Indefatigable's first assignment was to help escort the troop liner Queen Elizabeth, and her first major combat role was Operation Mascot against Tirpitz with Formidable and Furious. The carriers sailed with Duke of York, cruisers, destroyers, and frigates, then launched a strike-heavy mix of Barracudas, Fireflies, Seafires, Hellcats, and Corsairs. Implacable's aircraft sank six ships, damaged a submarine, and made the Royal Navy's last wartime aerial torpedo attack of World War II during Operation Athletic, for the loss of one Barracuda. Indefatigable later joined the larger carrier and escort-carrier force assembled for Operation Goodwood. Goodwood lightly damaged Tirpitz and seven other ships, while the Royal Navy lost seventeen aircraft and a frigate, and U-354 torpedoed the escort carrier Nabob beyond repair. The outcome shows that a potent air group did not guarantee success against a defended Arctic target.
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Strike-heavy air groups against Tirpitz
The class entered combat with major Barracuda, Firefly, Seafire, Hellcat, and Corsair formations in strikes against Tirpitz and other Norwegian targets.