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HMS Argus 149
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HMS Argus 149
Royal Navy - HMS Argus 149, an aircraft carrier, seen in March 1939. Argus served from 1918 to 1944. After commissioning, the ship was involved for several years in the development of the optimum design for other aircraft carriers. Argus also evaluated various types of arresting gear, general procedures needed to operate a number of aircraft in concert and fleet tactics. She spent one brief deployment on the China Station in the late 1920s before being placed in reserve for budgetary reasons. Argus was recommissioned and partially modernised shortly before the Second World War and served as a training ship for deck-landing practice until June 1940. The following month she made the first of her many ferry trips to the Western Mediterranean to fly off fighters to Malta. The ship also delivered aircraft to Murmansk in Russia, Takoradi on the Gold Coast, and Reykjavik in Iceland. By 1942, the Royal Navy was very short of aircraft carriers and Argus was pressed into front-line service despite her lack of speed and armament. In June, she participated in Operation Harpoon, providing air cover for the Malta-bound convoy. In November, the ship provided air cover during Operation Torch, the invasion of French North Africa and was slightly damaged by a bomb. After returning to the UK for repairs, Argus was used again for deck-landing practice until late September 1944. In December, she became an accommodation ship and was listed for disposal in mid-1946. Argus was sold in late 1946 and scrapped the following year. Date: 1939
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Media ID 32374428
© The Peter Butt Aviation Collection / Mary Evans Picture Library
1942 1944 1946 Accommodation Argus Armament Arresting Bomb Carrier Carriers Commissioning Concert Convoy Damaged Delivered Deployment Development Disposal Evaluated Ferry Fighters Front Line Gear Harpoon Iceland Invasion Involved Lack Listed Malta Mediterranean Modernised Month Needed Operate Operation Partially Participated Practice Pressed Procedures Provided Providing Reasons Repairs Reserve Returning Reykjavik Scrapped Served Shortly Slightly Sold Speed Spent Tactics Torch Trips Years December Fleet Made Murmansk Short Year
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HMS Argus 149: A Historic Vessel in the Royal Navy's Aviation History This photograph showcases HMS Argus 149, an iconic aircraft carrier of the Royal Navy, as it appeared in March 1939. Commissioned in 1918, Argus played a pivotal role in the development of the optimum design for subsequent aircraft carriers, testing various types of arresting gear and evaluating procedures for operating multiple aircraft in unison. Argus spent a brief deployment on the China Station in the late 1920s before being placed in reserve due to budgetary constraints. Recommissioned and partially modernized prior to World War II, Argus served as a training vessel for deck-landing practice until June 1940. In July 1940, Argus embarked on her first of many ferry trips to the Western Mediterranean, delivering fighters to Malta. She also provided essential aircraft to Murmansk in Russia, Takoradi on the Gold Coast, and Reykjavik in Iceland. As the Royal Navy grew increasingly short of aircraft carriers during World War II, Argus was pressed into front-line service despite her lack of speed and armament. In June 1942, she participated in Operation Harpoon, providing crucial air cover for the Malta-bound convoy. Later that year, during Operation Torch, the invasion of French North Africa, Argus provided air cover and sustained slight damage from a bomb. After returning to the UK for repairs, Argus was once again employed for deck-landing practice until late September 1944. In December, she was converted into an accommodation ship and was listed for disposal in mid-1946. HMS Argus 149 was sold in late 1946 and ultimately scrapped the following year. This photograph is part of The Peter Butt Aviation Collection from Mary Evans Prints Online, offering a unique glimpse into the history of this remarkable vessel and its significant contributions to the Royal Navy's aviation legacy.
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