View source for HMS Glorious

{{Short description|Royal Navy aircraft carrier sunk in WWII}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=HMS Glorious FL22991.jpg
|Ship caption=''Glorious'' after her conversion into an [[aircraft carrier]]
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country=United Kingdom
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|United Kingdom|naval}}
|Ship name=''Glorious''
|Ship ordered=14 March 1915
|Ship awarded=
|Ship builder=[[Harland and Wolff]], [[Belfast]]
|Ship yard number=482–484
|Ship identification=[[Pennant number]]: 77
|Ship laid down=1 May 1915
|Ship launched=20 April 1916
|Ship completed=31 December 1916
|Ship christened=
|Ship original cost=[[pound sterling|£]]1,967,223
|Ship commissioned=January 1917
|Ship reclassified=Converted to [[aircraft carrier]], 1924–1930
|Ship nickname=''Laborious''
|Ship fate=Sunk by {{ship|German battleship|Scharnhorst||2}} and {{ship|German battleship|Gneisenau||2}}, 8 June 1940
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=(as battlecruiser)
|Ship class={{sclass|Courageous|battlecruiser}}
|Ship displacement=*{{convert|19180|LT|t|0|lk=on}} normal
* {{convert|22360|LT|t|0}} ([[deep load]])
|Ship length={{convert|786|ft|9|in|m|abbr=on|1}} ([[Length overall|o/a]])
|Ship beam={{convert|81|ft|m|abbr=on|1}}
|Ship draught={{convert|25|ft|10|in|m|abbr=on|1}}
|Ship power=*18 [[Yarrow boiler]]s
* {{cvt|90000|shp|0|lk=on}}
|Ship propulsion=4 shafts; 4 geared [[steam turbine]]s
|Ship speed={{convert|32|kn|lk=in}}
|Ship range={{convert|6000|nmi|abbr=on|lk=in}} at {{convert|20|kn}}
|Ship complement=842 officers and men
|Ship armament=*2 × twin [[BL 15 inch Mk I naval gun|15&nbsp;in (381&nbsp;mm) guns]]
* 6 × triple [[BL 4 inch Mk IX naval gun|4&nbsp;in (102&nbsp;mm) guns]]
* 2 × single [[QF 3-inch 20 cwt|3&nbsp;in (76&nbsp;mm)]] [[AA gun]]s
* 2 × [[British 21 inch torpedo|{{cvt|21|in|mm|0}}]] [[torpedo tube]]s
|Ship armour=*[[Belt armor|Belt]]: {{convert|2|-|3|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
* [[Deck (ship)|Deck]]s: {{convert|.75|-|3|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
* [[Barbette]]s: {{convert|3|-|7|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
* [[Gun turret|Turrets]]: {{convert|7|-|9|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
* [[Conning tower]]: {{convert|10|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=(as aircraft carrier)
|Ship class={{sclass|Courageous|aircraft carrier}}
|Ship displacement=*{{convert|24970|LT|t}} (normal)
* {{convert|27419|LT|t}} (deep load)
|Ship length=*{{convert|735|ft|1.5|in|m|1|abbr=on}} ([[Length between perpendiculars|p/p]])
* {{convert|786|ft|9|in|m|1|abbr=on}} (o/a)
|Ship beam={{convert|90|ft|6|in|m|1|abbr=on}} (at [[waterline]])
|Ship draught={{convert|27.75|ft|m|1|abbr=on}}
|Ship speed={{convert|30|kn}}
|Ship range={{convert|5860|nmi|abbr=on}} at {{convert|16|kn}}
|Ship complement=793 + 490 air group (1931)
|Ship armament=16 × single [[QF 4.7 inch Mk VIII naval gun|4.7&nbsp;in (120&nbsp;mm)]] [[DP gun]]s
|Ship armour=*[[Belt armor|Belt]]: {{convert|2|-|3|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
* [[Deck (ship)|Deck]]s: {{convert|.75|-|1|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
* [[Bulkhead (partition)|Bulkhead]]: {{convert|2|-|3|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
|Ship aircraft=48
}}
|}

'''HMS ''Glorious''''' was the second of the three {{sclass|Courageous|battlecruiser}}s built for the [[Royal Navy during the First World War]]. Designed to support the [[Baltic Project]] championed by the [[First Sea Lord]], Lord [[John Fisher, 1st Baron Fisher|Fisher]], they were relatively lightly armed and armoured. ''Glorious'' was completed in late 1916 and spent the war patrolling the [[North Sea]]. She participated in the [[Second Battle of Heligoland Bight]] in November 1917 and was present when the German [[High Seas Fleet]] surrendered a year later.

''Glorious'' was [[paid off]] after the war, but was rebuilt as an [[aircraft carrier]] during the late 1920s. She could carry 30 per cent more aircraft than her [[sister ship|half-sister]] {{HMS|Furious|47|2}} which had a similar tonnage. After [[Ship commissioning|re-commissioning]] in 1930, she spent most of her career operating in the [[Mediterranean Sea]]. After the start of the [[Second World War]] in 1939, ''Glorious'' spent the rest of the year hunting for the [[commerce raider|commerce-raiding]] {{ship|German cruiser|Admiral Graf Spee}} in the [[Indian Ocean]] before returning to the Mediterranean. She was recalled home in April 1940 to support [[Norwegian Campaign|operations in Norway]]. While evacuating British aircraft from Norway in June, the ship was sunk by the German [[battleship]]s {{ship|German battleship|Scharnhorst||2}} and {{ship|German battleship|Gneisenau||2}} in the North Sea with the loss of over 1,200 lives.

== Design and description ==
[[File:HMS Glorious (1917) profile drawing.png|thumb|left|Three-view drawing as completed in 1917]]
During the First World War, [[Admiral]] Fisher was prevented from ordering an improved version of the preceding {{sclass|Renown|battlecruiser|2}}s by a wartime restriction that banned construction of ships larger than light cruisers. To obtain ships suitable for traditional battlecruiser roles, such as scouting for fleets and hunting enemy raiders, he settled on a design with the minimal armour of a [[light cruiser]] and the armament of a battlecruiser. He justified their existence by claiming he needed fast, shallow-draught ships for his Baltic Project, a plan to invade Germany via its Baltic coast.<ref name=b03>Burt 1986, p. 303</ref><ref>Roberts, pp. 50–51</ref>

''Glorious'' had an [[length overall|overall length]] of {{convert|786|ft|9|in|m|1}}, a [[beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|81|ft|m|1}}, and a [[draft (ship)|draught]] of {{convert|25|ft|10|in|m|1}} at [[deep load]]. She displaced {{convert|19180|LT|t}} at load and {{convert|22560|LT|t|0}} at deep load.<ref name=r65>Roberts, pp. 64–65</ref> ''Glorious'' and her [[sister ship|sisters]] were the first large warships in the Royal Navy to have geared [[steam turbine]]s. The [[Parsons Marine Steam Turbine Company|Parsons]] turbines were powered by eighteen [[Yarrow boiler]]s. During the ship's abbreviated [[sea trial]]s, she reached {{convert|31.42|kn|lk=in}}.<ref>Roberts, pp. 71, 76, 79</ref> The ship was designed to normally carry {{convert|750|LT|t}} of [[fuel oil]], but could carry a maximum of {{convert|3160|LT|t}}. At full capacity, she could steam for an estimated {{convert|6000|nmi|-1}} at {{convert|20|knots}}.<ref name=b06>Burt 1986, p. 306</ref>

''Glorious'' carried four [[BL 15 inch Mk I naval gun|BL 15-inch (381&nbsp;mm) Mark I]] guns in two twin-[[gun turret]]s, one each fore ('A') and aft ('Y'). Her secondary armament was 18 [[BL 4 inch Mk IX naval gun|BL 4-inch (102&nbsp;mm) Mark IX guns]] mounted in six triple mounts.<ref name=b06/> These mounts had the three [[Breech-loading weapon|breeches]] too close together and the 23 loaders tended to interfere with one another. This negated the mount's intended high rate of fire against [[torpedo boat]]s and other smaller craft.<ref>Burt 1986, p. 294</ref> A pair of [[QF 3-inch 20 cwt|QF 3-inch (76&nbsp;mm) 20 cwt]]<ref group=Note>"Cwt" is the abbreviation for [[hundredweight]], 30 cwt referring to the weight of the gun.</ref> [[Anti-aircraft warfare|anti-aircraft]] guns were fitted abreast of the [[mainmast]] on ''Glorious''. She mounted two submerged [[torpedo tube|tubes]] for [[British 21 inch torpedo|21-inch torpedoes]] and 10 torpedoes were carried.<ref name=b06/>

== First World War ==
[[File:The Royal Navy during the First World War Q18130.jpg|thumb|''Glorious'' at anchor during the First World War]]
''Glorious''' [[keel]] was [[laid down]] on 1 May 1915 by [[Harland and Wolff]] at their [[Belfast]] shipyard. She was [[Ceremonial ship launching|launched]] on 20 April 1916 and completed on 14 October<ref>Roberts, p. 63</ref> at a cost of [[pound sterling|£]]1,967,223.<ref>Burt 1986, p. 307</ref> During her sea trials the following month, her sister ''Courageous'' sustained structural damage while running at full speed in a rough [[head sea]] and had the damaged areas stiffened shortly afterwards to prevent a recurrence.<ref>Burt 1986, pp. 309, 313</ref> ''Glorious'' did not suffer similar damage and did not receive her stiffening until 1918.<ref>Roberts, p. 54</ref> Upon commissioning, ''Courageous'' served with the [[3rd Light Cruiser Squadron]] of the [[Grand Fleet]]. After most of the [[1st Cruiser Squadron]] was sunk at the [[Battle of Jutland]], the squadron was re-formed with ''Courageous'' and ''Glorious''.<ref name=p21>Parkes, p. 621</ref> ''Glorious'' received six twin-tube torpedo mounts in mid-1917: one mount on each side of the mainmast on the upper deck and two mounts on each side of 'Y' turret on the [[quarterdeck]].<ref>McBride, p. 109</ref><ref name=b14>Burt 1986, p. 314</ref>

On 16 October 1917 the Admiralty received word of German ship movements, possibly indicating some sort of raid. Admiral [[David Beatty, 1st Earl Beatty|Beatty]], commander of the Grand Fleet, ordered most of his light cruisers and [[destroyer]]s to sea in an effort to locate the enemy ships. ''Courageous'' and ''Glorious'' were not initially ordered to sea, but were sent to reinforce the [[2nd Light Cruiser Squadron]] patrolling the central part of the [[North Sea]] later that day.<ref>Newbolt, pp. 150–151</ref> Two German {{sclass|Brummer|cruiser|0}} light cruisers slipped through the gaps in the British patrols and destroyed a [[convoy]] bound for Norway during the morning of 17 October, but the British warships received no word of the engagement until that afternoon. The 1st Cruiser Squadron was ordered to intercept, but was unsuccessful as the German cruisers were faster than expected.<ref>Newbolt, pp. 156–157</ref>

=== Second Battle of Heligoland Bight ===
{{Main|Second Battle of Heligoland Bight}}
Throughout 1917 the Admiralty was becoming more concerned about German efforts to sweep paths through the British-laid minefields intended to restrict the actions of the [[High Seas Fleet]] and German [[submarine]]s. A preliminary raid on German minesweeping forces on 31 October by light forces destroyed 10 small ships and the Admiralty decided on a larger operation to destroy the [[minesweeper (ship)|minesweeper]]s and their light cruiser escorts. Based on intelligence reports, the Admiralty allocated the 1st Cruiser Squadron on 17 November 1917, with cover provided by the reinforced [[1st Battlecruiser Squadron (United Kingdom)|1st Battlecruiser Squadron]] and distant cover by the battleships of the [[1st Battle Squadron]].<ref>Newbolt, pp. 164–165</ref>

The German ships, four light cruisers of II Scouting Force, eight destroyers, three divisions of minesweepers, eight ''sperrbrecher'' (cork-filled [[naval trawler|trawler]]s) and two trawlers to mark the swept route, were spotted at 7:30&nbsp;am,<ref group=Note>The times used in this section are in [[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]], which is one hour behind [[Central European Time|CET]], which is often used in German works.</ref> silhouetted by the rising sun. ''Courageous'' and the light cruiser {{HMS|Cardiff|D58|2}} opened fire with their forward guns seven minutes later. The Germans responded by laying a [[smoke screen]] and this made spotting targets very difficult. The British continued in pursuit, but lost track of most of the smaller ships in the smoke and concentrated fire on the light cruisers as opportunity permitted. One 15-inch shell hit a gun shield of {{SMS|Pillau}}, but it did not affect her speed. At 8:33 the left-hand gun in ''Glorious''{{'}}s forward turret was wrecked when a shell detonated inside the gun barrel. At 9:30 the 1st Cruiser Squadron broke off their pursuit to avoid a minefield marked on their maps. The ships turned south, playing no further role in the battle.<ref>McBride, pp. 110–112</ref> ''Glorious'' required five days of repairs to fix damage caused by premature detonation and her own [[muzzle blast]].<ref>McBride, p. 115</ref> She fired 57 15-inch and 213 four-inch shells during the engagement.<ref>Campbell 1978, p. 66</ref>

[[File:HMS Glorious - Battlecruiser.JPG|thumb|left|''Glorious'' in 1918]]
''Glorious'' received [[Flight deck#Early|flying-off platforms]] on top of her turrets in 1918. A [[Sopwith Camel]] was carried on the rear turret and a [[Sopwith 1½ Strutter]] on the forward turret.<ref>Campbell 1978, p. 67</ref> On 5 November 1918, ''Glorious'' was anchored off [[Burntisland]] in the [[Firth of Forth]] together with the [[seaplane tender]] {{HMS|Campania|1914|2}} and the [[battleship]] {{HMS|Royal Oak|08|2}} when a sudden [[Beaufort scale|Force 10]] [[squall]] caused ''Campania'' to drag her [[anchor]] and collide first with ''Royal Oak'' and then with ''Glorious''. Both ''Royal Oak'' and ''Glorious'' suffered only minor damage, but ''Campania'' was holed by her collision with ''Royal Oak''. ''Campania''′s [[engine room]]s flooded, and she settled by the stern and sank five hours later without loss of life.<ref>{{citation| last= Admiralty |title= ADM156/90: Board of Enquiry into sinking of HMS Campania |publisher= HMSO |year=1918}}</ref>

''Glorious'' was present at the surrender of the German High Seas Fleet on 21 November 1918.<ref name=b14/> She was placed in [[Reserve fleet|reserve]] at [[Rosyth]], Scotland, on 1 February 1919 and served as a turret drill ship, being also [[flagship]] of the [[Rear-Admiral (Royal Navy)|rear-admiral]] commanding the [[HMNB Devonport|Devonport]] Reserve between 1921 and 1922.<ref>Burt 1993, p. 315</ref>

== Conversion ==
[[File:HMS Glorious FL22991.jpg|thumb|''Glorious'' at anchor, 1935; the doors to the lower hangar deck are open]]
The [[Washington Naval Treaty]] of 1922 limited the amount of [[capital ship]] tonnage and the Royal Navy was forced to scrap many of its older battleships and battlecruisers. However up to {{convert|66000|LT|t|0}} of existing ships could be converted into aircraft carriers, for which the ''Courageous''-class ships' large hulls and high speeds made them ideal candidates. ''Glorious'' began her conversion at Rosyth in 1924, and was towed to Devonport where she was completed on 24 February 1930. During the ship's post-conversion sea trials, she reached {{convert|29.47|kn}}.<ref>Burt 1993, pp. 273, 284–285</ref> Her 15-inch turrets were placed into storage and later reused during the [[World War II|Second World War]] for {{HMS|Vanguard|23|2}}, the world's last battleship to be built.<ref>Raven and Roberts, p. 321</ref>

Her new design improved on her half-sister {{HMS|Furious|47|2}} which lacked an [[Glossary of nautical terms (A-L)#island|island]] and a conventional [[funnel (ship)|funnel]]. All [[superstructure]], guns, torpedo tubes, and fittings down to the main deck were removed. A two-storey [[hangar]], each level {{convert|16|ft|1}} high and {{convert|550|ft|m|1}} long, was built on top of the remaining hull; the upper hangar level opened on to a short [[flight deck]], below and forward of the main flight deck. The lower flying-off deck improved [[launch and recovery cycle]] flexibility until heavier fighters requiring longer takeoff rolls made the lower deck obsolete in the 1930s.<ref>Brown, p. 2</ref> Two {{convert|46|×|48|ft|m|adj=on|1}} [[Elevator#Aircraft elevators|lifts]] were installed fore and aft in the flight deck. An island with the [[bridge (nautical)|bridge]], flying-control station, and funnel was added on the [[Port and starboard|starboard]] side as islands had been found not to contribute significantly to turbulence. By 1939 the ship could carry {{convert|34500|impgal|l USgal|lk=on}} of [[petrol]] for her aircraft.<ref>Friedman, pp. 103, 105–106</ref>

[[File:HMS Glorious underway 1936.jpg|thumb|Aerial view of ''Glorious'' under way, 1936]]
''Glorious'' received a [[dual-purpose gun|dual-purpose armament]] of sixteen [[QF 4.7 inch Mk VIII naval gun|QF 4.7-inch (120&nbsp;mm) Mark VIII]] guns in single mounts. One mount was on each side of the lower flight deck and a pair was on the quarterdeck. The remaining twelve mounts were distributed along the sides of the ship.<ref>Burt 1993, pp. 274–278</ref> During her 1935 refit, the ship received three octuple [[QF 2 pounder naval gun|QF two-pounder (40&nbsp;mm) "pom-pom"]] mounts, one on each side of the flying-off deck, forward of the 4.7-inch guns, and one behind the island on the flight deck. She also received a single quadruple mount for water-cooled [[Vickers .50 machine gun|{{convert|0.5|in|abbr=on|1}} Vickers machineguns]] for anti-aircraft use.<ref>Burt 1993, pp. 165, 278, 281</ref>

The ship recommissioned on 24 February 1930 for service with the [[Mediterranean Fleet]], but was attached to the [[Home Fleet]] from March to June 1930. She relieved ''Courageous'' in the Mediterranean Fleet in June 1930 and remained there until October 1939. In a fog on 1 April 1931 ''Glorious'' rammed the French [[ocean liner]] {{SS|Florida|1925|2}} amidships while steaming at {{convert|16|knots}}. The impact crumpled {{convert|60|ft|1}} of the flying-off deck and killed 1 seaman aboard ''Glorious'' and 24 passengers and crew aboard ''Florida''.<ref>Hayward 1998, p. 47</ref><ref>Treasure Jones, pp. 57–62</ref> The ship was forced to put into [[Gibraltar]] to temporary repairs. She had to sail to [[Malta]] for permanent repairs which lasted until September 1931. Sometime in the early 1930s, transverse [[arresting gear]] was installed. She was refitted at Devonport from July 1934 to July 1935 where she received two hydraulic accelerators ([[aircraft catapult|catapults]]) on her upper flight deck, which was also extended to the rear, her quarterdeck was raised one deck and she received her multiple ''pom-pom'' mounts. ''Glorious'' participated in the Coronation [[Fleet Review]] at [[Spithead]] on 20 May 1937 for King [[George VI]] before returning to the Mediterranean.<ref name=b15>Burt 1993, pp. 281, 285</ref>

=== Air group ===
[[File:Fairey Seals on HMS Glorious 1936.jpg|thumb|A squadron of Fairey Seals preparing for takeoff from ''Glorious'', 1936]]
The ship could carry up to 48 aircraft; when first recommissioned, she carried [[Fairey Flycatcher]] fighters, [[Blackburn Dart]] and [[Blackburn Ripon]] [[torpedo bomber]]s, and [[Fairey IIIF]] reconnaissance planes of the [[Fleet Air Arm]]. From 1933 until ''Glorious'' returned to the United Kingdom in April 1940, aside from a period when refitting in the mid-1930s, she carried [[802 Naval Air Squadron|802 Squadron]] which flew a mixture of nine [[Hawker Nimrod]] and three [[Hawker Osprey]] fighters, until re-equipping with a dozen [[Gloster Sea Gladiator]]s in May 1939.<ref>Sturtivant, pp. 167, 169</ref> [[812 Naval Air Squadron|812]] and [[823 Naval Air Squadron|823 Squadrons]] were embarked for reconnaissance and anti-ship attack missions. They flew the Blackburn Ripon, the [[Blackburn Baffin]] and the [[Fairey Swordfish]] torpedo bombers and as well as [[Fairey III]]F and [[Fairey Seal]] reconnaissance aircraft.<ref>Sturtivant, pp. 206, 208–209, 256–257</ref> When ''Glorious'' recommissioned after her refit in 1935, [[825 Naval Air Squadron|825 Squadron]] was embarked, initially with Fairey IIIFs, but the squadron converted to Fairey Swordfish in May 1936.<ref>Sturtivant, pp. 266, 269–270</ref>

== Second World War ==
''Glorious'' served briefly with the Mediterranean Fleet for a time after the Second World War broke out. In October 1939, she moved through the [[Suez Canal]] to the Indian Ocean where she became part of Force J which was organised to hunt for the {{ship|German cruiser|Admiral Graf Spee||2}} in the Indian Ocean. It was not successful and ''Glorious'' remained in the Indian Ocean until December when she returned to the Mediterranean.<ref name=b85>Burt 1993, p. 285</ref>

=== Norwegian Campaign ===
She was recalled to the Home Fleet in April 1940 to provide air cover for British forces landing in [[Norwegian Campaign|Norway]].<ref name=b85/> Eighteen [[Gloster Gladiators]] of [[No. 263 Squadron RAF]] were flown aboard to be transferred to Norwegian airbases. Eleven [[Blackburn Skua]]s of [[803 Naval Air Squadron|803 Squadron]], plus eighteen Sea Gladiators from 802 and [[804 Naval Air Squadron|804 Squadrons]] were also embarked. ''Glorious'' and {{HMS|Ark Royal|91|2}} arrived off central Norway on 24 April where 263 Squadron was flown off and their own aircraft attacked targets in and south of [[Trondheim]] before ''Glorious'' had to return to [[Scapa Flow]] late on 27 April to refuel and embark new aircraft. ''Glorious''{{'}}s Sea Gladiators provided air cover for the two carriers. They damaged one [[Heinkel He 111]] bomber on a reconnaissance mission. Before departing she transferred four serviceable Skuas to ''Ark Royal''. She returned on 1 May, but had been unable to load many new aircraft because of poor weather. Only a dozen Swordfish of 823 Squadron, three Skuas and one [[Blackburn Roc]] managed to be flown aboard. The task force was under heavy air attack by the [[Luftwaffe]] all day and was withdrawn that evening. One [[Junkers Ju 87]] Stuka dive bomber was shot down after it dropped its bomb by the Sea Gladiators on patrol.<ref>Haarr, pp. 141, 143–154</ref>

''Glorious'' returned on 18 May with six [[Supermarine Walrus]] [[flying boat]]s of [[701 Naval Air Squadron|701 Squadron]] and 18 [[Hawker Hurricane]]s of [[No. 46 Squadron RAF]]. The latter aircraft had been loaded aboard by crane. The Walruses were quickly flown off to [[Harstad (town)|Harstad]], but the airfield in [[Skånland Municipality|Skånland]] was not yet ready for the Hurricanes and they were still aboard when ''Glorious'' returned to Scapa on 21 May. ''Glorious'' came back to the [[Narvik (town)|Narvik]] area on 26 May and the Hurricanes were quickly flown off.<ref>Haarr, pp. 261–262</ref>

[[File:HMS Glorious last picture.jpg|thumb|left|''Glorious'' photographed in May 1940 from the deck of ''Ark Royal''; the [[destroyer]] with her is {{HMS|Diana|H49|2}}]]
Even this success proved ephemeral and British forces were ordered to withdraw a few days later. The evacuation ([[Operation Alphabet]]) began in the north on the night of 3/4 June and ''Glorious'' arrived off the coast on 2 June to provide support, although she only carried nine Sea Gladiators of 802 and six Swordfish from 823 Squadrons for self-defence as it was hoped to evacuate the RAF fighters if at all possible. Ten Gladiators of 263 Squadron were flown aboard from their base at Bardufoss during the afternoon of 7 June and the Hurricanes of 46 Squadron were landed without significant problems in the early evening despite having a much higher landing speed than the biplanes. These had been flown off from land bases to keep them from being destroyed in the evacuation after the pilots discovered that a {{cvt|7|kg}} sandbag carried in the rear of the Hurricane allowed full brakes to be applied immediately on landing.<ref>Haarr, pp. 308–310</ref> This was the first time that high-performance monoplanes without [[tailhook]]s had landed on an aircraft carrier.<ref name=h61>Howland, p. 61</ref>

The commanding officer of ''Glorious'', [[Captain (Royal Navy)|Captain]] [[Guy D'Oyly-Hughes]], was a former submariner who had been [[executive officer]] of ''Courageous'' for 10 months.<ref>Haar, p. 331</ref> He was granted permission to proceed independently to Scapa Flow in the early hours of 8 June. Howland maintains the reason was to hold a [[court-martial]] of his Commander (Air), J. B. Heath, who had refused an order to carry out an attack on shore targets on the grounds that the targets were at best ill-defined and his aircraft were unsuited to the task. Heath had been left behind in Scapa to await trial.<ref name=h61/> Another rationale was that ''Glorious'' was running short of fuel. One possibility was that ''Glorious'', with her Swordfish detachment equipped with long-range fuel tanks, had been selected for [[Operation Paul]], the mining of [[Luleå]] harbor, which had to happen before Narvik was evacuated.<ref name="Paul"/><ref>https://kulturmiljonorrbotten.com/2024/03/01/operation-paul/ (in Swedish)</ref>

=== Sinking ===
Unknown to the British, the German Navy had launched [[Operation Juno]]: the German battleships {{ship|German battleship|Scharnhorst||2}} and {{ship|German battleship|Gneisenau||2}}, the heavy cruiser {{ship|German cruiser|Admiral Hipper||2}}  and four destroyers were ordered to attack the British base at Harstad and support the German advance towards Narvik. Whilst preparing to attack on 7 June, the German commander realized the British were evacuating Norway and instead of attacking Harstad, he choose to intercept the evacuation convoys on 8 June. During the morning of 8 June some ships were intercepted but no convoy was found. The German force then split up. ''Admiral Hipper'' and the four destroyers were sent to Trondheim to refuel and then provide artillery support for the German force ([[Valentin Feurstein|''Gruppe'' Feuerstein]]) advancing to Narvik.

''Scharnhorst'' and ''Gneisenau'' continued to search for convoys in the [[Norwegian Sea]]. At 15:45 a lookout at the highest platform on ''Scharnhorst'' sighted a dust cloud, and then the mast of ''Glorious'' at a distance of {{cvt|46|km|mi}}. The German battleships gave chase immediately and at 16:10 the two escorting destroyers, {{HMS|Acasta|H09|2}} and {{HMS|Ardent|H41|2}} were detected as well.<ref>Bredemeier, pp. 64–69; Busch, pp. 181–183; Bekker, pp. 130–147</ref><ref group=Note>All times used in this section are [[Greenwich Mean Time]].</ref>

The British spotted the German ships shortly after 16:00 and ''Ardent'' was dispatched to investigate. ''Glorious'' did not alter course or increase speed. Five Swordfish were ordered to the flight deck and [[General quarters|Action Stations]] were ordered 16:20. No [[combat air patrol]] was being flown, no aircraft were ready on the deck for quick take-off and there was no lookout in ''Glorious''{{'}}s [[crow's nest]]. ''Scharnhorst'' opened fire on ''Ardent'' at 16:27 at a range of {{convert|16000|yd|km}}, causing the destroyer to withdraw, firing [[torpedo]]es and making a smoke screen. ''Ardent'' scored one hit with her 4.7-inch guns on ''Scharnhorst'' but was hit several times by the German ships' secondary armament and sank at 17:25.<ref name=h52>Howland, p. 52</ref>

[[File:El buque alemán Scharnhorst durante la batalla contra el Glorious.jpg|thumb|''Scharnhorst'' firing on ''Glorious'', 8 June 1940]]
''Scharnhorst'' switched her fire to ''Glorious'' at 16:32 and scored her first hit six minutes later on her third [[salvo]], at a range of {{convert|24000|m|yd|order=flip}}, (or 15 miles), when one {{convert|28.3|cm|in|adj=on}} hit the forward flight deck and burst in the upper hangar, starting a large fire. This hit destroyed two Swordfish being prepared for flight and the hole in the flight deck prevented any other aircraft from taking off.<ref>Haar, p. 336</ref> Splinters penetrated a boiler casing and caused a temporary drop in steam pressure. At 16:58 a second shell hit the homing beacon above the bridge and killed or wounded the captain and most of the personnel stationed there. ''Ardent''{{'}}s smokescreen became effective enough to impair the visibility of the Germans from about 16:58 to 17:20 so they ceased fire on ''Glorious''.<ref name=h52/>
[[File:Glorious sinking.jpg|thumb|''Glorious'' beginning to sink]]
''Glorious'' was hit again in the centre engine room at 17:20 and this caused her to lose speed and commence a slow circle to port. She also developed a [[list (watercraft)|list]] to starboard. The German ships closed to within 16,000 yards and continued to fire at her until 17:40. ''Glorious'' sank at 18:10,<ref name=h52/> approximately at {{Coord|68|38|N|03|50|E|display=title, inline|scale:10000000}},<ref>Howland, p. 51</ref> with 43 survivors.<ref>Rohwer, p. 26</ref>

As the German ships approached ''Glorious'', ''Acasta'', which had been trying to maintain the smokescreen, broke through her own smoke and fired two volleys of torpedoes at ''Scharnhorst''. One of these hit the battleship at 17:34 abreast her rear turret and badly damaged her. ''Acasta'' also managed one hit from her 4.7-inch guns on ''Scharnhorst'', but was riddled by German gunfire and sank at around 18:20.<ref name=h52/>

Survivors estimated that about 900 men abandoned ''Glorious''. With ''Scharnhorst'' damaged by the torpedo hit and unaware that Allied ships were not in contact with ''Glorious'' the German force withdrew and did not try to pick up survivors.<ref>Robertson, Stuart; Dent, Stephen. ''The War at Sea in Photographs''. s. 23.</ref> The Royal Navy meanwhile, knew nothing of the sinking until it was announced on German radio.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.historytoday.com/hms-glorious-history-controversy|title=HMS ''Glorious'': History of a Controversy |website=History Today}}</ref><ref name="Paul">{{Cite web|url=https://www.hmsglorious.com/|title=The cover up of Churchill's Operation Paul|website=HMSGlorious.com}}</ref> The Norwegian ship ''Borgund'', on passage to the [[Faroe Islands]], arrived late on 10 June and picked up survivors, eventually delivering 37 alive to [[Tórshavn]] of whom two later died. Another Norwegian ship, ''Svalbard II'', also making for the Faeroes, picked up five survivors but was sighted by a German aircraft and forced to return to Norway, where the four still alive became prisoners of war for the next five years. Another survivor from ''Glorious'' was rescued by a German seaplane.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.etherington/articles/level1/loss_of_hms_glorious.htm |title=The Loss of HMS ''Glorious'' |publisher=Homepage.ntlworld.com |date=8 June 1940 |access-date=16 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024151709/http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.etherington/articles/level1/loss_of_hms_glorious.htm |archive-date=24 October 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>{{better source needed|date=December 2021}} Therefore, the total of survivors was 40, including one each from ''Acasta'' and ''Ardent''.<ref>Winton, pp. 191–195</ref> The total killed or missing was 1,207 from ''Glorious'', 160 from ''Acasta'' and 152 from ''Ardent'', a total of 1,519.<ref>Winton, p. 200</ref>

[[File:Commonwealth War Graves gravestone of D. C. Morton in Tromsø.jpg|upright|thumb|The gravestone in [[Tromsø]] of Leading Airman Donald Conrad Morton, who died in the sinking of ''Glorious''<ref>{{cite web|title=Casualty details: Morton, Donald Conrad |url=http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2186942/MORTON,%20DONALD%20CONRAD |publisher=Commonwealth War Graves Commission |access-date=20 September 2013}}</ref>]]
The sinkings and the failure to mount a rescue were embarrassing for the Royal Navy.  All ships encountering enemies had been ordered to broadcast a sighting report, and the lack of such a report from ''Glorious'' was questioned in the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]].<ref>Winton, p. 209</ref> It emerged that the [[heavy cruiser]] {{HMS|Devonshire|39|2}} had passed within {{convert|30|–|50|mi}} of the battle, flying the flag of [[Vice-Admiral (Royal Navy)|Vice-Admiral]] [[John Cunningham (Royal Navy officer)|John Cunningham]], who was carrying out orders to evacuate the [[Norwegian royal family]] to the UK and maintain radio silence. Some survivors from ''Glorious'' and ''Devonshire'' testified that a sighting report had been correctly sent, and received by ''Devonshire'', but that it had been suppressed by Cunningham, who departed at high speed in accordance with his orders.<ref>Haarr, p. 347</ref> It was also alleged that there was confusion over the use of [[wireless telegraphy]] frequencies on board ''Glorious'' which could have contributed to the failure of any other ship or shore-station to receive a sighting report. The absence of normal airborne patrols over ''Glorious'' and its destroyers, in conditions of maximum visibility, was named as a contributor to the sinkings.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.warship.org/no11994.htm |title=Analysis by Howland |publisher=Warship.org |access-date=16 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010522092000/http://www.warship.org/no11994.htm |archive-date=22 May 2001 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

The circumstances of the sinking were the subject of a debate in the House of Commons on 28 January 1999.<ref>{{citation |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/1999-01-28/debates/cd3ca177-a4d9-4426-a43f-96ed81679929/HmsGlorious |title=HMS Glorious |work= House of Commons Debates |date= 28 January 1999 |volume= 324 |at=cc564-76 |accessdate= 10 September 2020}}</ref> After the existence of the Bletchley Park intelligence activities was made public in the 1970s, it was revealed that Naval Section personnel at Bletchley Park predicted a breakout into the Baltic by German warships based on [[traffic analysis]] but the RN Operational Intelligence Centre did not agree on the interpretation, and did not inform the Home Fleet.<ref>Michael Smith. ''Station X: the Codebreakers of Bletchley Park''. Hull, England: Biteback Publishing, 2000. p63-64</ref>

=== Memorials ===
The most prominent memorial for the lost crew of HMS ''Glorious'', HMS ''Ardent'' and HMS ''Acasta'' is situated in Southsea Common, Portsmouth, overlooking the promenade and is accessible to the public at all times. There are 176 memorials from the 1,531 servicemen lost with HMS ''Glorious'', HMS ''Ardent'' and HMS ''Acasta'' at the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.{{cn|date=March 2021}}

For many years the only memorial to the seamen lost in the three ships was a stained-glass window in the [[St Peter's Church, Martindale|church of St Peter Martindale]] in [[Cumbria]], on the east side of [[Ullswater]]. A new memorial plaque dedicated to HMS ''Glorious'', and her escort destroyers ''Ardent'' and ''Acasta'', was unveiled in St. Nicholas's Church, in HMS ''Drake'', Devonport in 2002. On 8 June 2010, 70 years after the loss of ''Glorious'', ''Acasta'' and ''Ardent'', a memorial plaque inscribed in English and Norwegian was unveiled near the [[Trondenes Historical Center|Trondenes Historical Centre]] in Harstad, Norway, the two destroyers' last port of call.<ref>Harald Isachsen (2011), ''Harstad 1940–1945, Historier og fortellinger fra krigsåra'', {{ISBN|978-82-998024-3-7}}, (in Norwegian)</ref> A memorial plaque is mounted on a stone plinth next to a memorial tree, in the [[National Memorial Arboretum]] in [[Alrewas]], Staffordshire. It can be found in the gardens in location 19-81. On 8 June 2019, a memorial plaque was unveiled in the Belvedere Gardens, Plymouth Hoe, dedicated to all crew members who lost their lives onboard HM Ships ''Glorious, Ardent'' and ''Acasta.''

A model of HMS ''Glorious'' by model maker [[Norman A. Ough]] built for the [[Royal United Services Institute|Royal United Services Museum]] is now on display in the [[Fleet Air Arm Museum]] at [[RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron)|RNAS Yeovilton]].<ref>{{cite web
|website=finewaterline.com
|title=Norman Ough's HMS Glorious
|url=http://www.finewaterline.com/pages/albums/Norman%20Ough/glorious/noglorious.html
}}</ref>

== Notes ==
{{reflist|group=Note}}

== Footnotes ==
{{Reflist}}

== References ==
* {{Cite book |last=Bekker |first=Cajus |title=Verdammte See |publisher=Gerhard Stalling Verlag |year=1971 |isbn=3-548-03057-2 |location=Oldenburg |language=de}}
* {{Cite book |last=Bredemeier |first=Heinrich |title=Schlachtschiff Scharnhorst |publisher=Koehler |year=1997 |isbn=3-7822-0592-8 |edition=5th |location=Hamburg |language=de}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Bowdler |first1=John M.|title=Re: HMS ''Glorious'' Collision, 1931 |journal= Warship International |date=2002 |volume=XXXIX |issue=4 |pages=318–319|issn=0043-0374}}
* {{cite book |last=Brown |first=David |author-link=David K. Brown |title=Aircraft Carriers |publisher= Arco Publishing Company |year=1977 |location=New York |isbn =0-668-04164-1}}
* {{cite book|last=Burt|first=R. A.|title=British Battleships, 1919–1939|year=1993|publisher=Arms and Armour Press|location=London|isbn=1-85409-068-2}}
* {{cite book|last=Burt|first=R. A.|title=British Battleships of World War One|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|year=1986|isbn=0-87021-863-8}}
* {{cite book |last=Busch |first=Fritz-Otto |title=Het drama van de Scharnhorst |publisher=Omega Boek B.V. |year=1980 |isbn=90-6057-197-5 |location=Amsterdam |language=nl}}
* {{cite book|last=Campbell|first=John|title=Naval Weapons of World War II|year=1985|publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, Maryland|isbn=0-87021-459-4}}
* {{cite book |last=Campbell |first=N. J. M. |title=Battle Cruisers: The Design and Development of British and German Battlecruisers of the First World War Era |publisher=Conway Maritime Press |location=Greenwich, UK|year=1978 |series=Warship Special |volume=1 |isbn=0-85177-130-0}}
* {{cite book|last=Friedman|first=Norman|title=British Carrier Aviation: The Evolution of the Ships and Their Aircraft|year=1988 |publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland |isbn=0-87021-054-8|author-link=Norman Friedman}}
* {{cite book|last=Haarr|first=Geirr H.|title=The Battle for Norway: April–June 1940|year=2010 |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, Maryland |isbn=978-1-59114-051-1}}
* {{cite book|last=Hayward|first=Roger|title=The Fleet Air Arm in Camera|year=1998|publisher=Sutton Publishing|location=Stroud, UK |isbn=0-7509-1979-5}}
* {{cite journal|last=Horan|first=Mark E.|year=2001|title=Re: The Loss of HMS ''Glorious'' |journal=Warship International |volume=XXXVIII|issue=2|pages=117–120|issn=0043-0374}}
* {{cite journal|last=Howland|first=Vernon W.|year=1994|title=The Loss of HMS ''Glorious'': An Analysis of the Action |journal=Warship International|volume=XXXI|issue=1|pages=47–62|issn=0043-0374}}
* {{cite book|last=McBride|first=Keith|title=Warship|editor=Gardiner, Robert|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|year=1990|volume=1990|pages=93–101|chapter=The Weird Sisters|isbn=1-55750-903-4}}
* {{cite book|last=Newbolt|first=Henry|title=Naval Operations|orig-year=1931|series=History of the Great War Based on Official Documents|volume=V|year=1996|publisher=Battery Press|location=Nashville, Tennessee|isbn=0-89839-255-1|author-link=Henry Newbolt}}
*{{cite book |last1=Parkes |first1=Oscar |title=British Battleships, ''Warrior'' 1860 to ''Vanguard'' 1950: A History of Design, Construction, and Armament |date=1990 |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, Maryland |isbn=1-55750-075-4 |edition=New & rev.|orig-year=1966|author-link=Oscar Parkes}}
* {{cite book|last1=Raven|first1=Alan|last2=Roberts|first2=John|title=British Battleships of World War Two: The Development and Technical History of the Royal Navy's Battleship and Battlecruisers from 1911 to 1946|publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, Maryland|year=1976|isbn=0-87021-817-4|name-list-style=amp}}
* {{cite book |last=Roberts |first=John |title=Battlecruisers |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, Maryland |year=1997 |isbn=1-55750-068-1}}
* {{cite book |last=Rohwer |first=Jürgen |title=Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, Maryland |year=2005 |edition=Third revised |isbn=1-59114-119-2 |author-link=Jürgen Rohwer}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Stone |first1=Randy |title=Re: Loss of HMS ''Glorious'' |journal=Warship International |date=2008 |volume=XLV |issue=4 |pages=263–264 |issn=0043-0374}}
* {{cite journal|last1=Sullivan|first1=David M.|first2=Ian|last2=Sturton|year=2010 |title=Extraordinary Views of HMS ''Glorious'' and HMS ''Ark Royal''|journal=Warship International |volume=XLVII |issue=3 |pages=257–262 |issn=0043-0374|name-list-style=amp}}
* {{cite book|last=Sturtivant|first=Ray|title=The Squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm|year=1984 |publisher=Air-Britain (Historians)|location=Tonbridge, UK|isbn=0-85130-120-7|author-link=Ray Sturtivant}}
* {{cite book|last=Treasure Jones|first=John|author-link=John Treasure Jones|title=Tramp to Queen|year=2008|publisher=History Press|location=Stroud, UK|isbn=978-0-7524-4625-7}}
* {{cite book|last=Winton|first=John|title=Carrier ''Glorious''|year=1999|publisher=Cassell |location=London |isbn=0-304-35244-6}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|HMS Glorious (77)}}
* [http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/courageous_class.htm Photo gallery of ''Courageous'' and ''Glorious'']
* [http://www.glarac.com "Glarac Association website remembering those lost with HMS ''Glorious''"] – with complete CWGC casualty list.
* [http://spitfiresite.com/2010/06/battle-of-britain-hms-glorious-46-squadron.html HMS Glorious and the Fate of No. 46 Squadron, focusing more on the squadron than the ship] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211106134748/http://spitfiresite.com/2010/06/battle-of-britain-hms-glorious-46-squadron.html |date=6 November 2021 }}
* [http://www.maritimequest.com/warship_directory/great_britain/pages/aircraft_carriers/hms_glorious_77.htm Maritimequest HMS ''Glorious'' photo gallery]
* [https://archivesearch.lib.cam.ac.uk/repositories/9/resources/1587 "The Tragedy of HMS ''Glorious''"] –  index of original materials related to the Channel 4 documentary, no actual documents. Held at [[Churchill Archives Centre]]
*[https://archivesearch.lib.cam.ac.uk/repositories/9/archival_objects/461347 Papers about HMS Glorious, 1938 - 1998] held at Churchill Archives Centre
* [http://www.glarac.co.uk/node/16 Homepage of The Glorious, Ardent & Acasta Association]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20200223161252/http://www.scharnhorst-class.dk/scharnhorst/history/scharnjuno.html Operation "Juno"  Retrieved via the Wayback Machine 8 June 2021]
* [http://www.navalofficer.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=151:glorious-3&catid=47:battles-wwiandii&Itemid=92 Review of ''Carrier Glorious: The life and death of an aircraft carrier''] by [[John Winton]]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiiA--IxHbo German Film Footage of the Battle from the Nazi Propaganda Ministry]
* [http://dreadnoughtproject.org/tfs/index.php/Courageous_Class_Battlecruiser_(1916) Data on as-fitted design and equipment]
* [http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80010259 IWM Interview with survivor Kenneth Cross]
* [http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80011198 IWM Interview with survivor James O'Neill]
* [http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80012011 IWM Interview with survivor Frederick Cooke]
* [http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80012068 IWM Interview with survivor Vernon Day]
* [http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80016167 IWM Interview with survivor Frederick Thornton]
* [http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80016166 IWM Interview with survivor William Smith]
{{Courageous class aircraft carrier}}
{{November 1918 shipwrecks}}
{{1931 shipwrecks}}
{{June 1940 shipwrecks}}
{{Good article}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Glorious (77)}}
[[Category:Courageous-class aircraft carriers]]
[[Category:Ships built in Belfast]]
[[Category:1916 ships]]
[[Category:World War I battlecruisers of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1918]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1931]]
[[Category:World War II aircraft carriers of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:World War II shipwrecks in the Norwegian Sea]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in June 1940]]
[[Category:Royal Navy ship names]]
[[Category:Ships built by Harland and Wolff]]