Was there aircraft carriers in World War 1?

Answer 1

Aircraft carriers existed in WW1, but only Great Britain and Japan had them, in very small numbers, and they were not used. HMS Furious could have participated in the Battle of Jutland but was held out of the battle deliberately.

INCORRECT: In May 1916, no aircraft carriers existed in the Royal Navy. Two SEAPLANE carriers were designated to accompany the Grand fleet and the Battle cruiser fleet at the Battle of Jutland, but CAMPANIA somehow missed the signal to sail with the Grand fleet (she was anchored in an obscure bay), and was therefore left behind in Scapa Flow. The other Seaplane carrier, ENGADINE, did accompany the BC fleet, and launched a plane to recconoiter the enemy, but although the plane was able to report back to her carrier, Engadine was unable to pass the messages on to Beatty, the Admiral of the Battlecruiser force.

Furious was not launched until August 1916, completed in June 1917, and flew off her first aircraft in August 1917. HMS Argus was not launched until December 1917. She didn't land her fisrt aircraft until the 1st October, 1918.

Seaplane carriers, by difference, have to stop in the sea, lower the plane on to the sea by crane, and then the plane take off from the sea. Having landed (back on the water) the plane would taxi to its mother ship where it would be craned back on board.