The Arks Royal Online Quiz | U.K. Military

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The first flat-top aircraft carrier to carry the name Ark Royal was laid down in 1935 at which shipyard?

Answer: Cammell Laird

The third ship to be named Ark Royal was laid down in September 1935, launched in April 1937 and commissioned in December 1938.

2. In October 1939, Ark Royal deployed as part of the search for which German surface warship?

Answer: Admiral Graf Spee

A large force of British warships, including Ark Royal, was ordered to engage in the hunt for the Admiral Graf Spee but, before they could encounter the German ship, it was scuttled in Montevideo harbour in December 1939.

3. In June 1940, Ark Royal was deployed to the Mediterranean as part of Force H. Which capital ship served as the flagship of this formation?

Answer: HMS Hood

Hood served alongside Ark Royal as part of Force H until August 1940 when she was ordered back to the UK. Hood was subsequently lost during an engagement with the German battleship Bismarck in May 1941.

4. In May 1941 Ark Royal, along with the rest of Force H, were ordered to try and intercept and slow the German battleship Bismarck. What type of aircraft were flown from Ark Royal to accomplish this?

Answer: Fairey Swordfish

The Swordfish, also known as the "Stringbag", was the Fleet Air Arm's standard torpedo bomber in the first years of the Second World War. Flying from HMS Illustrious, the Swordfish had crippled a large proportion of the Italian fleet at Taranto in October 1940, while Swordfish from Ark Royal successfully damaged the Bismarck, enabling battleships of the Royal Navy to finally sink the German ship.

5. In November 1941, Ark Royal was returning to Gibraltar when it was sunk by a torpedo fired by which German U-boat?

Answer: U-81

Although the damage to Ark Royal caused by the torpedo strike was severe, in the hours after being struck it was believed that the ship could be saved. However, the flooding that had resulted from the large hole in the hull caused a list that was too great to correct, and therefore Ark Royal had to be abandoned. She sank just under seventeen hours after being struck by the torpedo.

6. In 1943, a new Ark Royal was laid down at Cammell Laird shipyard. Launched in 1950, when was the new ship eventually commissioned?

Answer: 1955

The fourth ship to bear the name, the new Ark Royal took a total of almost five years to complete following its launch, to take advantage of the latest advancements in aircraft carrier technology, including steam catapults, angled flight deck and mirror landing sight.

7. In March 1966, Ark Royal participated in the Beira Patrol, a mission to enforce sanctions of oil imports against which southern African nation?

Answer: Rhodesia

The Beira Patrol was established to ensure that the government of Rhodesia, which had unilaterally declared independence from Britain in 1965, was unable to import oil through the Mozambique port of Beira, in defiance of United Nations sanctions.

8. In 1967, Ark Royal began a major refit that was intended to allow it to operate which American built aircraft?

Answer: F-4 Phantom

The Phantom was procured to serve as the new fleet air defence fighter for the Royal Navy, and was intended to operate from two modified carriers, and two brand new carriers. In the event, defence cuts meant that Ark Royal was the only British aircraft carrier to operate the type.

9. In 1976, Ark Royal was the subject of a BBC television documentary series, one of the first to show everyday life aboard a warship of the Royal Navy. Its theme tune was a song by which popular artist?

Answer: Rod Stewart

"Sailor" was shot and broadcast during the year of Ark Royal's 21st birthday, and featured the ship on a major six-month deployment, that took in a visit to the United States for the country's bicentennial.

10. In 1978, Ark Royal was finally decommissioned, having been the last conventional aircraft carrier in the Royal Navy. Having been stripped of usable equipment, to which Scottish port was she towed to be broken up for scrap?

Answer: Cairnryan

Cairnryan was a significant centre for ship breaking in the United Kingdom, and a number of major British warships had been broken up there over the years, including Ark Royal's sister ship, Eagle.

11. The new Ark Royal was laid down at the Swan Hunter shipyard in the same month as her predecessor was decommissioned, but she had been given a different name when ordered. What was the ship originally to be called?

Answer: Indomitable

As the third of the Invincible class of light aircraft carrier, the new ship was planned to be named Indomitable to tie in with the names of her sisters, Invincible and Illustrious. However, the public disappointment over the decommissioning of Ark Royal in 1978 led to the Royal Navy electing to rename the new ship prior to it being laid down.

12. In 1993, Ark Royal was deployed to her first major combat mission, when she was tasked with taking part in Operation GRAPPLE, the UK response to the crisis in which South-East European country?

Answer: Bosnia-Herzegovina

Ark Royal was initially deployed on operations in support of British forces in Bosnia in January 1993, and alternated these duties with her sister Invincible until August 1994, when preparations began for the ship to enter extended readiness.

13. In March 2003, a pair of helicopters from Ark Royal collided in mid-air during operations in the Persian Gulf. What type of helicopter were they?

Answer: Sea King

The two Sea kings of 849 Naval Air Squadron collided while operating during Ark Royal's deployment as part of Operation Telic, the UK's participation in the 2003 invasion of Iraq. All six crew members on the two helicopters, plus a US Navy observer were killed.

14. Although originally intended to be retained in service until 2016, in the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review it was announced that Ark Royal would be decommissioned immediately. Who was the UK Prime Minister that made the announcement?

Answer: David Cameron

The 2010 SDSR not only saw the withdrawal of Ark Royal, but also the retirement of the Harrier aircraft that operated from her. This meant that the Royal Navy would not operate fixed wing aircraft at sea for a decade until the commissioning of HMS Queen Elizabeth, the first of a new class of aircraft carrier intended to replace the Invincible class, which would eventually use the new F-35B Lightning.

15. On 20 May 2013, Ark Royal was towed from Portsmouth for the last time on her way to be broken up for scrap, but to which country was she taken on her final voyage?

Answer: Turkey

The port of Aliaga in western Turkey has seen a large number of Royal Navy ships arrive for breaking up in the 21st century, including all three Invincible class carriers.

Source: Author Red_John

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor stedman before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

The Arks Royal Trivia Quiz

Ark Royal is possibly the most famous name in the Royal Navy. How much do you know about the three true aircraft carriers to have borne the name?

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