In the early days of the war, hunter-killer groups were formed around the fleet aircraft carriers to find and destroy U-boats.
On 17 September 1939, two torpedoes from U-29 turned the tables, and Courageous became the first British warship sunk in the Second World War.
As Ark Royal had been surprised by a near-miss seven days earlier, the fleet carriers were withdrawn from this duty.
In the early days of the war, hunter-killer groups were formed around the fleet aircraft carriers to find and destroy U-boats. On 17 September 1939, two torpedoes from U-29 turned the tables, and Courageous became the first British warship sunk in the Second World War. As Ark Royal had been surprised by a near-miss seven days earlier, the fleet carriers were withdrawn from this duty.
Courageous-class aircraft carrier