The Christmas Day raid by Engadine, Empress, and Riviera shows that naval air attack was operational in 1914. Physical damage was limited, but the protected force remained off the German coast for almost a day while launching aircraft. The absence of an effective German response gave the Royal Navy confidence that offensive air operations from ships were practical. That experience encouraged work on full-length flight decks and purpose-built carriers.
Chapter · 8:25-19:07
The Cuxhaven Raid and the origins of carrier strike
The 1914 Cuxhaven Raid shows the Royal Navy using ship-launched aircraft offensively and drawing early lessons about purpose-built carriers.