HMS Pegasus (SPC-1914 (1934-mod))

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HMS Ark Royal was the first ship designed and built as a ship to operate seaplanes. The ship was bought incomplete and towed and completed at a Royal Navy Yard to a seaplane carrier. Once complete the ships first major deployment was to the Dardanelles operation in support of the seaplanes being used for spotting duties for the fleet.

After spending various times in service, in reserve and as a training ship the ship was renamed Pegasus in 1934 to release 'Ark Royal' for a new ship. It was also the year that the ship was taken in hand to be converted to the navies catapult trials and training ship (of seaplane pilots). Various types of seaplanes were operated from Pegasus, Walrus, Swordfish, Skua, Roc, Seafire. The ships most important deployment was to Sierra Leone where it provided not only local patrols with its own aircraft but also acted as mothership for squadrons of Sunderlands and Catalinas that acted as the long range patrol groups.

As completed with the steam powered cranes - Short seaplane being lifted out of the hangar.

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