The British Aircraft Carrier in Two World Wars

320 pages

Dr James Bosbotinis

The first of two volumes (the second – The British Aircraft Carrier: the Cold War and Beyond will be published in May 2026), The British Aircraft Carrier in Two World Wars sets out to provide a highly detailed history of the development of the aircraft carrier from its origins in the First World War through to the end of the Second World War. The author, Norman Friedman, will of course be well-known to members of The Naval Review, and as would be expected, his encyclopaedic knowledge is vividly demonstrated in this book. Friedman ably provides a richly detailed discussion of the development of carrier airpower, from the strategic level (responding to the evolving global environment, the impact of arms control processes in the 1920s and 1930s) through to balancing the various competing requirements that determine ship design.

The implications of Royal Air Force control over maritime aviation – both ship-based and Coastal Command – is discussed as are economic constraints. Friedman highlights, with regard to the crisis with Italy in 1935/36, that “The surprise was that war could come far more suddenly than British policy-makers had imagined. It had been assumed that there would be a period of obviously deteriorating relations with a possible enemy, during which the British lack of war preparations could be made good.” The differences in approach between the US and Royal Navies to carrier operations are also discussed, covering such issues as deck parks, armoured flight decks, HMS Victorious’ period in service as USS Robin, and a US Navy report on Victorious. The book follows a broadly chronological approach, although the first two chapters – ‘The Royal Navy and the Aircraft Carrier’ and ‘Carriers and Their `Aircraft’ provide overviews encompassing the whole period covered. The subsequent chapters – ‘Beginnings’, ‘The Treaty World’, ‘Treaty Carriers’, ‘Armoured Carriers’, ‘The War Programme’, ‘The Future Building Committee and the 1943 Carriers’, and ‘Trade Protection’ chart the debates, design processes and service lives of the carriers built through to the end of the Second World War, including incorporating experience learned during the war itself. This is particularly with respect to the lessons learned from the loss of HMS Ark Royal, aircraft developments, and US practice (such as the US open hangar versus a closed hangar for the planned Malta-class).

The British Aircraft Carrier in Two World Wars is a deeply-researched book, providing a highly detailed analysis of the development of British carrier airpower from the First World War through to the Second World War, and the foundations for its post-war evolution. Alongside the text, there is an excellent selection of photos with detailed captions, ship schematics, including a colour section. The book also includes endnotes, a bibliography, ship list, and ship data section. The text is well-written with very few minor typos, but given the density of information, it may be challenging to the lay reader. For those with an interest in the history of the Royal Navy, and particularly carrier airpower, The British Aircraft Carrier in Two World Wars will provide an invaluable reference and will greatly appeal. It is certainly recommended.