HMS Courageous (50)
HMS Courageous (50) sinking
| Name | HMS Courageous (50) | ||
| Type: | Aircraft carrier (Courageous) | ||
| Tonnage | 22.500 tons (one of the largest ships sunk). | ||
| Completed | 1916 - Sir W.G. Armstrong, Whitworth & Co Ltd, Newcastle-upon-Tyne | ||
| Owner | The Admiralty | ||
| Homeport | |||
| Date of attack | 17 Sep, 1939 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-29 (Otto Schuhart) | ||
| Position | 50.10N, 14.45W - Grid BE 3198 - See location on a map - | ||
| Complement | 1259 officers and men (518 dead and 741 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | |||
| Route | |||
| Cargo | |||
| History | Built as battlecruiser and from 1924 to 1928 converted to aircraft carrier at Devonport Dockyard. | ||
| Notes on loss | At 19.50 hours on 17 Sep, 1939, HMS Courageous (50) (Capt W.T. Makeig-Jones) was struck by two torpedoes from U-29 southwest of Ireland and sank after 17 minutes. 518 officers and ratings were lost, including the commander. 14 lifeboats of the Dutch steam passenger ship Veendam saved several survivors of the carrier, including the ships log. This was a harsh thing to do in the heavily oiled sea. The American merchant Collingsworth participated in the rescue operations. The survivors were later transferred to HMS Kelly (F 01). The carrier had been on patrol against U-boats with her destroyer screen. After this incident, carriers were withdrawn from such patrols. | ||
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