While only 7 years old, the Hercules was already obsolete. The technology of the time just skyrocketed. From 10" to 18" guns in less than ten years, the Hasdrubal class got left behind very quickly.
The Hercules spent the last part of 1916 being stripped of all armaments and then having the funnels cut down, then laid down so that they hung over the sides, being welded back together so that the exhaust gases went out over the side of the ship. There was no two ways about it, the Hercules conversion was 'quick and dirty'. The gas axe and welding units were the most common tools as sheets of steel and tubing of all sizes were slapped together to prove the concept " wheeled aircraft can be operated at sea". Mid-1917 and the Hercules was at sea with land aircraft flying on and off, concept proved. In one stunt a Vimy twin engined bomber was landed on and took off, but that was with a very experienced pilot flying the bomber. The four Shacar and Hadad class ships would be converted before the Hercules received a full conversion, joining the fleet in 1929 as the fleets training carrier
From 1930 to 1940 the Hercules received various additions and subtractions to improve the ship and to keep it in line with the other carriers of the fleet. The twin seat, Albatross, advanced trainer, came into service in 1934 and could be used as a bomber when required. It was still in service as a trainer in 1940 and taught many pilots how to land on a carrier before they might have been uprated to single seaters. The Albatross was still being used aboard the Hercules, as a part of its onboard complement. A dozen Albatross in the ASW mode with half a dozen fighters were a major part of the Hercules defensive screen. Hercules never went anywhere without at least two escorts.
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Like other navies, the Greenland Fleet Training carrier did almost nothing except train pilots in landings and other carrier procedures, while mechanics and ground crew were also trained in carrier procedures in the hangar and flight deck systems. The general sea time in training was from Carthage to Utica using the southern route. Occasionally the Hercules would go as escort to the very valuable tanker convoy from Utica to Venezuela during 1939-41. Once enough Melqart class carriers were available the Hercules was not required on this duty.
