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HMS Ark Royal, the world's first purpose built aircraft carrier, commissioned by the British
The Ark Royal was the first ship completed as an aircraft carrier, having been purchased by the Royal Navy while still only a frame and being replanned from that early point as a purpose built carrier ship. As a ship he was a humble design, capable of carrying less than 10 aircraft. She could fly off and recover seaplanes, but could only fly off wheeled planes, not recover them. In later years she would be referred to as a seaplane carrier. The Ark Royal was important because she provided important training for the design of new carriers and conversions to carrier.
Two earlier ships, the British Hermes and the French Foudre, had been converted to seaplane carrier before the war, but their service libes were short. Experience from the Ark Royal would be integrated into the next major carrier, the HMS Furios, a conversion during construction from a large, light cruiser design.
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