Converted from merchant ships , they were only able to accommodate a composite squadron of about 15—20 aircraft. Their armaments were mainly anti-aircraft weapons, with one twin 4 inch Dual Purpose, Anti Aircraft gun.
One of the class, Campania , was the first British carrier to be fitted with an Action Information Organisation AIO and a Type radar able to detect low-level aircraft. Once completed the first carrier did not take part in active service until January , but all three served as convoy escorts during the final year of the war. They had some success during their patrols, and anti-submarine Fairey Swordfish flying from their decks sank and damaged some German U-boats and their fighters succeeded in shooting down German long-range reconnaissance aircraft.
The Nairana -class escort carriers were a class of three escort carriers built for the Royal Navy during the Second World War. The three ships were supposed to be identical but in reality they were all slightly different. Nairana built by John Brown was launched on 20 May and completed on 12 December Her other dimensions were a length of ft 6 in Vindex built by Swan Hunter was launched on 4 May and completed on 3 December Her other dimensions were a length of ft m , a beam of 68 ft 6 in Campania built by Harland and Wolff was launched on 17 June and completed on 9 February Her other dimensions were a length of ft m , a beam of 70 ft 21 m and a draught of 19 ft 5.
Common to all three ships was a traditional rivetted hull, steel flight decks and a closed hangar. Some squadrons were composite squadrons for convoy defence and would be equipped with anti-submarine and fighter aircraft, [9] while other squadrons working in a strike carrier role would only be equipped with fighter aircraft.
Vindex and Nairana were both commissioned within days of each other in December , and moved to Gourock for working up. They were to form a "hunter killer group" in the waters west of Ireland, providing cover for two southbound convoys OS 66 and KMS Weather conditions had prohibited flying until 31 January.
