In World War II, the aircraft carrier and submarine would finally ... in November 1941 after being torpedoed by U-81. HMS Eagle was lost in a Malta convoy to torpedoes launched by U-73.

What You Need to Know: The top five WWII aircraft carriers ... entire task unit of six escort carriers, triumphed against all odds at Leyte Gulf. Lastly, HMS Illustrious stood out for its ...

HMS Queen Elizabeth has taken more than eight years to build and is the first of two new carriers for the Navy; a second, the Prince of Wales, will follow in two years' time.