Cranes define the seaplane carrier

Converted ships such as the 1898 HMS Hermes began with rudimentary canvas arrangements, while Ark Royal was built specifically for the seaplane role. Hermes was sunk by a U-boat in 1914, cutting short what might otherwise have become wartime seaplane work. Their aircraft took off from and alighted on the water rather than using a flight deck. Cranes therefore became the defining machinery because they moved aircraft between ship and sea. This handling system allowed even ferry-like hulls to serve as mobile aviation bases while navies learned what specialized seaplane support required. These improvised ships show why later-obvious carrier features emerged through small experimental steps rather than appearing as a finished system.