| Navy | The Royal Navy |
| Type | Aircraft Carrier |
| Class | Courageous |
| Pennant | 50 |
| Built by | Armstrong (Newcastle-on-Tyne, U.K.) : Parsons |
| Ordered | |
| Laid down | 29 Mar 1915 |
| Launched | 5 Feb 1916 |
| Commissioned | 4 Nov 1916 |
| Lost | 17 Sep 1939 |
| Loss position | 50.10N, 14.45W (See a map) |
| History | Converted to aircraft carrier at Devonport Dockyard from June 1924 until 5 May 1928. Recommissioned on 21 February 1928, this was prior to the completion of her conversion. At 1950 hours on 17 September 1939 HMS Courageous (Capt. William Totfield Makeig-Jones, RN) was struck by two torpedoes from the German submarine U-29 about 190 nautical miles south-west of Dursey Head, Ireland, in position 50º10'N, 14º45'W, and sank after 17 minutes. 518 officers and ratings were lost. 14 lifeboats of the Dutch steam passenger ship Veendam saved several survivors of the carrier, including the ship's log. This was a harsh thing to do in the heavily oiled sea. The American merchant Collingsworth also participated in the rescue operations. The survivors were later transferred to the British destroyer HMS Kelly. The carrier had been on patrol against U-boats with her destroyer screen. After this incident, carriers are withdrawn from such patrols. Commanding officer: Hit by U-boat |
Commands listed for HMS Courageous (50)
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| Commander | From | To | |
| 1 | Capt. William Totfield Makeig-Jones, RN | 24 Jul 1939 | 17 Sep 1939 (+) |
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