Data sent by CHARLES A. THOMPSON (519-1988) tells of the battle damage to the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS FORMIDABLE on 23rd May, 1941.

Basis Ship Data

HMS FORMIDABLE, an ILLUSTRIOUS Class carrier, was laid down in 1937, launched in 1939 and commissioned in 1940. Please refer to KTB #112 of last month for specifications.

Damage to Ship and Aftereffects:

The carrier was attacked by German aircraft and received two aerial hits from bombs of 500 kilograms (approximately 1000 pounds) each in the unarmored region of the hull; one at the bow and the other at the extreme stern as seen here.

As a result of the explosion of the bombs at the bow of the ship, the forward aircraft elevator went out of commission and the gun fire-control equipment of the forward group was also badly damaged. Some forward compartments of the ship were flooded.

The structures in the stern section were damaged and destroyed by the explosion of the second bomb and a whole group of individual aftercompartments appeared to flood.

All in all, the ship was so badly damaged that she had to return to her base and go into drydock for major refitting and repairs.

Conclusion:

As a result of these two aerial bombs of 500 kilograms each, the damage to HMS FORMIDABLE was quite serious and as a result of which, she went completely out of commission and laid up in the repair dock.

In KTB #114 next month, we will cover the loss of the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS HERMES on 9 April, 1942.