'Blast from the past' - RN aircraft deployment on carriers
Jun 4, 2020 23:41:40 GMT
Theaetetus and admiralwoodside like this
Post by warspite1 on Jun 4, 2020 23:41:40 GMT
This was originally a two-part article which appeared on Forumini during February 2010.
For the first time it is edited into one long list and I have corrected and fact-checked.
*** *** *** *** *** *** ***
Examples of Fleet Air Arm aircraft deployment in WW2:
Atlantic Trade Protection in 1939:
HMS Ark Royal
800 Sqdn - 9 Skuas
803 Sqdn - 9 Skuas until end of Sept 1939
810 Sqdn - 12 Swordfish
820 Sqdn - 9 Swordfish and 1 Walrus
HMS Furious
801 Sqdn - 9 Skuas
816 Sqdn - 9 Swordfish
818 Sqdn - 9 Swordfish
HMS Courageous - sunk September 17 by U-29
811 Sqdn - 12 Swordfish
822 Sqdn - 12 Swordfish
HMS Hermes
814 Sqdn - 12 Swordfish transferred from Ark Royal on Sept 4 1939
HMS Albatross (based at Freetown from October 1939)
710 Sqdn - 6 Walruses
Indian Ocean 1939 - 1940:
HMS Eagle - China Station and East Indies until May 1940
813 Sqdn - 9 Swordfish
824 Sqdn - 9 Swordfish
HMS Glorious - Indian Ocean October 1939 to Jan 1940
802 Sqdn - 6 Sea Gladiators
812 Sqdn - 12 Swordfish
823 Sqdn - 12 Swordfish
825 Sqdn - 12 Swordfish
*** *** ***
1940:
Furious:
April - 816 Sqdn and 818 Sqdn each with 9 Swordfish
May - ferrying 6 Sea Gladiators and 9 Swordfish
Sept/October:
801 Sqdn - 9 Skuas
816 Sqdn - 9 Swordfish
825 Sqdn - 9 Swordfish
Glorious:
April:
802 Sqdn - 9 Sea Gladiators
803 Sqdn - 11 Skuas
804 Sqdn - 9 Sea Gladiators
June: (sunk by Scharnhorst and Gneisenau)
802 Sqdn - 9 Sea Gladiators
823 Sqdn - 9 Swordfish
Ark Royal:
April:
800 Sqdn - 9 Skuas and 2 Rocs
801 Sqdn: - 9 Skuas and 3 Rocs
819 Sqdn - 12 Swordfish
820 Sqdn - 9 Swordfish
May to June:
800 Sqdn - 12 Skuas
803 Sqdn - 11 Skuas
810 and 820 Sqdn - 21 Swordfish
701 Sqdn - 5 Walrus from June 7
*** *** ***
1941
Eagle May to September 1941:
813 Sqdn - 9 Swordfish
824 Sqdn - 9 Swordfish
*** *** ***
Hunting the Bismarck:
Victorious:
800Z Sqdn - 6 Fulmar
825 Sqdn - 9 Swordfish
Ark Royal:
807 Sqdn - 12 Fulmars
808 Sqdn - 12 Fulmars
810 Sqdn - 12 Swordfish
818 Sqdn - 9 Swordfish
820 Sqdn - 9 Swordfish
*** *** ***
1941 Strike on Petsamo and Kirkenes:
Victorious:
809 Sqdn - 12 Fulmars
827 Sqdn - 12 Albacores
828 Sqdn - 9 Albacores
Furious:
800 Sqdn - 9 Fulmars
880A Flight - 4 Sea Hurricanes
812 Sqdn - 9 Swordfish
817 Sqdn - 9 Albacores
*** *** ***
Home Fleet August 1941 to December 1942:
Victorious:
809 Sqdn - 12 Fulmars
802B Flight - 2 Martlet IIIs (september 1941 only)
817 Sqdn - 9 Albacores
832 Sqdn - 12 Albacores
820 Sqdn - 12 Albacores in place of 832 Sqdn Nov 41 to Feb 42
Argus:
ferrying 2 Martlet IIIs of 802B Flight August and September 41
Avenger:
802 Sqdn - 6 Sea Hurricanes
883 Sqdn - 6 Sea Hurricanes
825 Flight - 3 Swordfish
6 spare Sea Hurricanes also embarked (probably crated)
*** *** ***
Force H and Harpoon Convoy - 1942
HMS Eagle from March 1942:
813 Sqdn - 9 Swordfish and 4 Sea Hurricanes
824 Sqdn - 9 Swordfish (not for Harpoon)
801 Sqdn - 12 Sea Hurricanes (Harpoon only)
HMS Argus:
807 Sqdn - 4 Fulmars
824 Sqdn - 4 Swordfish (detachment)
*** *** ***
Operation Pedestal - August 1942
HMS Victorious:
809 Sqdn - 12 Fulmars
884 Sqdn - 6 Fulmars
885 Sqdn - 6 Sea Hurricanes
817 Sqdn - 2 Albacores (9 detached)
832 Sqdn - 12 Albacores
HMS Indomitable - bombed and damaged August 12, 1942
800 Sqdn - 12 Sea Hurricanes
806 Sqdn - 6 Martlet IIs
880 Sqdn - 12 Sea Hurricanes
827 Sqdn - 12 Albacores
831 Sqdn - 12 Albacores
HMS Eagle - sunk by U-73 August 11, 1942
801 Sqdn - 12 Sea Hurricanes with 4 more in reserve
813 Sqdn - 4 Sea Hurricanes
HMS Furious:
ferry and fly-off 38 Spitfires to Malta
822 Sqdn - 4 Albacores (detachment)
*** *** ***
Operation Torch - invasion of North Africa November 1942
HMS Formidable:
885 Sqdn - 6 Seafire IIC
888 Sqdn - 12 Martlet II
893 Sqdn - 12 Martlet IV
820 Sqdn - 12 Albacores
HMS Victorious:
809 Sqdn - 6 Fulmar FII
882 Sqdn - 12 Martlet IV
884 Sqdn - 6 Seafire IIC
817 Sqdn - 9 Albacores
832 Sqdn - 9 Albacores (B Flight disembarked)
HMS Furious:
801 Sqdn - 12 Seafire IB
807 Sqdn - 12 Seafire IIC
882 Sqdn - 8 Albacores (C Flight disembarked) + 1 Fulmar FRII
HMS Biter:
800 Sqdn - 15 Sea Hurricanes IIB & IIC
833A Flight - 3 Swordfish disembarked at Gibraltar and returned in HMS Argus.
HMS Dasher:
804 Sqdn - 6 Sea Hurricane IIC
891 Sqdn - 6 Sea Hurricane IIB
HMS Argus:
880 Sqdn - 18 Seafire IIC
HMS Avenger:
802 Sqdn - 9 Sea Hurricane IIC
883 Sqdn - 6 Sea Hurricane IIC
833B Flight - 3 Swordfish disembarked at Gibraltar
USN forces:
USS Sangamon:
VGF-26 - 12 Wildcats
VGS-26 - 9 Avengers and 9 Dauntlesses
USS Chenango:
ferrying 76 or 77 USAAF P-40F Warhawks
These were flown off on November 10 to Port Lyautey, French Morocco.
USS Ranger:
VF-9 - 27 Wildcats
VF-41 - 27 Wildcats
VS-41 - 18 Dauntlesses
Commander Air Group - 1 Avenger
USS Suwanee:
VGF-27 - 11 Wildcats
VGF-28 - 12 Wildcats (lent from USS Chenango)
VGS-30 - 6 Wildcats (Fighter Flight from Charger)
VGS-27 - 9 Avengers
USS Santee:
VGF-29 - 14 Wildcats
VGS-29 - 8 Avengers and 9 Dauntlesses
*** *** ***
Home Fleet 1943
Furious from end of Feb 43:
801 Sqdn - 9 Seafires
822 Sqdn - 9 Albacores to end of June 43
825 Sqdn - 9 Swordfish + 6 Sea Hurricanes from July 1943
881 Sqdn - 6 Martlet IV July 1943 only
827 Sqdn - 12 Barracudas from October 1943 onwards
830 Sqdn - 9 Barracudas from October 1943 onwards
Dasher - lost in accidental explosion March 27, 1943
891 Sqdn - 6 Sea Hurricane IIB
816 Sqdn - 6 Swordfish
837 Sqdn - 6 Swordfish
Illustrious - July 43 only
878 Sqdn - 12 Martlet IV
809 Sqdn - 12 Martlet IV
894 Sqdn - 10 Seafire IIC
819 Sqdn - 12 Barracuda II
Unicorn - July 43 onwards
887 Sqdn - 10 Seafires
818 Sqdn - 4 Swordfish
824 Sqdn - 9 Swordfish
USS Ranger September and October 1943
VT-41 - 27 Wildcat F4F-4
VF-41 - 27 Dauntless SBD-5
VT-41 18 Avenger TBF-1
*** *** ***
Operation Tungsten (strike on Tirpitz)
April 3 1944
Victorious:
1834 Sqdn - 14 Corsair II
1836 Sqdn - 14 Corsair II
827 Sqdn - 9 Barracuda II
829 Sqdn - 12 Barracuda II
Furious:
801 Sqdn - 6 Seafire IB
880 Sqdn - 8 Seafire LIIC
830 Sqdn - 9 Barracuda II
831 Sqdn - 9 Barracuda II
Emperor:
800 Sqdn - 10 Hellcats
804 Sqdn - 10 Hellcats
Pursuer:
881 Sqdn - 10 Wildcat V
896 Sqdn - 10 Wildcat V
Searcher:
882 Sqdn - 10 Wildcat V
898 Sqdn - 10 Wildcat V
Fencer (as anti-submarine CVE):
842 Sqdn - 12 Swordfish II annd 8 Wildcat V
*** *** ***
Some examples of late war Fleet Air Arm Operations in the Far East:
Palembang Strikes - Operation Meridean
Pladjoe 24 Jan 1945 and Soengi Gerong 29 Jan 1945
HMS Indomitable:
1839 Sqdn - 15 Hellcat I
1844 Sqdn - 14 Hellcat I
857 Sqdn - 21 Avenger II
HMS Illustrious:
1830 Sqdn - 16 Corsair II
1833 Sqdn - 16 Corsair II
854 Sqdn - 21 Avenger I & II
HMS Victorious:
1834 Sqdn - 18 Corsair II
1836 Sqdn - 16 Corsair II
849 Sqdn - 21 Avenger II
Ship's flight - 2 Walrus Air Sea Rescue (ASR) detachment
HMS Indefatigable:
887 Sqdn - 24 Seafire FIII
894 Sqdn - 16 Seafire LIII
1770 Sqdn - 12 Firefly I
820 Sqdn - 21 Avenger II
*** *** ***
'Operation Dracula' - Rangoon and Tenasserim Coast Strikes
April 30 to May 6 1945
HMS Emperor:
800 Sqdn - 24 Hellcat II
HMS Khedive:
808 Sqdn - 20 Hellcat II
1700 Sqdn - 1 Walrus ASR detachment
HMS Hunter:
807 Sqdn - 24 Seafire LIII + 1 Seafire FRIII
HMS Stalker:
809 Sqdn - 24 Seafire LIII and FRIII
***
'Operation Bishop' - strikes on Nicobar and Andaman Islands and Burma coast
April 30 to May 7 1945
HMS Empress:
804 Sqdn - 20 Hellcat II
1700 Sqdn - 1 Walrus (ASR?)
HMS Shah:
804 Flight - 4 Hellcat II
851 Sqdn - 10 Avenger I
809 Sqdn - 5 Seafire LIII (spares for HMS Stalker)
*** *** ***
Japanese home island strikes
July 17 to August 15 1945
HMS Formidable:
1841 Sqdn - 18 Corsair IV
1842 Sqdn - 18 Corsair IV
1844 Sqdn - 4 Hellcat II & 2 Hellcat PR II (photo-recce)
848 Sqdn - 12 Avenger II
HMS Victorious:
1834 Sqdn - 19 Corsair II & IV
1836 Sqdn - 18 Corsair II & IV
849 Sqdn - 16 Avenger II
Ship's flight - 2 Walrus ASR
HMS Implacable:
801 Sqdn - 24 Seafire LIII
880 Sqdn - 24 Seafire LIII & FRIII
1771 Sqdn - 12 Firefly I
828 Sqdn - 21 Avenger II
HMS Indefatigable:
887 Sqdn - 15 Seafire FIII + 9 Seafire LIII
894 Sqdn - 16 Seafire LIII
1772 Sqdn - 12 Firefly I
820 Sqdn - 21 Avenger II
Fleet Train for the above:
HMS Ruler
885 Sqdn - 18 Hellcat II & 4 Avenger II
+ HMS Striker, HMS Chaser, HMS Speaker and HMS Arbiter as replenishment CVEs
EACH carrying a standard load of 9 Seafires, 7 Avengers, 6 Corsairs, 1 Hellcat, 1 Firefly
Note the high attrition rate expected for the Seafires compared with other types. The type had a narrow-track undercarriage and was noted for being more fragile than the Sea Hurricane or Fulmar which both had a broad track undercarriage.
HMS Ruler appears to be the CAP escort for the fleet train of spare aircraft.
HMS Unicorn and HMS Pioneer are repair carriers at Manus.
B
For the first time it is edited into one long list and I have corrected and fact-checked.
*** *** *** *** *** *** ***
Examples of Fleet Air Arm aircraft deployment in WW2:
Atlantic Trade Protection in 1939:
HMS Ark Royal
800 Sqdn - 9 Skuas
803 Sqdn - 9 Skuas until end of Sept 1939
810 Sqdn - 12 Swordfish
820 Sqdn - 9 Swordfish and 1 Walrus
HMS Furious
801 Sqdn - 9 Skuas
816 Sqdn - 9 Swordfish
818 Sqdn - 9 Swordfish
HMS Courageous - sunk September 17 by U-29
811 Sqdn - 12 Swordfish
822 Sqdn - 12 Swordfish
HMS Hermes
814 Sqdn - 12 Swordfish transferred from Ark Royal on Sept 4 1939
HMS Albatross (based at Freetown from October 1939)
710 Sqdn - 6 Walruses
Indian Ocean 1939 - 1940:
HMS Eagle - China Station and East Indies until May 1940
813 Sqdn - 9 Swordfish
824 Sqdn - 9 Swordfish
HMS Glorious - Indian Ocean October 1939 to Jan 1940
802 Sqdn - 6 Sea Gladiators
812 Sqdn - 12 Swordfish
823 Sqdn - 12 Swordfish
825 Sqdn - 12 Swordfish
*** *** ***
1940:
Furious:
April - 816 Sqdn and 818 Sqdn each with 9 Swordfish
May - ferrying 6 Sea Gladiators and 9 Swordfish
Sept/October:
801 Sqdn - 9 Skuas
816 Sqdn - 9 Swordfish
825 Sqdn - 9 Swordfish
Glorious:
April:
802 Sqdn - 9 Sea Gladiators
803 Sqdn - 11 Skuas
804 Sqdn - 9 Sea Gladiators
June: (sunk by Scharnhorst and Gneisenau)
802 Sqdn - 9 Sea Gladiators
823 Sqdn - 9 Swordfish
Ark Royal:
April:
800 Sqdn - 9 Skuas and 2 Rocs
801 Sqdn: - 9 Skuas and 3 Rocs
819 Sqdn - 12 Swordfish
820 Sqdn - 9 Swordfish
May to June:
800 Sqdn - 12 Skuas
803 Sqdn - 11 Skuas
810 and 820 Sqdn - 21 Swordfish
701 Sqdn - 5 Walrus from June 7
*** *** ***
1941
Eagle May to September 1941:
813 Sqdn - 9 Swordfish
824 Sqdn - 9 Swordfish
*** *** ***
Hunting the Bismarck:
Victorious:
800Z Sqdn - 6 Fulmar
825 Sqdn - 9 Swordfish
Ark Royal:
807 Sqdn - 12 Fulmars
808 Sqdn - 12 Fulmars
810 Sqdn - 12 Swordfish
818 Sqdn - 9 Swordfish
820 Sqdn - 9 Swordfish
*** *** ***
1941 Strike on Petsamo and Kirkenes:
Victorious:
809 Sqdn - 12 Fulmars
827 Sqdn - 12 Albacores
828 Sqdn - 9 Albacores
Furious:
800 Sqdn - 9 Fulmars
880A Flight - 4 Sea Hurricanes
812 Sqdn - 9 Swordfish
817 Sqdn - 9 Albacores
*** *** ***
Home Fleet August 1941 to December 1942:
Victorious:
809 Sqdn - 12 Fulmars
802B Flight - 2 Martlet IIIs (september 1941 only)
817 Sqdn - 9 Albacores
832 Sqdn - 12 Albacores
820 Sqdn - 12 Albacores in place of 832 Sqdn Nov 41 to Feb 42
Argus:
ferrying 2 Martlet IIIs of 802B Flight August and September 41
Avenger:
802 Sqdn - 6 Sea Hurricanes
883 Sqdn - 6 Sea Hurricanes
825 Flight - 3 Swordfish
6 spare Sea Hurricanes also embarked (probably crated)
*** *** ***
Force H and Harpoon Convoy - 1942
HMS Eagle from March 1942:
813 Sqdn - 9 Swordfish and 4 Sea Hurricanes
824 Sqdn - 9 Swordfish (not for Harpoon)
801 Sqdn - 12 Sea Hurricanes (Harpoon only)
HMS Argus:
807 Sqdn - 4 Fulmars
824 Sqdn - 4 Swordfish (detachment)
*** *** ***
Operation Pedestal - August 1942
HMS Victorious:
809 Sqdn - 12 Fulmars
884 Sqdn - 6 Fulmars
885 Sqdn - 6 Sea Hurricanes
817 Sqdn - 2 Albacores (9 detached)
832 Sqdn - 12 Albacores
HMS Indomitable - bombed and damaged August 12, 1942
800 Sqdn - 12 Sea Hurricanes
806 Sqdn - 6 Martlet IIs
880 Sqdn - 12 Sea Hurricanes
827 Sqdn - 12 Albacores
831 Sqdn - 12 Albacores
HMS Eagle - sunk by U-73 August 11, 1942
801 Sqdn - 12 Sea Hurricanes with 4 more in reserve
813 Sqdn - 4 Sea Hurricanes
HMS Furious:
ferry and fly-off 38 Spitfires to Malta
822 Sqdn - 4 Albacores (detachment)
*** *** ***
Operation Torch - invasion of North Africa November 1942
HMS Formidable:
885 Sqdn - 6 Seafire IIC
888 Sqdn - 12 Martlet II
893 Sqdn - 12 Martlet IV
820 Sqdn - 12 Albacores
HMS Victorious:
809 Sqdn - 6 Fulmar FII
882 Sqdn - 12 Martlet IV
884 Sqdn - 6 Seafire IIC
817 Sqdn - 9 Albacores
832 Sqdn - 9 Albacores (B Flight disembarked)
HMS Furious:
801 Sqdn - 12 Seafire IB
807 Sqdn - 12 Seafire IIC
882 Sqdn - 8 Albacores (C Flight disembarked) + 1 Fulmar FRII
HMS Biter:
800 Sqdn - 15 Sea Hurricanes IIB & IIC
833A Flight - 3 Swordfish disembarked at Gibraltar and returned in HMS Argus.
HMS Dasher:
804 Sqdn - 6 Sea Hurricane IIC
891 Sqdn - 6 Sea Hurricane IIB
HMS Argus:
880 Sqdn - 18 Seafire IIC
HMS Avenger:
802 Sqdn - 9 Sea Hurricane IIC
883 Sqdn - 6 Sea Hurricane IIC
833B Flight - 3 Swordfish disembarked at Gibraltar
USN forces:
USS Sangamon:
VGF-26 - 12 Wildcats
VGS-26 - 9 Avengers and 9 Dauntlesses
USS Chenango:
ferrying 76 or 77 USAAF P-40F Warhawks
These were flown off on November 10 to Port Lyautey, French Morocco.
USS Ranger:
VF-9 - 27 Wildcats
VF-41 - 27 Wildcats
VS-41 - 18 Dauntlesses
Commander Air Group - 1 Avenger
USS Suwanee:
VGF-27 - 11 Wildcats
VGF-28 - 12 Wildcats (lent from USS Chenango)
VGS-30 - 6 Wildcats (Fighter Flight from Charger)
VGS-27 - 9 Avengers
USS Santee:
VGF-29 - 14 Wildcats
VGS-29 - 8 Avengers and 9 Dauntlesses
*** *** ***
Home Fleet 1943
Furious from end of Feb 43:
801 Sqdn - 9 Seafires
822 Sqdn - 9 Albacores to end of June 43
825 Sqdn - 9 Swordfish + 6 Sea Hurricanes from July 1943
881 Sqdn - 6 Martlet IV July 1943 only
827 Sqdn - 12 Barracudas from October 1943 onwards
830 Sqdn - 9 Barracudas from October 1943 onwards
Dasher - lost in accidental explosion March 27, 1943
891 Sqdn - 6 Sea Hurricane IIB
816 Sqdn - 6 Swordfish
837 Sqdn - 6 Swordfish
Illustrious - July 43 only
878 Sqdn - 12 Martlet IV
809 Sqdn - 12 Martlet IV
894 Sqdn - 10 Seafire IIC
819 Sqdn - 12 Barracuda II
Unicorn - July 43 onwards
887 Sqdn - 10 Seafires
818 Sqdn - 4 Swordfish
824 Sqdn - 9 Swordfish
USS Ranger September and October 1943
VT-41 - 27 Wildcat F4F-4
VF-41 - 27 Dauntless SBD-5
VT-41 18 Avenger TBF-1
*** *** ***
Operation Tungsten (strike on Tirpitz)
April 3 1944
Victorious:
1834 Sqdn - 14 Corsair II
1836 Sqdn - 14 Corsair II
827 Sqdn - 9 Barracuda II
829 Sqdn - 12 Barracuda II
Furious:
801 Sqdn - 6 Seafire IB
880 Sqdn - 8 Seafire LIIC
830 Sqdn - 9 Barracuda II
831 Sqdn - 9 Barracuda II
Emperor:
800 Sqdn - 10 Hellcats
804 Sqdn - 10 Hellcats
Pursuer:
881 Sqdn - 10 Wildcat V
896 Sqdn - 10 Wildcat V
Searcher:
882 Sqdn - 10 Wildcat V
898 Sqdn - 10 Wildcat V
Fencer (as anti-submarine CVE):
842 Sqdn - 12 Swordfish II annd 8 Wildcat V
*** *** ***
Some examples of late war Fleet Air Arm Operations in the Far East:
Palembang Strikes - Operation Meridean
Pladjoe 24 Jan 1945 and Soengi Gerong 29 Jan 1945
HMS Indomitable:
1839 Sqdn - 15 Hellcat I
1844 Sqdn - 14 Hellcat I
857 Sqdn - 21 Avenger II
HMS Illustrious:
1830 Sqdn - 16 Corsair II
1833 Sqdn - 16 Corsair II
854 Sqdn - 21 Avenger I & II
HMS Victorious:
1834 Sqdn - 18 Corsair II
1836 Sqdn - 16 Corsair II
849 Sqdn - 21 Avenger II
Ship's flight - 2 Walrus Air Sea Rescue (ASR) detachment
HMS Indefatigable:
887 Sqdn - 24 Seafire FIII
894 Sqdn - 16 Seafire LIII
1770 Sqdn - 12 Firefly I
820 Sqdn - 21 Avenger II
*** *** ***
'Operation Dracula' - Rangoon and Tenasserim Coast Strikes
April 30 to May 6 1945
HMS Emperor:
800 Sqdn - 24 Hellcat II
HMS Khedive:
808 Sqdn - 20 Hellcat II
1700 Sqdn - 1 Walrus ASR detachment
HMS Hunter:
807 Sqdn - 24 Seafire LIII + 1 Seafire FRIII
HMS Stalker:
809 Sqdn - 24 Seafire LIII and FRIII
***
'Operation Bishop' - strikes on Nicobar and Andaman Islands and Burma coast
April 30 to May 7 1945
HMS Empress:
804 Sqdn - 20 Hellcat II
1700 Sqdn - 1 Walrus (ASR?)
HMS Shah:
804 Flight - 4 Hellcat II
851 Sqdn - 10 Avenger I
809 Sqdn - 5 Seafire LIII (spares for HMS Stalker)
*** *** ***
Japanese home island strikes
July 17 to August 15 1945
HMS Formidable:
1841 Sqdn - 18 Corsair IV
1842 Sqdn - 18 Corsair IV
1844 Sqdn - 4 Hellcat II & 2 Hellcat PR II (photo-recce)
848 Sqdn - 12 Avenger II
HMS Victorious:
1834 Sqdn - 19 Corsair II & IV
1836 Sqdn - 18 Corsair II & IV
849 Sqdn - 16 Avenger II
Ship's flight - 2 Walrus ASR
HMS Implacable:
801 Sqdn - 24 Seafire LIII
880 Sqdn - 24 Seafire LIII & FRIII
1771 Sqdn - 12 Firefly I
828 Sqdn - 21 Avenger II
HMS Indefatigable:
887 Sqdn - 15 Seafire FIII + 9 Seafire LIII
894 Sqdn - 16 Seafire LIII
1772 Sqdn - 12 Firefly I
820 Sqdn - 21 Avenger II
Fleet Train for the above:
HMS Ruler
885 Sqdn - 18 Hellcat II & 4 Avenger II
+ HMS Striker, HMS Chaser, HMS Speaker and HMS Arbiter as replenishment CVEs
EACH carrying a standard load of 9 Seafires, 7 Avengers, 6 Corsairs, 1 Hellcat, 1 Firefly
Note the high attrition rate expected for the Seafires compared with other types. The type had a narrow-track undercarriage and was noted for being more fragile than the Sea Hurricane or Fulmar which both had a broad track undercarriage.
HMS Ruler appears to be the CAP escort for the fleet train of spare aircraft.
HMS Unicorn and HMS Pioneer are repair carriers at Manus.
B