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Hermes Class (1923) CV

This HMS Hermes was completed as a class of one, and was the first UK carrier to be designed as such from the outset, and not a conversion.

She was laid down in Jan 1918 and was the first to have an island superstructure on the starboard side which contained the normal funnel and bridge areas. The design was so successful that all aircraft carriers designed later around the world followed this island carrier design. (The contemporary flush deck design became obsolete). Following the slow down in military spending after WW1 she was not completed until 1923.

She had a smaller aircraft hangar than HMS Eagle (1919) and so Hermes became more limited in her usefulness as aircraft size increased during the 1920's and 30's.

By the time WW2 began Hermes air component was quite small and although they were useful when Hermes formed part of a larger aircraft carrier force she was of little use if used on her own.

 

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This page last edited - 08 December, 2012.

Copyright © Ian M King, except where otherwise indicated.