HMS Furious: The Royal Navy's Battlecarrier?

Welcome to our latest deep dive into naval history! In this video, we'll be exploring the fascinating story of HMS Furious, a ship that underwent a remarkable transformation from a large light cruiser to a pioneering aircraft carrier, playing a pivotal role in the development of naval aviation for the Royal Navy.
Originally designed as part of Admiral Fisher's ambitious Baltic Project, HMS Furious was envisioned to be one of the key vessels capable of operating in shallow waters close to shore. However, with Fisher's departure as First Sea Lord in 1915, the Royal Navy needed to find a new purpose for these unconventional ships.
Due to various challenges, especially with her armament, HMS Furious became a prime candidate for conversion into an aircraft carrier. This decision marked a significant turning point in naval warfare, as it propelled the Royal Navy into the era of carrier-based aviation.
Throughout her career, HMS Furious underwent three major conversions to transform her into an aircraft carrier. The first conversion involved installing a flying-off platform forward, followed by another platform aft. Finally, in 1921, she underwent a more recognizable conversion, which saw her emerge as a fully functional aircraft carrier.
One of the most noteworthy moments in HMS Furious's history occurred in 1917 when Squadron Commander Edward Harris Dunning successfully executed the first deck landing by a naval pilot on an operational warship underway at sea. This milestone achievement demonstrated the feasibility of aircraft operations from carriers and paved the way for future innovations in naval aviation.
Despite initial challenges and limitations, HMS Furious continued to evolve, eventually becoming a crucial asset during World War II. She participated in numerous operations, including convoy escort duties, attacks on enemy shipping, and supporting Allied landings in various theaters of the war.
With each refit and upgrade, HMS Furious adapted to the changing demands of naval warfare. Her air group compositions varied over the years, reflecting advancements in aircraft technology and strategic priorities.
During Operation Pedestal in 1942, HMS Furious played a vital role in ferrying aircraft to Malta, demonstrating her endurance and versatility in extended operations. She continued to serve admirably until the end of the war, contributing to Allied efforts in the Atlantic, the Mediterranean, and the Arctic.
Following the war, HMS Furious saw further service in various capacities, including target practice and reserve fleet duties, before eventually being scrapped in 1954.
In this video, we've delved deep into the history of HMS Furious, from her origins as a large light cruiser to her transformation into a pioneering aircraft carrier. Through archival footage, expert analysis, and historical insights, we've uncovered the remarkable story of this iconic warship and its enduring legacy in naval history.
Intro 0:00
Background 0:26
4:43 First Conversion
6:14 The First Landing
9:11 The Second Conversion
10:55 The Third Conversion
14:48 Interwar and WW2 Service
Sources/Other Reading:
www.amazon.com/British-Battle...
www.amazon.com/British-Battle...
www.amazon.com/British-Battle...
www.amazon.com/British-Aircra...
Video Information:
Copyright fair use notice. All media used in this video is used for the purpose of education under the terms of fair use. All footage and images used belong to their copyright holders, when applicable.

[@ImportantHistory]

Thanks for watching everyone! kind of a remake (not really), I've done some videos on Furious in the past but I didn't like the quality so I wanted to do something better for my favorite Royal Navy large light cruiser/battlecruiser/battlecarrier/carrier :)

[@DaveSCameron]

And you have done a great job with this one too. If I could mention that we lost our grandfather on board HMS Celendine in 1943 so naturally anything related would be so much appreciated by us I can’t tell you how much, even if you were able to point us in a direction where I could research it further, websites or books or forums that may help us discover what happened and what journey it took place etc. anyway thanks again and keep in coming Sir.🇬🇧📚🇺🇸🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@ImportantHistory]

Give me some time to look into and I’ll be sure to get back to you!

[@DaveSCameron]

@@ImportantHistory oh there’s no rush and I’m grateful for your reply and best wishes to you and yours over the Pond.🙏🇺🇸☘️🇬🇧

[@harryjohnson9215]

From my research Fisher wanted more battlecruisers but the Admiralty didn't want to build any capital ships for a year So he came up with large light cruiser to get around it and the Admiralty fell for it I know you have a right to perfer to them as you please

[@harryjohnson9215]

My great grandad served on board HMS ILLUSTRIOUS as a aircraft engineer I also had family on :HMS HOOD, DUKE OF YORK AND HMS WARSPITE ( the same one who was on hood)

[@psymons9133]

my grandfather was chief engineer until he was retired in 1931. Thank you

[@happyhighway106]

#22 HMS Furious was a good test bed for new technology. First, starting with a 18 inch gun. Which proved bad! Secondly, a aircraft launch vessel, which showed possibilities. Third, a Aircraft Carrier, which proved the need for such vessels. As new aircraft emerged, she proved her need and was an experiment in progress that led to modern Aircraft Carriers. She proved herself as the "Great Experiment" which made the Aircraft Carrier a new Capital Ship. Thank You! Well Done! Carry On!

[@SennaAugustus]

The origins to large light cruiser: "I have just been having a long talk with the Chancellor of the Exchequer [Reginald McKenna]. He has agreed to our building light craft to any extent we can up to a light cruiser. The Chancellor did not say how big the light cruisers could be, so we will build two whoppers, with 15-inch guns, and speed enough to run any German light cruiser off the face of the ocean." - Fisher to 3rd Sea Lord Rear-Admiral Frederick Tudor. (Parliament decided they had enough of Fisher's battlecruiser addiction and forbade him to build more. The decision to avoid the term "battlecruiser" to describe the Courageous class is to get past this restriction.)

[@jameschenard1386]

I’m 56. Probably, roughly 35 years older than you. I first went down the naval history and technology rabbit hole when I was 10. I had a brief envelope of time after my interest was sparked, which I shared with 2 great uncles who served in the WWII U.S. navy; both were tin can sailors. One served predominantly in the Atlantic and one in the Pacific. I loved hearing their stories as much as they loved telling them to me. From my perspective, it’s a joy to see that there are individuals like yourself dedicated to not just the preservation of history and the sanctity of truth in history but also offering a new and honest lens on an 80 year old subject. Also, I never saw that picture of the 3 sisters together. If the rest of your video was pure pablum it still would have been worth it for that alone.

[@ImportantHistory]

Thanks for the comment and your kind word as always. I will say that your 35 year guess is spot on!

[@bigsarge2085]

I always thought this was a fascinating series of iterations.

[@paullaw1438]

Thank you for a well researched presentation (as always). Fisher’s innovative designs are often mocked as ‘flawed’. I think it is enlightening to regard them not from the perspective of ship types (cruiser/large cruiser/battle cruisers etc), but as responses to the rapid advances in technology during the period - especially radio and aircraft. Fisher’s concept of the ultra fast and heavily armed large cruiser was a response to the arrival of radio, which enabled the RN to dispatch forces against threats over great distances with extreme speed. Today we speak of rapid reaction forces and power projection. Fisher’s large cruisers were the vessels required for the task. The Battle of the Falklands demonstrated the soundness of the concept. From the perspective of ‘evolving mission’ there is a continuous and unbroken line from the launch of the first of Fisher’s ‘large cruisers’ to the 1918 raid on Tondern launched by the Furious.

[@hazchemel]

Thanks, and thank you for naming Sqr Ldr Dunning.

[@nigelmorroll3343]

As always another interesting video.

[@DaveSCameron]

Hey, another wonderfully researched piece and there’s something about your narration that makes you easy on the ear and don’t stop anytime soon please! #OurHistory 🎚️📚

[@ethanjacques-n9p-catch21luck7]

I like this video but this is one of my favorite ships

[@fiodarkliomin1112]

White elephant of admiral Fisher 😎

[@GM-fh5jp]

Very nice presentation and commentary. With technology advancing so rapidly at that time the engineers and warship designers were pretty much making things up as they went. Naval engine technology also advanced quickly, as did communications and aircraft etc. With long lead times on capital ships it must have been a nightmare trying to anticipate and plan for ships that if not well thought out, could be obsolescent before they joined the fleet.

[@DieWitness]

sounds like Fisher was trying to pull a swifty on the British Navy However I've seen her called that in books

[@usernamesreprise4068]

I was hoping you would have shown the pic of the old Furybucket as her crew fondly knicknamed her ( including my grand father who served aboard her from 1937 till she was paid off) when she was conducting makeshift trials using the worlds first ski ramp made aboard her by her own crew out of stout timber's, in the pic I'm referring to a Fairy Barracuda is seen taking off using the ramp during a sea trial.

[@dragonmaster3030]

Is this the royal navy equivalent of the Alaska, a giant mish mash of design concepts

[@RayyMusik]

There‘s nothing wrong about using the official designation ‘large light cruiser‘. They were underarmed and underarmored even in comparison with battlecruisers.

[@givenfirstnamefamilyfirstn3935]

Was the armour even enough to protect from destroyer fire?

[@givenfirstnamefamilyfirstn3935]

Reversed left to right photos are especially inappropriate with Aircraft Carriers. You show the island moved to the Port Side in the American refit picture at time 18:20. That could have been *_corrected_* in a few seconds of photo editing.

[@ImportantHistory]

Thanks for the comment, I’ll take it into consideration for future videos.

[@daria_morgandorffer5768]

She was sunk while doing hunter killer work? How did they refloat her!?

[@givenfirstnamefamilyfirstn3935]

Oh no she wasn’t !

[@daria_morgandorffer5768]

@@givenfirstnamefamilyfirstn3935 ok I must have misunderstood! I’m so sorry!

[@givenfirstnamefamilyfirstn3935]

Courageous was lost doing anti-submarine operations. Sorry for being _‘smart’._

[@Bismarck.1871]

A term created for political reasons. These ships were battlecruisers, just not well designed. Gun caliber was larger than in most battleships and speed far superior. On the downside armor was lacking and the number of barrels too few. Still, that doesn’t take away from what they were.