У Норвегии задача обоих авианосцев была обеспечивать ПВО.
After joining in the hunt for the Graf Spee in October 1939 and escorting the heavy cruiser HMS Exeter back to Devonport, Ark Royal was ordered to the Mediterranean with HMS Glorious but orders had changed by the time they reached Gibraltar in April 1940. Ark Royal was then ordered,along with Glorious, to provide fighter protection off the coast of Norway which lasted until early June, by which time, the assault had become an evacuation.
Ark Royal was then assigned to Admiral Sir James Somerville’s Force H in company with
HMS Hood and a trio of destroyers operating in the Mediterranean. The first task was to deal with French fleet anchored at Mers-el-Kebir. Ark Royal’s aircraft served as target
spotters for the British warships during the action.
In April 1940, Glorious was ordered to return to Home Fleet to support the invasion
of Norway by providing air cover in company with Ark Royal. Gladiators of 263 Squadron were flown on board as well as Skuas of 803 Squadron and Sea Gladiators of 802 and 804 Squadrons.
263 Squadron were flown off on April 24 to attack target around Trondheim while Glorious returned to Scapa Flow three days later to refuel and take more aircraft on board. Back off Norwegian coast on May 1, the Sea Gladiators from Glorious provided air cover for both carriers with some success despite intensive attacks by the Luftwaffe during the daylight hours.
Having withdrawn for a second time, Glorious returned to Norway again on May 18 with the Walrus of 701 Squadron and 18 Hurricanes of 46 Squadron, the latter unable to fly off until May 26. The British forces had to withdraw a few days later which also involved the recovery of 46 Squadron Hurricanes, which managed to land on the carrier without the aid of an arrestor hook with little difficulty.
Glorious set sail for Scapa Flow, early on June 8 with just two escorting destroyers in
attendance, HMS Acasta and Ardent.
