I Love Kit 1/350 HMS Ark Royal 1939 # 65307

HMS Ark Royal (1939) was a Royal Navy aircraft carrier that served during World War II.

It was the third ship in the Royal Navy to bear the name "Ark Royal," and was launched in April 1937.

Ark Royal was approximately 800 feet (244 meters) long and had a displacement of 22,000 tons.

It was powered by steam turbines and was capable of reaching speeds of up to 30 knots (56 kilometers per hour).

The ship's air wing consisted of a mixture of fighter, bomber, and reconnaissance planes, including Fairey Swordfish torpedo bombers.

Ark Royal saw extensive service during World War II, including in the Atlantic and Mediterranean theaters of operations.

It played a key role in several major battles, including the sinking of the German battleship Bismarck in May 1941.

During this engagement, Ark Royal's Swordfish torpedo bombers dealt critical damage to the Bismarck, which was subsequently sunk by other British warships.

However, Ark Royal's service was cut short when it was torpedoed by a German U-boat in November 1941.

Despite heroic efforts to save the ship, it eventually capsized and sank, with the loss of one crew member.

Despite its relatively short service life, Ark Royal played a significant role in several key engagements during World War II.

Its air wing was instrumental in several naval battles, and its sinking highlighted the dangers posed by U-boats to Allied shipping in the Atlantic.