1941 HMS Ark Royal on patrol

January 9, 1941. British Movietone News. January 9, 1941. This newsreel shows the Ark Royal on patrol in the Western Mediterranean. Although not claimed in the video, I have guesstimated this to be film coverage of the Battle of Cape Spartivento from 27 November 1940. This is based upon the presence of the HMS Berwick - the only British county-class cruiser in the Mediterranean at this time (time frame 0:33-0:38 in the foreground)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Cape_Spartivento

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• HMS
• Ark
• Royal
• British
• Mediterranean
• Fleet
• Convoys
• Berwick
• Italian
• Swordfish
• Aircraft
• 1941
• Cape
• Spartivento

[fairclought7]

would that be the old Renown at 0:39. could be Repulse but she was with force Z near singapore in 1941 where of course she was sunk by the japs with P.O.W.

[skoblinI]

Not sure, but I believe that is the HMS Berwick at 0:35 with three funnels.

[ALMC04]

Very interesting, thanks for the Battle link.

[skoblinI]

No probs :)

[studentjohn36]

Actually, Repulse went right to her end with the original 1917 bridgework (albeit with various add-on modifications) and only Renown got the big box tower in her major refit. So it's Renown in this footage.

[fairclought7]

from 0:42 to about 0:53 you get a better look at her, the 3 turrets mean she's a battlecruiser and the british tower design of the bridge structure would also suggest a capital ship so from what i can work out she could only be the Renown or Repulse, more likely the Renown as you know Repulse was sunk in 41..