The Type 72X reached a carrier in 1936, although the identity of that first ship remains unresolved. HMS Furious, HMS Courageous, and HMS Ark Royal all have plausible claims, with Ark Royal tentatively favored while the evidence for the other two remains credible. The surviving evidence suggests that installations spread more quickly than the usual official account implies. Development began in 1932, aircraft trials were possible in 1933, and an operational carrier installation followed within roughly three years. The technology matured quickly, while the competing claims show why sparse naval records must be used cautiously.
Chapter · 2:47-5:39
The Type 72X enters carrier service
The early Type 72X appears on a carrier in 1936 and becomes the starting point for the wartime beacon family.