HMS Warspite 1940

Mike L is perfectly correct regarding the lack of recovery for CAM launched Hurricanes.

While I think that Smudgers definition obtained from Sydney was a typical reply from someone who served on a Capital ship during WW2 [Carriers or Battleships!]

The accepted definition of boat or ship categorisation in the Royal Navy during say 1900-date would be size related thus:

a corvette or frigate or larger would always be a ship.

any MTB/ML/MGB are clearly boats along with all submarines

 

Mike L is perfectly correct regarding the lack of recovery for CAM launched Hurricanes.

While I think that Smudgers definition obtained from Sydney was a typical reply from someone who served on a Capital ship during WW2 [Carriers or Battleships!]

The accepted definition of boat or ship categorisation in the Royal Navy during say 1900-date would be size related thus:

a corvette or frigate or larger would always be a ship.

any MTB/ML/MGB are clearly boats along with all submarines

Cally,

I agree with your assessment as I have always read that a Corvette was called a ship.

Regards
Tom

 

Still searching as are others. for the news report none of us can pin a firm date, some say 59/60 others as late as the 70s. A Blackburn/Fairey Swordfish was landed on a modern fleet carrier with if memory serves us Brian Johnson MC the cricket and general commentator in the TAG/observers seats. Then shown taking off at walking pace and trying to outpace the carrier! If found I will post.


Of course she was known as the TSRII

 

This is a good website for information regarding the Fairey Swordfish,

Fairey Swordfish aircraft profile. Aircraft Database of the Fleet Air Arm Archive 1939-1945

A nice account of the Fairy Swordfish from the Warspite during the Norwegian campaign.

Regards
Tom

 

I can tell you a story related to me about one of the Swordfish on board HMS Warspite.

They had many engine failures and problems with one of the planes and a few days after the end of hostilities in 1945 they was informed by the skipper to throw this particular Swordfish over board.......According to my stepfather who was leading stoker on Warspite they run up the engine and launched it over the side and he said to there amazement the old girl just lifted off and just flew out of site over the horizon.....he always said she's proberley still plodding along today......

Wonderful story! They had her trimmed perfectly. If she had a calm sea, hopefully she landed at 40 knots as well (if she had floats), when the fuel ran out. Hope so.