Armament and Aircraft
Ark Royal's armament was designed with anti-aircraft warfare in mind, as aircraft were expected to be the main threat; ships and submarines could be outrun or dealt with by escorts. Her main armament was sixteen quick-firing 4.5 in (110 mm) dual purpose guns in eight double turrets, four on each side of the hull, controlled by four Directors using the High Angle Control System. The original design placed the turrets low on the hull, but was later altered to locate them just below the flight deck, which increased each turret's field of fire. Six 8-barrelled 2-pounder (40 mm (1.57 in)) "pom-pom" guns were located on the flight deck, in front of and behind the superstructure island, while eight 4-barrelled .50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns were installed on small projecting platforms to the front and rear of the flight deck.
Sixteen Fleet Air Arm squadrons were posted aboard Ark Royal during her career; an average of five squadrons at any time. On entering service, most of Ark Royal's squadrons were equipped with either Blackburn Skuas—used as fighters and dive bombers—or Fairey Swordfish, for reconnaissance and torpedo bombing. From April 1940, squadrons equipped with Skuas were upgraded to Fairey Fulmars; like their predecessors, these were used as fighters and bombers. On occasion, the carrier operated Blackburn Roc fighter-bombers (from April 1939 – October 1940) and Fairey Albacore torpedo bombers (during October 1941); these were replacement aircraft used to boost squadron numbers. In June 1940, Ark Royal was host to 701 Naval Air Squadron, a training squadron which operated Supermarine Walrus reconnaissance amphibians.
| Squadron | Aircraft operated | Embarked (from – to) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 800 | Blackburn Skua Mk. II | January 1939 – April 1941 | Transferred to Victorious |
| 810 | Fairey Swordfish Mk. I | January 1939 – March 1941 May – September 1941 |
Aboard Illustrious from March – May 1941 |
| 820 | Fairey Swordfish Mk. I | January 1939 – June 1941 | – |
| 821 | Fairey Swordfish Mk. I | January 1939 – April 1940 | Removed from operational service following losses against Scharnhorst |
| 803 | Blackburn Skua Mk. II Blackburn Roc Mk. I |
April 1939 – October 1940 | – |
| 818 | Fairey Swordfish Mk. I | August – October 1939 June – July 1940 |
Operated from Furious and land bases between October 1939 and June 1940 |
| 801 | Blackburn Skua Mk. II | April – May 1940 | Transferred to Furious |
| 807 | Fairey Fulmar Mk. II | April 1940 – November 1941 | Embarked at sinking |
| 701 | Supermarine Walrus Mk. I | June 1940 | Training squadron |
| 808 | Fairey Fulmar Mk. II | September 1940 – November 1941 | Embarked at sinking |
| 821X | Fairey Swordfish Mk. I | December 1940 – January 1941 | Flight assembled from 821 Squadron survivors, later absorbed into 815 Squadron |
| 800Y | Fairey Fulmar Mk. I | June 1941 | Flight from 800 Squadron |
| 825 | Fairey Swordfish Mk. I | June – November 1941 | Embarked at sinking |
| 816 | Fairey Swordfish Mk. I | July – November 1941 | Embarked at sinking |
| 812 | Fairey Swordfish Mk. I | September – November 1941 | Embarked at sinking |
| 828 | Fairey Swordfish Mk. I Fairey Albacore Mk. I |
October 1941 | Redeployed to Malta |
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