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SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2
by Lt Cdr Geoffrey B Mason RN (Rtd) (c) 2003

 

HMS PEGASUS - ex-Seaplane Carrier HMS Ark Royal
including Convoy Escort Movements 

 

Edited by Gordon Smith, Naval-History.Net

HMS Ark Royal, later Pegasus (Navy Photos/Mark Teadham, click to enlarge)

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Mercantile hull purchased in 1914 by the Admiralty during construction for conversion into a Seaplane Carrier and to be named ARK ROYAL on launch. This ship had been laid down by Blyth Dry Dock on 7th November 1913 for use as a collier. She was the modified with bridge and machinery fitted aft to suit her new role.  A flying off deck was fitted in front of the bridge with cranes installed for transfer of aircraft to and from the sea. This ship was launched on 5th September 1914 and completed on 10th December that year. After WW1 she carried aircraft to the Middle East and also acted as a minesweeper depot ship before being deployed for research and development of catapults and recovery of aircraft by warships. She was renamed PEGASUS in 1934 when her original name was selected for the Fleet aircraft carrier then being  built.  The new name was first used for an RN warship when given to a Sloop in 1776. It had previously been  borne by a seaplane carrier in 1917 which was sold in 1931. In March 1942 the ship was 'adopted' by the civil community of Saddleworth, Yorkshire after a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign.

 

B a t t l e     H o n o u r s

 

ST  VINCENT 1780 - MARTINIQUE  1780 - GLORIOUS  FIRST OF  JUNE  1794 - EGYPT  1801 - ATLANTIC  1941

 

  H e r a l d i c   D a t a 

Badge:  On a Field Blue,a winged horse rampant Gold.

 

M o t t o

Excelsior:   'Higher'

 

 

D e t a i l s   o f   W a r   S e r v i c e

 

(for more ship information, go to Naval History Homepage and type name in Site Search

 

 

1 9 3 9

 

September             Deployed with Home Fleet at Scapa Flow.

to

December

 

1 9 4 0

 

January                  Home Fleet deployment in continuation.

to                            Selected for conversion to Catapult Armed Merchant Ship

October

 

November              Under refit and conversion for new role.

to                            New bridge structure was fitted and the pole mast was replaced by a tripod mast

December              to carry Radar Type 279B when this became available.

                (Note:  As an interim a modified RAF Air Surface Vessel (ASV) radar was installed

                with its fixed Bedstead-type aerial fitted on the foremast. (Type 286M)

                For details of the development and use of radar in the RN see RADAR AT

                SEA by D. Howse and companion volumes sponsored by the Radar Trust).

 

1 9 4 1

 

January                  Refit and conversion in continuation.

to March

 

April                       On completion carried out post refit trials and prepared for convoy defence duty.

 

May                        Deployed for defence of Atlantic convoys.

to                            (Note:  HMS PEGASUS was one of the first CAM ships and entered service with two

December              mercantiles, HMS ARIGUANI and HMS MAPLIN. These were introduced

                                pending the availability of Escort Aircraft Carriers then under development

                                and build).

 

1 9 4 2

 

January                  Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.

to March

 

April                       Under refit. Radar Type 279B installed.

                                (See RADAR AT SEA).

 

May                        Resumed Atlantic convoy defence duty.

to December

               

1 9 4 3

 

Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.

 

1 9 4 4

 

Withdrawn from convoy defence duty and used as an Accommodation Ship.

 

1 9 4 5

 

Accommodation Ship duties in continuation.

 

P o s t  W a r  N o t e s

 

HMS PEGASUS was placed on the Disposal List and sold for mercantile use on 18th October 1946. She was renamed ANITA until April 1950 when she sold for breaking-up by T W Ward. The ship  arrived at the breaker's yard in Grays, Essex on 14th April 1946.

 

 


 

Addendum

 

Convoy Escort Movements of HMS  PEGASUS

by Don Kindell

 

These convoy lists have not been cross-checked with the text above 

 

 

 

 

 

Date convoy sailed

Joined convoy as escort

Convoy No.

Left convoy

Date convoy arrived

 

 

 

 

 

09/12/40

09/12/40

OG 047

15/12/40

21/12/40

28/11/40

16/12/40

SL 057

unknown

19/12/40

07/01/41

08/01/41

OG 049

11/01/41

21/01/41

29/12/40

11/01/41

HG 049

15/01/41

15/01/41

19/01/41

19/01/41

OB 276

24/01/41

25/01/41

12/01/41

26/01/41

SC 019

31/01/41

02/02/41

26/02/41

27/02/41

OB 291

03/03/41

03/03/41

10/02/41

04/03/41

SL 065

08/03/41

08/03/41

01/03/41

21/03/41

SL 067

26/03/41

26/03/41

12/04/41

12/04/41

OB 309

19/04/41

19/04/41

31/05/41

01/06/41

OB 329

05/06/41

05/06/41

25/05/41

02/06/41

HG 063

08/06/41

09/06/41

15/06/41

17/06/41

OB 336

unknown

23/06/41

10/06/41

24/06/41

SC 034

28/06/41

29/06/41

04/07/41

05/07/41

OG 067

09/07/41

20/07/41

18/06/41

09/07/41

SL 078

12/07/41

12/07/41

         

(Note on Convoys)

 

 

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