Warship Index

Aircraft Carrier History

British & Commonwealth Warships & Aircraft Carriers - history

A-Z British & Commonwealth Aircraft Carriers

United States Warships & Aircraft Carriers

A-Z of United States Aircraft Carriers

Axis, German & Japanese Warships & Aircraft Carriers

Soviet and Russian Warships & Aircraft Carriers

Naval Establishment and Naval Bases

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HMS ALBION
 
 

HMS Albion 1944 - 1973 "The Old Grey Ghost". By Neil McCart. Fan Publications; ISBN: 0951953869.
	History of H.M.S.Albion between 1944-1973. Recommended reading for all old 'ALBIONS'. The Albion having served the Royal Navy with pride and distinction for nearly 20 years was finally paid-off in November 1972. Click here to view details This book can be supplied by : MARITIME BOOKS, LISKEARD, PL14 4EL TEL: 01579 343663
Hardback
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HMS ARK ROYAL 
 
 

HMS Ark Royal IV. By Richard Johnstone-Bryden. Sutton Publishing; ISBN: 0750925043.
	The aircraft carrier HMS "Ark Royal", launched in 1950, was the most famous Royal Navy warship of the post-war era. Drawing on first-hand accounts from officers and crew members, this book recounts the story of the Ark Royal, from the laying down of her keel in 1943 and her first commission in 1955, through to her decommissioning in 1979 and her scrapping in 1980. The carrier played a crucial role in the development of Royal Naval fixed-wing aviation and pioneered the concept of carrier-borne VSTOL aircraft. It saw extensive service during the 1960s and 70s, a time which witnessed many significant changes in Navy life and the way in which seapower was used as a means of projecting national influence worldwide. To bring the story of the "Ark" alive, painting a picture of life on board a class of Royal navy warship that has gone forever, the author uses interviews and first-hand accounts from former officers and crew, ranging from admirals, captains and ship's company, to aircrew of the embarked Fleet Air Arm squadrons and the shipyard workers who built the "Ark".  Click here to view details
Paperback - 272 pages new edition (21 July, 2000)
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Ark Royal. By Kenneth Poolman. Tempus Publishing. ISBN: 0752420267.
	A 'biography' of the ship which was torpedoed and sunk by U-81 and U-205. Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk Click here to view details
Paperback - 128 pages new edition (September 2000)
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Three Ark Royals. By Neil McCart. Fan Publications; ISBN: 190122502X.
	A complete history of the three Royal Navy Aircraft Carriers, between 1938 and 1999. Profusely illustrated with 8 pages in colour, details all 3 Arks: WW2 and post-war fleet carriers and the current support carrier.  Click here to view details
Hardcover 208 pages (1 January, 1998)
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HMS ARK ROYAL
 

HMS Ark Royal: the Ship and Her Men by David Smith, Andrew Wynn. Maritime Books; ISBN: 0907771394
	This is about the history of the loss of HMS Dasher. Click here to view details
Paperback - 80 pages (1988)

 

SINK THE ARK ROYAL by Duncan Harding. Severn House Publishers; ISBN: 0727852523
	War fiction. In North Africa Rommel is preparing to march on Cairo, and the British 8th Army is exhausted and demoralised. The only spark of hope is Malta, but their resources are running low. Churchill must take desperate measures to send a convoy with planes and fuel guarded by the vulnerable Ark Royal. From the author of SINK THE TIRPITZ! Click here to view details
Hardcover - 218 pages (28 August, 1997)

HMCS BONAVENTURE
 

The Bonnie : Hmcs Bonaventure by J. Allan Snowie Boston Mills Pr. ISBN: 0919783406
	This is about the history of the Canadian aircraft carrier, Hmcs Bonaventure  Click here to view details
Hardcover - November 1987

HMS BULWARK
 

HMS"Bulwark" , 1948-84 K V Burns, Mike Critchley. Maritime Bks.; ISBN: 0907771270
	This is about the history of carrier HMS Bulwark. Click here to view details
Hardcover (2 June, 1986)

HMS CENTAUR
 

HMS Centaur 1943-1972. By Neil McCart. Fan Publications; ISBN: 0951953893.
	History of H.M.S. Centaur between 1943-1972  Click here to view details
Hardcover (1 September, 1997)
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HMS DASHER
 

The Secrets of HMS "Dasher"  John Steele, Noreen Steele (Editor). Argyll Publishing; ISBN: 190283139X
	This is about HMS Dasher. Click here to view details
Paperback (June 2002)

 

The Tragedy of "HMS Dasher" by John Steele, Brian Wilson MP. Argyll Publishing; ISBN: 1874640416
	This is about the history of the loss of HMS Dasher. Click here to view details
Hardcover - 192 pages (23 June, 1995)

HMS EAGLE
 

HMS Eagle 1942-1978. By Neil McCart. Fan Publications; ISBN: 0951953885.
	Wartime history of H.M.S. Eagle between 1942-1978  Click here to view details
Hardback (1996)
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Eagle's War: the war diary of an aircraft carrier. by Peter C. Smith. Crecy Publishing. ISBN: 0947554602.
	This gripping and moving story of a famous aircraft carrier at war is seen through the eyes of its former  crew members. These eyewitness accounts have been supplemented by meticulous research by the author and are further enhanced by rare photographs taken at the time, mostly from private collections. The result is both moving and informative naval history at its best. HMS Eagle was old before WWII started, and her many achievements have been largely overshadowed by the publicity given to her more wellknown companions Ark Royal, Illustrious, Victorious, Indomitable and the USS Wasp. The work of the gallant old Eagle equalled these ships' achievements and, in some ways, may have even surpassed them. In the Far East when war was declared in September 1939 Eagle's few Swordfish biplanes were soon flying escort to vital Australian   troop convoys and hunting enemy surface raiders in the wastes of the Indian Ocean. When the war moved to the Mediterranean this one old carrier, with her meagre air group bolstered by a few Sea Gladiator biplanes held the ring kvith Cunningham's superb fleet through the dark days of 1940 and 1941. Her aircraft took part in the naval victories of Calabria and Taranto; worked from desert air strips with great success and hounded the Italian Navy out of the Red Sea. She survived massive bombing by two angry air forces. Following further ocean patrols in the South Atlantic Eagle joined the famous Force `H' at Gibraltar and did more than any other ship to sustain Malta during the islands' greatest ordeal, by flying off modern fighter aircraft to boost the air defences. She was finally lost in action during the greatest of all convoy battles Operation Pedestal, in August 1942, but she had already earned her place in history. This almost day-by-day account of her battles and actions preserves that honoured place in the annals of the Fleet Air Arm and is a fitting tribute to all who served aboard her or flew from her decks. Click here to view details
Hardcover - 200 pages (27 April, 1995)
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Eagle at Taranto by Alan Evans Hodder & Stoughton. General; ISBN: 0340395265
	War Fiction. Taking as its focus one of the major and decisive engagements of the Second World War, this is an adventure of war focusing on a sub-lieutenant on the aircraft carrier H.M.S Eagle. He meets an American newspaperman and his personal assistant who are destined to give a special meaning to his war.  Click here to view details
Hardcover - 224 pages (1 June, 1987)

HMS FORMIDABLE

 

A Formidable Hero; LT R. H. Gray, RCNVR, VC,DSC. By Stuart E. Soward. CANAV Books. ISBN: 096907039X
	The life of Lt. Robert Hampton Gray, VC DSC RCNVR, from the time of his enlistment in Calgary, through his time in the Fleet Air Arm including his involvement in the attacks on the German battleship Tirpitz from HMS Formidable to his death just a few days before the end of the war in the Pacific. He received the Victoria Cross posthumously for courageous action against the enemy. The Victoria Cross is the highest decoration for valour in the British Commonwealth. Click here to view details at The Spitfire Emporium
Hardcover - 176 pages (October 1996)
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HMS GLORIOUS
 

Carrier Glorious. By John Winton. Cassell Military; ISBN: 0304352446.
	In June 1940, after a disastrous campaign in Norway, HMS Glorious was sent to the Norwegian coast to assist in the evacuation of British, Polish and French troops. After several tense days, the ship was on her way home when she encountered the two German battle-cruisers, Scharnhorst and Gneisenau. In a ferocious gun battle lasting over an hour Glorious and the two destroyers escorting her were all sunk. Drawing on Admiralty records and the testimony of those who served on Glorious, John Winton reveals the incredible human folly that led almost inexorably to this tragic end, against a background of one of the most disastrous campaigns of World War II for Britain and her allies.  Click here to view details
Paperback - 253 pages Reissue (12 August, 1999)
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HMS GLORY
 

HMS "Glory" by Peter Barrett. Parapress; ISBN: 1898594368
	This is about the history of the HMs Glory. Click here to view details
Hardcover (9 May, 1996)

 

With the Carriers in Korea, The Fleet Air Arm Story 1950-1953 , by John R.P. Landsdown. Crecy Publishing; ISBN: 0947554645
	The Fleet Air Arm Story 1950-1953 and about HMs Glory. Click here to view details
Hardcover - October 1997

HMS HERMES
 

HMS"Hermes" , 1959-84  Tony Dyson.Maritime Bks; ISBN: 0907771165
	This is about the history of HMS Hermes. Click here to view details
Hardcover (November 1984)

ILLUSTRIOUS CLASS
 
 

The 'Illustrious' Blitz, Malta in Wartime 1940-1941  by Charles J. Boffa. Progress Press Co Ltd; ISBN: 9990930422
	This is about the history of the siege of Malta and the Malta convoys, including about HMS Illustrious. Click here to view details
Paperback - 110 pages (31 July, 1995)

 

Illustrious and Implacable Classes of Aircraft Carrier: 1940-1969. By Neil McCart, Freda McCart (Editor). Fan Publications; ISBN: 1901225046.
	History of H.M.S.Illustrious and Implacable Class aircraft carriers between 1940-1969.  Click here to view details
Hardcover (1 November, 2000)
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HMS ILLUSTROUS 
 

No easy choices: a personal acount on the carrier H.M.S. Illustrious, 1940-1943. By Albert H. Jones & Michael H. Jones. Foreword by Cdr G.R.M. Going, DSO, OBE, Royal Navy. Square One Publications; ISBN: 1899955356
	The aircraft carrier HMS "Illustrious"  was one of the most famous Royal Navy ships of WW2. This is a personal account as seen through the eyes of a young stoker from Manchester who served the first three years aboard Illustrious including her attack on the Italian fleet at Taranto and her heavy dive bombing by the Luftwaffe 3 months later requiring 6 months of repairs in the then neutral USA. Cdr. Going was one of the aircrew who flew one of the 21 Swordfish on the Taranto raid.  Click here to view details
Paperback - 240 pages new edition (1998)
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IMPLACABLE CLASS
 

Illustrious and Implacable Classes of Aircraft Carrier: 1940-1969. By Neil McCart, Freda McCart (Editor). Fan Publications; ISBN: 1901225046.
	History of H.M.S.Illustrious and Implacable Class aircraft carriers between 1940-1969.  Click here to view details
Hardcover (1 November, 2000)
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HMS INDOMITABLE
 
 

Sea Flight by Hugh Popham. Old Ferry P.; ISBN: 0951675826
	Reprint of the classic 1954 bigraphy about an HMS Indomitable hurricane squadron Click here to view details
Paperback 4th edition (December 1994)

HMS INTREPID
 

HMS"Intrepid"  by George Mack. Kimber; ISBN: 0718300378
	This is about HMS Intrepid. Click here to view details
Hardcover (June 1980)

HMS INVINCIBLE
 

HMS Invincible by Leo Marriott. Ian Allan Publishing; ISBN: 0711019401
	This is about HMS Invincible. Click here to view details
Paperback (28 October, 1990)

HMAS MELBOURNE
 
 

HMAS Melbourne by Timothy Hall. Allen & U (Australia); ISBN: 0868612847
	This is about the history of the Australian aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne Click here to view details
Hardcover (December 1983)

HMS OCEAN
 

HMS "Ocean" 1945-1957. By Joyce Knowlson; ISBN: 0950987212. Our Price: £12.00. RRP:
	Pictorial history of H.M.S.Ocean between 1945-1957  Click here to view details
Paperback - September 1998
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HMS VICTORIOUS
 

HMS Victorious 1937-1969. By Neil McCart. Fan Publications; ISBN: 1901225011.
	Complete history of this venerable ship between 1937-1969.  Click here to view details
Paperback (1 January, 1998)
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Victorious the World Over Ray Barker. Square One Publications; ISBN: 1872017371
	This is about the history of the RN aircraft carrier HMS Victorious Click here to view details
Hardcover (3 September, 1991)

 

Send Her Victorious  by Michael Apps. Kimber Publishers; ISBN: 0718301021
	This is about the history of HMS Victorious Click here to view details
Hardcover - October 1971

HMS VINDEX 
 

Escort Carrier - HMS Vindex at War. By Kenneth Poolman. Secker & Warburg; ISBN: 0436377055.
	Story of a British Escort Carrier in WW2.  Click here to view details
Hardback (1986)
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HMS WARRIOR
 

HMS Warrior  by John McIlwain (Editor). Pitkin Guides; ISBN: 0853725373
	This is about the history of HMS Warrior Click here to view details
Paperback (December 1991)