H.M.S. Argus (1917)

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H.M.S. Argus (1917)
Pendant Number: N.96 (1919)
49 (Sep, 1919)[1]
Builder: William Beardmore & Company[2]
Launched: 2 Dec, 1917[3]
Commissioned: Sep, 1918[4]
Sold: 5 Dec, 1946[5]
H.M.S. Argus was an aircraft carrier completed for the Royal Navy in 1918, but which was originally designed to be the Italian ocean liner Conte Rosso. Despite her odd genesis, she boasted a continuous flight deck and more accurately reflected a mature aircraft carrier than any previous vessel.

She was purchased for conversion in August, 1916.[6]

Construction & Service

Argus was designed by Lt.-Col. Holmes of the R.A.F.. Her hangar could accommodate one of the new eighteen-plane Torpedo Aeroplane Squadrons equipped with Sopwith T.1s and provided for storage of thirty torpedoes. A torpedo shop could store another twenty-eight weapons, which were presumably the 18-in Mark IX torpedo. Steam lines on the flying deck could warm torpedoes as aircraft awaited launch, to try to ensure a stable operating temperature when an attack was launched.[7]

Argus was re-commissioned at Portsmouth on 24 January, 1924.[8]

She paid off into Dockyard Control on 2 November, 1925.[9]

She re-commissioned at the Nore on 19 January, 1927 for service in the Atlantic Fleet, with a Headquarters Flight and Flights 401, 422, and 441 embarked.[10]

Argus was reduced to Reserve at Portsmouth on 7 May, 1930.[11]

She was reduced to Maintenance Reserve at Rosyth on 15 December, 1932.[12]

She was taken into Dockyard Control on 6 July 1936 at Devonport.[13]

Argus was commissioned at Devonport on 30 July, 1938.[14]

Captains

Dates of appointment are provided when known.

See Also

Footnotes

  1. Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 52.
  2. Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 52.
  3. Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 52.
  4. Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 52.
  5. Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 52.
  6. Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 52.
  7. Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1918. pp. 94-5.
  8. The Navy List. (April, 1925). pp. 215, 216.
  9. The Navy List. (February, 1926). p. 215.
  10. The Navy List. (February, 1929). pp. 215-6.
  11. The Navy List. (July, 1931). p. 216.
  12. The Navy List. (July, 1934). p. 215.
  13. The Navy List. (July, 1937). p. 216.
  14. The Navy List. (May, 1939). p. 257.
  15. The Navy List. (July, 1920). p. 727.
  16. The Navy List. (July, 1920). p. 727.
  17. The Navy List. (January, 1921). p. 727.
  18. The Navy List. (January, 1921). p. 727.
  19. Stirling Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/157. f. 175.
  20. Stirling Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/157. f. 175.
  21. Chilton Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 86.
  22. Chilton Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 86.
  23. The Navy List. (April, 1925). p. 215.
  24. Boucher Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/52/63. f. 421.
  25. Boucher Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/52/63. f. 421.
  26. Murray Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/245. ff. 248.
  27. Murray Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/245. ff. 248.
  28. Palmer Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/46. f. 46.
  29. Palmer Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/46. f. 46.
  30. The Navy List. (February, 1929). p. 215.
  31. Archer Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/53/141. f. 140.
  32. Archer Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/53/141. f. 140.
  33. "Naval Appointments." The Times (London, England), Wednesday, Aug 27, 1930; pg. 15; Issue 45602.
  34. "Naval Appointments." The Times (London, England), Friday, Jan 23, 1931; pg. 6; Issue 45728.
  35. The Navy List. (July, 1931). p. 216.
  36. Vacher Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50. Book 9, f. 313.
  37. Vacher Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50. Book 9, f. 313.
  38. The Navy List. (January, 1933). p. 215.
  39. The Navy List. (October, 1935). p. 216.
  40. "Naval Appointments." The Times (London, England), Friday, May 11, 1934; pg. 26; Issue 46751.
  41. "Naval Appointments." The Times (London, England), Saturday, Dec 21, 1935; pg. 15; Issue 47253.
  42. "Completion of the Argus." The Times (London, England), Tuesday, Mar 29, 1938; pg. 11; Issue 47955.
  43. Benn Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/52/66. f. 424.
  44. Benn Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/52/66. f. 424.
  45. Uboat.net page on the ship.
  46. Bovell Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/55/28. f. 28.
  47. Uboat.net page on the ship.
  48. Uboat.net page on the ship.
  49. Uboat.net page on the ship.
  50. Uboat.net page on the ship.
  51. Uboat.net page on the ship.
  52. Uboat.net page on the ship.
  53. Uboat.net page on the ship.
  54. Uboat.net page on the ship.
  55. Uboat.net page on the ship.
  56. Uboat.net page on the ship.
  57. Uboat.net page on the ship.
  58. Uboat.net page on the ship.
  59. Uboat.net page on the ship.
  60. Uboat.net page on the ship.
  61. Uboat.net page on the ship.
  62. Uboat.net page on the ship.
  63. Uboat.net page on the ship.
  64. Uboat.net page on the ship.

Bibliography

British Aviation Ships
Experimental Cruiser Platform, 1913
Hermes
Seaplane Carriers from Converted Steamers
Ark Royal Empress Riviera Engadine Campania Pegasus
Ben-my-Chree Vindex Manxman Nairana Vindictive
Seaplane Carriers from Seized German Steamers
Anne Raven II
Flat Decked Conversions
Argus Furious
Through-Deck Carriers
Eagle Hermes
Kite Balloon Ships
Canning City of Oxford Hector Manica Menelaus