Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:35:30-2:37:04

The planned 1918 carrier torpedo raid on the High Seas Fleet

A proposed HMS Furious strike with Sopwith Cuckoo torpedo aircraft might have mattered more for doctrine than for ships sunk.

Fleet Air ArmHigh Seas FleetHMS FuriousNaval AviationSopwith Cuckoo
Watch at this timeFull video guide
Question

What might a British carrier-launched torpedo raid on the High Seas Fleet in 1918 have achieved?

Short answer

Probably limited physical damage, but it could have displaced the German fleet and powerfully influenced British carrier and aviation policy.

Notes

The planned attack would have launched Sopwith Cuckoo torpedo aircraft from HMS Furious against the High Seas Fleet. The weapons were probably unsuited to the harbour conditions, making damage more likely than decisive destruction of the German fleet. Even limited success could have forced the High Seas Fleet deeper into the Baltic and away from the North Sea. A visible carrier success in 1918 might also have strengthened the Royal Navy's commitment to organic naval aviation before the Fleet Air Arm passed under Royal Air Force control.