From "Black propaganda" by Stanley Newcourt-Nowodworski

Sib about HMS Ark Royal.Early in war the Ark Royal was bombed, and a German pilot was decorated for sinking the ship, which only had been damaged. Later it was sunk. The problem was whether to ignore a success or to repeat its claim.A sib solved the problem. The explanation being that Britain had broken Anglo-German naval convention and built two Ark Royals. The unpleasant - for the Germans- corollary was that if there were two Ark Royals , there might be two of every other capital ship as well!

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