Ark Royal's offensive carrier role

Ark Royal was a strike carrier built to attack fleets sheltered in harbour as well as ships at sea. Her large air group combined Swordfish torpedo bombers with Skua dive bombers, and the Swordfish specification also allowed theoretical dive-bombing. This gave Force K options beyond gun range. On the run toward Montevideo, both Ark Royal and Renown were driven at or beyond their nominal maximum speeds. Carrier aircraft could slow a raider so that a fast capital ship could finish the engagement.