The Ship that wasn't a Ship

The HMS Sparrowhawk enjoyed the distinction of being the first aircraft carrier to launch an air attack that sank an enemy ship.  But she wasn't an aircraft carrier.  She wasn't even a ship.

At the time, she was known as RNAS Hatston.  Today, it's an industrial park on Mainland Island in the Scottish Orkneys, a bit north of Scapa Flow.  But at the time she was affectionately known by pilots as the HMS Sparrowhawk.
Fairey Swordfish torpedo planes taxi onboard the HMS Sparrowhawk





















On April 10, 1940, two squadrons of Skua dive bomber/torpedo planes took off from the Sparrowhawk toward Bergen, Norway.  In port was the DKM Konigsberg.

The Konigsberg was laid up in Bergen after being damaged by Norwegian coastal artillery during the initial attack on the city.  The Skuas were merely playing cleanup.
While unsinkable, the Sparrowhawk had an unfortunate, very low speed which prevented her from being of further use in the Norwegian campaign as the Skuas were at the very limits of their range for the Bergen attack.  Nevertheless, she continued to provide air cover for the vital Royal Navy base at Scapa Flow.

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