Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:15:55-1:16:20

The evidence against a secret mission for Glorious

Glorious had exhausted her land-attack bombs in Norway, undercutting claims that she hurried home for an undisclosed strike mission.

Command And ControlHistorical MethodHMS GloriousNaval AviationNorwegian Campaign
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Question

Was Glorious hurrying home because she had been assigned a secret mission?

Short answer

No evidence supports that claim, and her depleted land-attack bomb supply makes it unlikely; the intended court martial offers the clearer explanation.

Notes

The ship's remaining ammunition weighs against the suggestion that Glorious left the fleet for a secret operational mission. Her land-attack bombs had been used in support of Norway, leaving armour-piercing weapons rather than a load suited to such a task. The documented dispute and intended court martial of the air-group commander provide a more direct reason for the captain's haste. Stores and mission equipment can test a dramatic explanation against the material state of a ship.