HMS Ark Royal aircraft carrier. Fairey Swordfish aircraft taking off and landing on the HMS Ark Royal aircraft carrier in 1939. This British aircraft carrier was built for the Royal Navy from September 1935. It was launched in April 1937 and commissioned in December 1938. It was 240 metres long, and carried a crew of 1580. Armed with 80 guns and carrying 60 aircraft, it was a key part of naval activities in World War II. It took part in the destruction of the German battleship Bismarck, as well as the Malta convoys. It was sunk on 14 November 1941 after being torpedoed by a German U-boat.