The third Ark Royal was commissioned in 1938 as a 23,000 ton Fleet Carrier, the second British ship conceived and designed as a flat top aircraft carrier.(HMS Hermes was the first 'flat top' aircraft carrier conceived in 1924.) At the outbreak of World War II, Ark Royal was attached to the Home Fleet, and during late 1939, and early 1940 Ark Royal returned to the Mediterranean and took part in many operations with Force H. In May 1941 Ark Royal and Force H left Gibraltar to intercept the Bismarck and Prince Eugen. On May 26 she flew off a striking force of torpedo aircraft which scored two hits crippling the Bismarck. On 13 November 1941, returning from an aircraft ferrying operation to Malta, the Ark Royal was torpedoed 30 miles from Gibraltar. Although she was taken in tow, the flooding could not be controlled and the following day she sank, 14 hours after being hit. Only one rating was lost of her complement of nearly 1600.
