until then. It was suspected that at least one of their pocket battleships was somewhere at sea, probably in either the North or South Atlantic where the bulk of unescorted merchant ships were.
This had been allowed for in pre-war planning - indeed, this was one of the reasons for building the light carriers in the first place. A number of them were therefore allocated to the hunting groups (in particular those felt least likely to have good land based air cover.
Venerable was detached from Home Fleet to the South Atlantic as part of raider hunting group G, with the cruisers Cumberland and Exeter (later Ajax and Achilles as well)
Courageous was detached from Home Fleet to the We st Indies as part of raider hunting group N with the French ship Strasbourg.
Glorious was detached from Home Fleet to the Cape of Good Hope as part of raider hunting group H with the cruisers Shropshire and Sussex
Ark Royal was detached from Gibraltar and was based on Pernambuco as part of a raider hunting group K with the battlecruiser Renown
Eagle (which had already been in the Far East) was based at Ceylon as part of Raider hunting group I, with the cruisers Cornwall and Dorsetshire.
As per the pre-war plans, e ach carrier was accompanied by two of the carrier escort destroyers, to protect her and to help in close search and identification of a suspected raider. Given the nature of the threat, the light carriers carried an airgroup of 12 TBR and 12 DB , all of which could be used for reconnaissance, and three fighters. Given the time of year and the deployment areas, the FAA considered the use of a small deck park quite acceptable.
The rest of the carrier force was held with the Home Fleet; partly as a reserve for deployment as needed, and partly because they had the least experienced aircrew (the more experienced, with the exception of those of the Illustrious, having been sent with the deployed carriers). They were as far as possible conducting exercises, particularly the aircrew, for Operation Chastise (while this operation had been developed over the last two years and trials and exercises conducted, many of the pilots allocated were not familiar with the techniques that would be required). It was expected that Colossus, Vengeance and Hermes at least would be allocated to convoy escort duties once the system was in full operation. (the Admiralty was also looking ahead to the protection of high value Canadian troop convoys which would be sailing soon and would require a heavy escort)
On the 9th of October, aircraft from the Ark Royal, which was on passage to Freetown with her two escort
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