![]() Swinging in low among the fleet, the German bomber loosed a single torpedo. It was not, by then, an unusual occurrence.īut, during the moon-lit night, at 0025, a single Ju88 slipped through Force H's screen unchallenged. Subsequent investigations revealed the radar contact had been mistaken for an Albacore due to return to the fleet about the same time. HMS Warspite reported sighting a hostile reconnaissance aircraft which had then transmitted a sighting report. On July 16, 1943, while operating with HMS Formidable, Indomitable was in formation some 90 miles north-east of Malta.Ī few hours earlier, in the darkness. It was a far from ideal situation: Almost double the number of folding Martlets could have been carried - but supplies from the United States had proven to be barely sufficient to replace wastage from existing squadrons, yet alone establish new ones. This was to ensure there was a clear line down the centre of the hangar space for maintenance crews and their equipment to move about efficiently. To squeeze as many Seafires into the upper hangar as possible, the aircraft were wheeled on to a tram-line trolley system that allowed the machine to be twisted onto an angle and moved down the hangar. The remainder were IICs, with their associated poor take-off and acceleration performance. Only one squadron, however, would be the vastly improved Seafire L-IIC. The other fleet carriers, HMS Formidable and Illustrious, were limited to operating some six to eight Seafires as a permanent deck park. The Seafires were of the non-folding variety, and could only be stowed in Indomitable's upper hangar via the larger forward lift. The strike component was 15 Albacores of 829 Squadron. Nevertheless, she was to serve as the flagship of Rear-Admiral (Aircraft Carriers) Lumley Lyster.Īt this time Indomitable's air group was made up of some 40 Seafires organised into 807 Squadron (Seafire Ib), 880 Squadron (Seafire IIc) and 889 Squadron (Seafire IIc). When Indomitable deployed to cover the Sicily landings of July 1943, it would be her first new operation. At Scapa, all efforts had been to integrate and work-up her fledgling air wing. HMS Indomitable had only just returned from extensive repairs following her bombing during the final hours of Operation Pedestal the previous August. They were also just a few hour steaming time from any invasion point needing their assistance. Their job was to intercept any attempt by Italian surface forces to interfere with the vulnerable troop transports. The carriers and battleships deployed to assemble south of Malta along with more than 2000 ships of the invasion force.įorce H was tasked with covering the Ionan Sea between the heel of Italy and Greece, some 180 miles East of Malta. ![]() HMS Rodney: Slayer of the Bismarck and D-Day Saviour) We are bound for the Ionian Sea to cover landings – actually where as yet we know not – and to attack the Italian fleet – if it comes out. and told us that this was what we had been waiting for. The captain spoke to us at 18.00 – he read us a message from the C. Division 3 would remain at Algiers as a ready-response group, moving towards any sightings of the Italian fleet To confuse enemy intelligence, the capital ships were soon dispersed between Mers-el-Kebir, Alexandria and Algiers.ĭivision 1 and 2 would sortie in support of the invasion force. +ADM116/5789 Report from Commanding Officer HMS Indomitable.+ ADM 267/27: HMS Indomitable Torpedo Damage 16th July 1943.Operation Husky: HMS Indomitable, July 16, 1943.+ ADM 267/84 HMS Indomitable Damage Report.+ ADM199/1242: Report from Commanding Officer HMS Indomitable.+ ADM199/1242: Report from Commanding Officer HMS Victorious.Operation Pedestal: HMS Indomitable, August 10-12, 1942.+ ADM 267/84 HMS Formidable Damage Report.+ ADM 199/810: Formidable, Report from Commanding Officer.Operation MAQ3: HMS Formidable, May 26, 1941.Matapan to Tiger: HMS Formidable March to May, 1941.+ ADM 267/87 HMS Illustrious Damage Report.+ ADM 3363/0197: Gunnery Report, HMS Illustrious, February 7, 1941.+ ADM267/83: Report from Commanding Officer, HMS Illustrious.Malta Blitz: HMS Illustrious, January 12-21.Operation Excess: HMS Illustrious off Malta, January 10, 1941. ![]() + ADM199/167: Letter from Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean.+ ADM199/167: Report from Commanding Officer.Operation Judgement: HMS Illustrious raids Taranto.
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