In this selection you will see a truly extraordinary number of people at her launch at the Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead, one of the last images of her in 1941 before being sunk by German submarine U-18. You can also see happy survivors returning home after the sinking.
There are also some interesting aircraft that flew from her decks during her short operational naval life.
![The 'HMS Ark Royal', an aircraft carrier of the Royal Navy, circa 1941. (Photo by Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmFiOTc2ODZjLWYxOTAtNGNiMC04OTkxLTI1YjUxZTYxNjBiZjoyYzBiMmRmNS0zZjkyLTQ1NTYtYTI1Mi05Y2NhYjkzZGY5Mzc=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
9. HMS Ark Royal (91) memories
The 'HMS Ark Royal', an aircraft carrier of the Royal Navy, circa 1941. (Photo by Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)Photo: The News archive
![Survivors of the Royal Navy aircraft carrier 'HMS Ark Royal' arrive in England, after the vessel was torpedoed and sunk by a German U-boat, World War II, 24th November 1941. (Photo by Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjlkZjI1YzViLWE5OTEtNDFiYS1iM2UyLWE3N2Q5OTVhM2ZjYzplMDM2YjYzYS05YmZjLTRjN2QtYjNlZC00NGQ5NzVjOTk2ZTE=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
10. HMS Ark Royal (91) memories
Survivors of the Royal Navy aircraft carrier 'HMS Ark Royal' arrive in England, after the vessel was torpedoed and sunk by a German U-boat, World War II, 24th November 1941. (Photo by Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)Photo: The News archive