HMS Hermes (95) was a Royal Navy's aircraft carrier, which was in service between 1924 and 1942. She was the first aircraft carrier with a flush deck originally designed as such. However, the number of combat airplanes she could carry was limited to twenty. The first type of aircraft she carried on her first assignment was the Fairey Flycatcher, which was a carrier-based fighter biplane. In those days, the carrier was not considered to be an important war vessel. It was the battleship, which given priority in military naval construction. However, WW2 would prove otherwise.
The design and construction of the HMS Hermes (95) had been ordered in 1917. She was laid down in early 1918 and built by Armstrong Whitworth on the shipyards on the bank of the River Tyne. She was launched on September 11, 1919. After the sea trials, she was commissioned on February 18, 1924. Her first assigned to the Mediterranean Fleet based at Malta. In 1925, she would be sent to Hong Kong. Later, she would return to the Mediterranean Sea.
During the 1930s, HMS Hermes spent most of her time in the Far East. With Hong Kong being her base of operations, she would often sail to visit other ports, such as Shanghai, Manila, and Singapore. When World War II broke out, she had already returned to Home port for refit. In August, 1939, she had been equipped with twelve Fairey Swordfish torpedo-bomber. In September, after Great Britain had declared war on Germany, she carried out anti-submarine patrol missions. Hermes was operating in the Indian Ocean when, on April 9, 1942, she was attacked by approximately 50 Japanese dive-bombers. Hit hard, she would sink after several hours. At the time of the attack, she did not have any combat aircraft aboard to defend herself with.
Technical Description
HMS Hermes (95) had a 182-m long flight deck and a large island on the forward portion and starboard side of ship. The island included both the bridge and funnel. It had a sturdy tripod mast, with a large fighting top. Although the island was unusually long, it was very narrow. She was powered by two Parsons geared steam turbines, with two shafts and supplied by six boilers; this propulsion system generated 40,000 shaft horsepower (SHP).
To maximize the size of her flight deck, the hull was built with considerable flare. Thus, she proved to be an excellent sea boat. Despite her size, HMS Hermes was able to carry only 20 aircraft. Like other carriers of the time, she was fitted with longitudinal wires first; however these were replaced by transverse arrester wires in the early 1930s.
Specifications
Type: aircraft carrier
Displacement: 13,000 tons (full loaded); 10, 850 tons (standard)
Length: 182.3 m (598 feet)
Beam: 21.4 m (70.3 feet)
Draft: 5.7 m (18.5 feet)
Propulsion: two Parsons geared steam turbines, with two shafts, and six boilers.
Maximum Speed: 25 knots
Range: 5,600 nautical miles (10,400 km)
Aircraft: 20
Armament: ten 152-mm and four 102-mm AA guns.
Crew: 664 sailors and officers.
Below, historical pictures of HMS Hermes (95) in the 1930s and during WW2 when she was hit and sunk.
