To speed completion, the Admiralty omitted some of Unicorn's intended maintenance equipment, temporarily making her more effective as a conventional carrier. She worked up with Swordfish and Seafires, escorted Convoy MKF, and used her lower spaces to carry RAF Bristol Beaufighters after they were loaded by lighter. During Operation Governor, Unicorn and Illustrious swept the Norwegian coast to support a deception suggesting an Allied landing in Scandinavia rather than Sicily. Sea Hurricanes replaced the more fragile Seafires for those North Atlantic operations. Catapult-assisted takeoff and arrested recovery impose controlled-crash loads on an airframe, a demanding requirement for which the navalized Spitfire was poorly suited.
Chapter · 39:22-44:06
Working up proves Unicorn's flexibility
Unicorn combines operational squadrons, aircraft transport, convoy escort, and a Norway deception before entering combat in the Mediterranean.