AIRPLANE CARRIER SUNK

Hokitika Guardian, 29 May 1928, Page 4

AIRPLANE CARRIER SUNK

MOCK BATTLE OFF GIBRALTAR. How one of Britain’s latest aircraft carriers behaved in a mock battle off Gibraltar, how it launched or took aboard thirty-five aircraft without a hitch, and how it fell a victim to four out of six torpedoes, loosed from attacking aircraft, are vividly described in dispatches received from London.

There is a sort of open fence pisloping palisade along the sides to prevent ’planes from slipping overhoard in the event of faulty landings and a small navigation bridge, which

is lowered flush with the flight deck when living is in progress. The carriers also have various wind screens of perforated steel, which are raised or lowered by the simple operation of n lever. Visitors also marvel at the means iby ,wh ic-l* .smoke, from the engines is discharged either from orifices aft in the flight deck, or through funnels ducts along the ship’s side, near the waterline. .She carries 1100 officers and men, including a Royal

Air Force personnel of about 120.

“Every man aboard,” says an eye witness of the mock battle, “seemed to know exactly what was required of him without fuss and bother. A young flying officer, with a, . rather bored expression, just raised his hand for the pilot to, start to cut off the engine. A bell tinkled, and up shot the lift with the aircraft from the hangar to the flight deck. Off she shot into the blue—completely air borne, after seemingly running only a few feet along the deck. “A string of 'fly-catchers’ shot into the air in quick succession from another flight deck beneath. Da its, carrying torpedoes, appeared on the deck, and quickly shot into the air. where they formed a V formation ami disappeared in the sky.

“Half an hour later, we were attacked., The engine room was called upon for an increased speed of from six to twenty-nine knots and hack again, imposing a tremendous strain on mail and machinery. Meanwhile the ship zigzagged, but torpedoes, dropped from flying aircraft. came faster. Of six fired four bit vital spots.

“Had it been real war, our own fighting machines and anti-aircraft fire might have offered protection. One never knows.” As each machine touched the deck on landing a squad of men dashed forward, grabbed it, and, within a few seconds,, the wings had been folded and it had been sent below by the elevator. “There was .lip hitch, no,, .Jiurry, throughout the Whole proceedings,” the eye witness concluded.