HMS Argus (I49)
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HMS_Argus_(1917).jpg
HMS Argus was initially laid down in 1914 in Glasgow as the Italian ocean liner Conte Rosso. However, before she was launched, she was purchased by the Royal Navy for conversion into an aircraft carrier. She was the first ship in the world to have a completely unobstructed upper deck upon which conventional aircraft could take off and land, setting the pattern for all future vessels of her type.
Argus was launched December 2 1917 and was commissioned September 6 1918, just before the end of the First World War. Because of her small size (approx 14,500 tonnes) and relatively slow speed, she was of limited use as a combat vessel. Instead, she was used primarily to develop the techniques of aircraft carrier combat and train aviators in the operation of aircraft at sea. At the end of the 1920s, having been superseded by larger and more modern vessels, she was removed from the front line force and used as a training carrier.
Argus initially served in a training role at the beginning of the Second World War, but the significant losses suffered by the Royal Navy in the first years of the war (between 1939-41, Courageous, Glorious and Ark Royal were sunk, while Illustrious was heavily damaged) led to Argus being recalled to front line service, most notably with Force H in the Mediterranean, in support of the Allied landings in North Africa in 1942. In 1943, she was returned to her training role, before going into reserve. She was sold for scrap in 1946.
See HMS Argus for other Navy ships of this name.de:HMS Argus ja:アーガス (空母)