List of aircraft carriers of the Royal Navy

Last updated

The following is a list of fleet aircraft carriers of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom .

Contents

There are two carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, currently in service.

Key

AircraftThe number of aircraft carried by the vessel
Displacement Ship displacement at full combat load
PropulsionNumber of shafts, type of propulsion system, and top speed generated
ServiceThe dates work began and finished on the ship and its ultimate fate
Laid downThe date keel assembly was begun
CommissionedThe date the ship was commissioned
FateNotes on what happened to the ship: sunk, scrapped, cancelled, sold or some other

Fleet carriers

HMS Argus

HMS Argus, 1918 HMS Argus (1917).jpg
HMS Argus, 1918
ShipAircraftDisplacementPropulsionService
Laid downCommissionedFate
HMS Argus (I49)
(ex-Conte Rosso)
1815,775 long tons (16,028 t)12 cylindrical boilers; 4 Parsons geared turbines, 4 shafts: max. speed 20 kn19146 September 1918Sold for scrap 1946

HMS Hermes

HMS Hermes August 1938 HMS Hermes 1938.jpg
HMS Hermes August 1938
ShipAircraftDisplacementPropulsionService
Laid downCommissionedFate
HMS Hermes (95) 2013,000 long tons (13,209 t)6 Yarrow small-tube boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines: max. speed 25 kn15 January 191818 February 1924Sunk 9 April 1942 by Japanese aircraft from the carriers Soryu , Hiryu and Akagi .

HMS Eagle

HMS Eagle HMS Eagle (1918).jpg
HMS Eagle
ShipAircraftDisplacementPropulsionService
Laid downCommissionedFate
HMS Eagle (1918)
(ex-Almirante Cochrane)
25-3026,000 long tons (26,417 t)32 Yarrow boilers, 4 shafts, Parsons geared turbines: max. speed 24 kn20 February 191320 February 1924Torpedoed and sunk 11 August 1942, by U-73

Courageous class

HMS Furious HMS Furious-15.jpg
HMS Furious
ShipAircraftDisplacementPropulsionService
Laid downCommissionedFate
HMS Courageous (50) 4827,419 long tons (27,859 t)18 Yarrow small-tube boilers, 4 shafts, Parsons geared turbines: max. speed 30 kn18 March 1915November 1916Sunk by U-29, 17 September 1939
HMS Glorious (77) 4826,990 long tons (27,423 t)18 Yarrow small-tube boilers, 4 shafts, Parsons geared turbines: max. speed 30 kn1 May 1915January 1917Sunk by Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, 8 June 1940
HMS Furious (47) 3628,500 long tons (28,957 t)18 Yarrow small-tube boilers, 4 shafts, Brown-Curtis geared turbines: max. speed 30 kn8 June 1915June 1917Sold for scrap 1948

HMS Ark Royal

HMS Ark Royal in 1939, with Swordfish of 820 Naval Air Squadron passing overhead. HMS Ark Royal h85716.jpg
HMS Ark Royal in 1939, with Swordfish of 820 Naval Air Squadron passing overhead.
ShipAircraftDisplacementPropulsionService
Laid downCommissionedFate
HMS Ark Royal (91) 5427,720 long tons (28,165 t)6 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 3 shafts, Parsons geared turbines: max. speed 30-31 kn16 September 193516 December 1938Sunk 14 November 1941 by German submarine U-81, off Gibraltar.

HMS Unicorn

HMS Unicorn 1951 Unicorn-g427411.jpg
HMS Unicorn 1951

HMS Unicorn was an aircraft repair ship and light aircraft carrier; an "aircraft maintenance carrier".

ShipAircraftDisplacementPropulsionService
Laid downCommissionedFate
HMS Unicorn (I72) 3520,300 long tons (20,626 t)4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers; 4 Parsons geared steam turbines, 4 shafts: max. speed 24 kn26 June 193912 March 1943Sold for scrap 1960

Illustrious class

HMS Illustrious HMS Illustrious (AWM 302415).jpg
HMS Illustrious
ShipAircraftDisplacementPropulsionService
Laid downCommissionedFate
HMS Illustrious (87) 3623,000 long tons (23,369 t)6 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 3 shafts, Parsons geared turbines27 April 193725 May 1940Sold for scrap 1956
HMS Formidable (R67) 4023,000 long tons (23,369 t)6 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 3 shafts, Parsons geared turbines17 June 193724 November 1940Sold for scrap 1956
HMS Victorious (R38) 3623,000 long tons (23,369 t)6 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 3 shafts, Parsons geared turbines4 May 193714 May 1941Sold for scrap 1969
HMS Indomitable (R92) 4523,000 long tons (23,369 t)6 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 3 shafts, Parsons geared turbines10 November 193710 October 1941Sold for scrap 1955

Implacable class

HMS Implacable 1944 HMS Implacable (R86).jpg
HMS Implacable 1944
ShipAircraftDisplacementPropulsionService
Laid downCommissionedFate
HMS Implacable (R86) 5432,624 long tons (33,148 t)8 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 4 shafts, Parsons geared turbines21 February 193928 August 1944Sold for scrap 1955
HMS Indefatigable (R10) 5432,624 long tons (33,148 t)8 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 4 shafts, Parsons geared turbines3 November 19393 May 1944Sold for scrap November 1956

Colossus class

HMS Triumph 1950 HMS Triumph 1950.jpg
HMS Triumph 1950

The 1942 Design Light Fleet Carriers were designed and constructed by civilian shipyards to serve as an intermediate step between the expensive, full-size fleet aircraft carriers and the less expensive but limited-capability escort carriers. Perseus and Pioneer were modified to operate as maintenance carriers.

ShipAircraftDisplacementPropulsionService
Laid downCommissionedFate
HMS Colossus (R61) 4818,330 long tons (18,624 t)4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines1 June 194216 December 1944Loaned to France as Arromanches from August 1946, then sold to France 1951
HMS Glory (R62) 4818,330 long tons (18,624 t)4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines27 August 19422 April 1945Scrapped 1961
HMS Ocean (R68) 4818,330 long tons (18,624 t)4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines8 November 19428 August 1945Scrapped 1962
HMS Theseus (R64) 4818,330 long tons (18,624 t)4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines6 January 19439 February 1946Scrapped 1962
HMS Triumph (R16) 4818,330 long tons (18,624 t)4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines27 January 19439 May 1946Scrapped 1981 in Spain
HMS Venerable (R63) 4818,330 long tons (18,624 t)4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines3 December 194217 January 1945Sold to Netherlands 1948 and renamed Karel Doorman II then later sold in 1968 to Argentina as Veinticinco de Mayo. Scrapped 2000.
HMS Vengeance (R71) 4818,330 long tons (18,624 t)4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines16 November 194215 January 1945Transferred to the Royal Australian Navy from 1953 to August 1955. Sold to Brazil as Minas Gerais December 1956. Scrapped 2004.
HMS Warrior (R31)
ex-Brave
4818,330 long tons (18,624 t)4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines12 December 1942November 1948Loaned to Royal Canadian Navy 1946-48 and not commissioned into RN until November 1948. Returned to UK 1956 and modernised. Sold to Argentina as Independencia 1958.
HMS Perseus (R51)
ex-Ethalion
ex-Mars
4818,330 long tons (18,624 t)4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines1 June 194219 October 1945Scrapped 1958
HMS Pioneer (R76)
ex-Edgar
4818,330 long tons (18,624 t)4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines2 December 19428 February 1945Scrapped 1954

Majestic class

HMS Hercules HMS Hercules aircraft carrier.jpg
HMS Hercules

The 1942 design was modified to take more modern aircraft and these ships became the Majestic-class. Not completed until after the end of the war, most ended up purchased by other navies.

ShipAircraftDisplacementPropulsionService
Laid downCommissionedFate
HMS Majestic (R77) 3718,085 long tons (18,375 t)4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines)15 April 194328 October 1955Sold to Australia in 1949, and completed in 1955 to a modified design including an angled flight deck and renamed as HMAS Melbourne. Sold for scrap in February 1985 to China United Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., Dalian, China.
HMS Hercules (R49) 3718,085 long tons (18,375 t)4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbinesOctober 19434 March 1961Laid up till purchased by India in January 1957, renamed INS Vikrant, commissioned 1961, decommissioned 1997, scrapped 2014.
HMS Leviathan (R97) 3718,085 long tons (18,375 t)4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbinesOctober 1943Never completed scrapped 1968
HMS Magnificent (R36) 3718,085 long tons (18,375 t)4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbinesJuly 19437 April 1948Loaned to Royal Canadian Navy upon completion in 1948. Commissioned in RCN March 1948, returned to Royal Navy 1957 and scrapped 1965
HMS Powerful (R95) 18,985 long tons (19,290 t)4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbinesNovember 194317 January 1957Sold to Canada on 23 April 1952, then completed to a modified design with an angled flight deck and renamed HMCS Bonaventure and broken up in 1971
HMS Terrible (R93) 3718,085 long tons (18,375 t)4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines19 November 194316 December 1948Transferred to Royal Australian Navy as HMAS Sydney 1948. Sold for scrap on 28 October 1975 to Dongkuk Steel Mill Co. Ltd., Seoul, South Korea

Audacious class

HMS Eagle Crown copyright. MOD 45140149.jpg
HMS Eagle
ShipAircraftDisplacementPropulsionService
Laid downCommissionedFate
HMS Eagle (R05)
ex-Audacious
60+49,950 long tons (50,752 t)8 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 4 shafts, Parsons SR geared turbines24 October 19425 October 1951Sold for scrap 1978
HMS Ark Royal (R09)
ex-Irresistible
5053,950 long tons (54,816 t)8 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 4 shafts, Parsons SR geared turbines3 May 194325 February 1955Sold for scrap 1980
HMS Eagle60+49,950 long tons (50,752 t)8 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 4 shafts, Parsons SR geared turbines19 April 1944Cancelled January 1946 when 23% complete. Scrapped on slip.
HMS AfricaCancelled

Centaur class

HMS Centaur HMS Centaur 1965.jpg
HMS Centaur
ShipAircraftDisplacementPropulsionService
Laid downCommissionedFate
HMS Centaur (R06) 4226,200 long tons (26,620 t)4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines30 May 19441 September 1953Scrapped 1972
HMS Albion (R07) 4227,800 long tons (28,246 t)4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines23 March 1944May 1954Scrapped November 1973
HMS Bulwark (R08) 4226,200 long tons (26,620 t)4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines10 May 194529 October 1954Scrapped April 1984
HMS Hermes (R12)
ex-Elephant
4227,800 long tons (28,246 t)4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines21 June 1944November 1959Sold to India April 1986, as INS Viraat, decommissioned. [1]
HMS Hermes4227,800 long tons (28,246 t)4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines21 June 1944Cancelled October 1945, scrapped on slip.
HMS Arrogant4227,800 long tons (28,246 t)4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines1944Cancelled October 1945, scrapped on slip.
HMS MonmouthCancelled
HMS PolyphemusCancelled

Malta class

ShipAircraftDisplacementPropulsionFate
HMS Malta 8056,800 long tons (57,711 t)4 or 5 x shafts
Steam turbines
8 x boilers
Cancelled 13 December 1945
HMS New Zealand8056,800 long tons (57,711 t)4 or 5 x shafts
Steam turbines
8 x boilers
Cancelled 13 December 1945
HMS Gibraltar8056,800 long tons (57,711 t)4 or 5 x shafts
Steam turbines
8 x boilers
Cancelled 15 October 1945
HMS Africa8056,800 long tons (57,711 t)4 or 5 x shafts
Steam turbines
8 x boilers
Cancelled 15 October 1945

Queen Elizabeth class (CVA-01)

ShipAircraftDisplacementPropulsion
Fate
CVA-01 (possible name HMS Queen Elizabeth) [2] 5054,500 long tons (55,375 t)3 x shafts
Parsons turbines
6 boilers
Cancelled 1966
HMS Duke of Edinburgh (Possibly) [2] Cancelled 1963
HMS Prince of Wales (Possibly) [2]
HMS Princess Royal (Possibly)[ citation needed ]

Invincible class

HMS Invincible HMS Invincible During T200 Celebrations MOD 45144681.jpg
HMS Invincible
ShipAircraftDisplacementPropulsionService
Laid downCommissionedFate
HMS Invincible (R05) 2022,000 long tons (22,353 t)4 Olympus gas turbine engines combined gas and gas, 2 ShaftsJuly 1973July 1980Sold for scrap 2010
HMS Illustrious (R06) 2022,000 long tons (22,353 t)4 Olympus gas turbine engines combined gas and gas, 2 ShaftsOctober 1976June 1982Sold for scrap 2016
HMS Ark Royal (R07)
ex-Indomitable
2020,000 long tons (20,321 t)4 Olympus gas turbine engines combined gas and gas, 2 ShaftsDecember 19781 July 1985Sold for scrap 2012

Queen Elizabeth class

HMS Queen Elizabeth HMS Queen Elizabeth (cropped).jpg
HMS Queen Elizabeth
ShipAircraftDisplacementPropulsionService
Laid downCommissionedFate
HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08) 50
[3]
Est. 80,600 tonnes (79,300 long tons; 88,800 short tons) Full Load [4] 2 x Rolls-Royce MT30 Gas Turbines
[3]
7 July 20097 December 2017Active
HMS Prince of Wales (R09) 50
[3]
Est. 80,600 tonnes (79,300 long tons; 88,800 short tons) Full Load [5] 2 x Rolls-Royce MT30 Gas Turbines
[3]
26 May 201110 December 2019 [6] Active

See also

Notes

  1. "INS Viraat bows out of service". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 28 August 2017. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 Hobbs 2013, p. 291.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Queen Elizabeth Class Facts and Figures". Royal Navy. Archived from the original on 8 August 2010. Retrieved 18 September 2010.
  4. Pape, Alex (April 2023). Jane's Fighting Ships 2023-2024. United Kingdom: Jane's Information Group Limited. p. 886. ISBN   9780710634283.
  5. Pape, Alex (April 2023). Jane's Fighting Ships 2023-2024. United Kingdom: Jane's Information Group Limited. p. 886. ISBN   9780710634283.
  6. "Commissioning day for HMS Prince of Wales". Royal Navy. Portsmouth. 10 December 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2019.

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References