List of aircraft carriers of the Royal Navy

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

RN Ensign
Ships of the Royal Navy
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    There are two carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, currently in service.

    Key

    Aircraft The number of aircraft carried by the vessel
    Displacement Ship displacement at full combat load
    Propulsion Number of shafts, type of propulsion system, and top speed generated
    Service The dates work began and finished on the ship and its ultimate fate
    Laid down The date keel assembly was begun
    Commissioned The date the ship was commissioned
    Fate Notes on what happened to the ship: sunk, scrapped, cancelled, sold or some other

    Fleet carriers

    HMS Argus

    HMS Argus, 1918
    Ship Aircraft Displacement Propulsion Service
    Laid down Commissioned Fate
    HMS Argus (I49)
    (ex-Conte Rosso)     		18 15,775 long tons (16,028 t) 12 cylindrical boilers; 4 Parsons geared turbines, 4 shafts: max. speed 20 kn 1914 6 September 1918 Sold for scrap 1946

    HMS Hermes

    HMS Hermes August 1938
    Ship Aircraft Displacement Propulsion Service
    Laid down Commissioned Fate
    HMS Hermes (95) 20 13,000 long tons (13,209 t) 6 Yarrow small-tube boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines: max. speed 25 kn 15 January 1918 18 February 1924 Sunk 9 April 1942 by Japanese aircraft from the carriers Soryu, Hiryu and Akagi.

    HMS Eagle

    HMS Eagle
    Ship Aircraft Displacement Propulsion Service
    Laid down Commissioned Fate
    HMS Eagle (1918)
    (ex-Almirante Cochrane)     		25-30 26,000 long tons (26,417 t) 32 Yarrow boilers, 4 shafts, Parsons geared turbines: max. speed 24 kn 20 February 1913 20 February 1924 Torpedoed and sunk 11 August 1942, by U-73

    Courageous class

    HMS Furious
    Ship Aircraft Displacement Propulsion Service
    Laid down Commissioned Fate
    HMS Courageous (50) 48 27,419 long tons (27,859 t) 18 Yarrow small-tube boilers, 4 shafts, Parsons geared turbines: max. speed 30 kn 18 March 1915 November 1916 Sunk by U-29, 17 September 1939
    HMS Glorious (77) 48 26,990 long tons (27,423 t) 18 Yarrow small-tube boilers, 4 shafts, Parsons geared turbines: max. speed 30 kn 1 May 1915 January 1917 Sunk by Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, 8 June 1940
    HMS Furious (47) 36 28,500 long tons (28,957 t) 18 Yarrow small-tube boilers, 4 shafts, Brown-Curtis geared turbines: max. speed 30 kn 8 June 1915 June 1917 Sold for scrap 1948

    HMS Ark Royal

    HMS Ark Royal in 1939, with Swordfish of 820 Naval Air Squadron passing overhead.
    Ship Aircraft Displacement Propulsion Service
    Laid down Commissioned Fate
    HMS Ark Royal (91) 54 27,720 long tons (28,165 t) 6 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 3 shafts, Parsons geared turbines: max. speed 30-31 kn 16 September 1935 16 December 1938 Sunk 14 November 1941 by German submarine U-81, off Gibraltar.

    HMS Unicorn

    HMS Unicorn 1951

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

    Ship Aircraft Displacement Propulsion Service
    Laid down Commissioned Fate
    HMS Unicorn (I72) 35 20,300 long tons (20,626 t) 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers; 4 Parsons geared steam turbines, 4 shafts: max. speed 24 kn 26 June 1939 12 March 1943 Sold for scrap 1960

    Illustrious class

    HMS Illustrious
    Ship Aircraft Displacement Propulsion Service
    Laid down Commissioned Fate
    HMS Illustrious (87) 36 23,000 long tons (23,369 t) 6 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 3 shafts, Parsons geared turbines 27 April 1937 25 May 1940 Sold for scrap 1956
    HMS Formidable (R67) 40 23,000 long tons (23,369 t) 6 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 3 shafts, Parsons geared turbines 17 June 1937 24 November 1940 Sold for scrap 1956
    HMS Victorious (R38) 36 23,000 long tons (23,369 t) 6 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 3 shafts, Parsons geared turbines 4 May 1937 14 May 1941 Sold for scrap 1969
    HMS Indomitable (R92) 45 23,000 long tons (23,369 t) 6 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 3 shafts, Parsons geared turbines 10 November 1937 10 October 1941 Sold for scrap 1955

    Implacable class

    HMS Implacable 1944
    Ship Aircraft Displacement Propulsion Service
    Laid down Commissioned Fate
    HMS Implacable (R86) 54 32,624 long tons (33,148 t) 8 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 4 shafts, Parsons geared turbines 21 February 1939 28 August 1944 Sold for scrap 1955
    HMS Indefatigable (R10) 54 32,624 long tons (33,148 t) 8 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 4 shafts, Parsons geared turbines 3 November 1939 3 May 1944 Sold for scrap November 1956

    Colossus class

    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.

    Ship Aircraft Displacement Propulsion Service
    Laid down Commissioned Fate
    HMS Colossus (R61) 48 18,330 long tons (18,624 t) 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines 1 June 1942 16 December 1944 Loaned to France as Arromanches from August 1946, then sold to France 1951
    HMS Glory (R62) 48 18,330 long tons (18,624 t) 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines 27 August 1942 2 April 1945 Scrapped 1961
    HMS Ocean (R68) 48 18,330 long tons (18,624 t) 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines 8 November 1942 8 August 1945 Scrapped 1962
    HMS Theseus (R64) 48 18,330 long tons (18,624 t) 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines 6 January 1943 9 February 1946 Scrapped 1962
    HMS Triumph (R16) 48 18,330 long tons (18,624 t) 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines 27 January 1943 9 May 1946 Scrapped 1981 in Spain
    HMS Venerable (R63) 48 18,330 long tons (18,624 t) 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines 3 December 1942 17 January 1945 Sold to Netherlands 1948 and renamed Karel Doorman II then later sold in 1968 to Argentina as Veinticinco de Mayo. Scrapped 2000.
    HMS Vengeance (R71) 48 18,330 long tons (18,624 t) 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines 16 November 1942 15 January 1945 Transferred 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     		48 18,330 long tons (18,624 t) 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines 12 December 1942 November 1948 Loaned 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     		48 18,330 long tons (18,624 t) 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines 1 June 1942 19 October 1945 Scrapped 1958
    HMS Pioneer (R76)
    ex-Edgar     		48 18,330 long tons (18,624 t) 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines 2 December 1942 8 February 1945 Scrapped 1954

    Majestic class

    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.

    Ship Aircraft Displacement Propulsion Service
    Laid down Commissioned Fate
    HMS Majestic (R77) 37 18,085 long tons (18,375 t) 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines) 15 April 1943 28 October 1955 Sold 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) 37 18,085 long tons (18,375 t) 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines October 1943 4 March 1961 Laid up till purchased by India in January 1957, renamed INS Vikrant, commissioned 1961, decommissioned 1997, scrapped 2014.
    HMS Leviathan (R97) 37 18,085 long tons (18,375 t) 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines October 1943 Never completed scrapped 1968
    HMS Magnificent (R36) 37 18,085 long tons (18,375 t) 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines July 1943 7 April 1948 Loaned 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 turbines November 1943 17 January 1957 Sold 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) 37 18,085 long tons (18,375 t) 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines 19 November 1943 16 December 1948 Transferred 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
    Ship Aircraft Displacement Propulsion Service
    Laid down Commissioned Fate
    HMS Eagle (R05)
    ex-Audacious     		60+ 49,950 long tons (50,752 t) 8 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 4 shafts, Parsons SR geared turbines 24 October 1942 5 October 1951 Sold for scrap 1978
    HMS Ark Royal (R09)
    ex-Irresistible     		50 53,950 long tons (54,816 t) 8 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 4 shafts, Parsons SR geared turbines 3 May 1943 25 February 1955 Sold for scrap 1980
    HMS Eagle 60+ 49,950 long tons (50,752 t) 8 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 4 shafts, Parsons SR geared turbines 19 April 1944 Cancelled January 1946 when 23% complete. Scrapped on slip.
    HMS Africa Cancelled

    Centaur class

    HMS Centaur
    Ship Aircraft Displacement Propulsion Service
    Laid down Commissioned Fate
    HMS Centaur (R06) 42 26,200 long tons (26,620 t) 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines 30 May 1944 1 September 1953 Scrapped 1972
    HMS Albion (R07) 42 27,800 long tons (28,246 t) 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines 23 March 1944 May 1954 Scrapped November 1973
    HMS Bulwark (R08) 42 26,200 long tons (26,620 t) 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines 10 May 1945 29 October 1954 Scrapped April 1984
    HMS Hermes (R12)
    ex-Elephant     		42 27,800 long tons (28,246 t) 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines 21 June 1944 November 1959 Sold to India April 1986, as INS Viraat, decommissioned.[1]
    HMS Hermes 42 27,800 long tons (28,246 t) 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines 21 June 1944 Cancelled October 1945, scrapped on slip.
    HMS Arrogant 42 27,800 long tons (28,246 t) 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines 1944 Cancelled October 1945, scrapped on slip.
    HMS Monmouth Cancelled
    HMS Polyphemus Cancelled

    Malta class

    Ship Aircraft Displacement Propulsion Fate
    HMS Malta 80 56,800 long tons (57,711 t) 4 or 5 x shafts
    Steam turbines
    8 x boilers     		Cancelled 13 December 1945
    HMS New Zealand 80 56,800 long tons (57,711 t) 4 or 5 x shafts
    Steam turbines
    8 x boilers     		Cancelled 13 December 1945
    HMS Gibraltar 80 56,800 long tons (57,711 t) 4 or 5 x shafts
    Steam turbines
    8 x boilers     		Cancelled 15 October 1945
    HMS Africa 80 56,800 long tons (57,711 t) 4 or 5 x shafts
    Steam turbines
    8 x boilers     		Cancelled 15 October 1945

    Queen Elizabeth class (CVA-01)

    Ship Aircraft Displacement Propulsion
    Fate
    CVA-01 (possible name HMS Queen Elizabeth)[2] 50 54,500 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
    Ship Aircraft Displacement Propulsion Service
    Laid down Commissioned Fate
    HMS Invincible (R05) 20 22,000 long tons (22,353 t) 4 Olympus gas turbine engines combined gas and gas, 2 Shafts July 1973 July 1980 Sold for scrap 2010
    HMS Illustrious (R06) 20 22,000 long tons (22,353 t) 4 Olympus gas turbine engines combined gas and gas, 2 Shafts October 1976 June 1982 Sold for scrap 2016
    HMS Ark Royal (R07)
    ex-Indomitable     		20 20,000 long tons (20,321 t) 4 Olympus gas turbine engines combined gas and gas, 2 Shafts December 1978 1 July 1985 Sold for scrap 2012

    Queen Elizabeth class

    Ship Aircraft Displacement Propulsion Service
    Laid down Commissioned Fate
    HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08) 50
    [3]     		65,000 long tons (66,043 t)
    [3]     		2 x Rolls-Royce MT30 Gas Turbines
    [3]     		7 July 2009 7 December 2017 Active
    HMS Prince of Wales (R09) 50
    [3]     		65,000 long tons (66,043 t)
    [3]     		2 x Rolls-Royce MT30 Gas Turbines
    [3]     		26 May 2011 10 December 2019[4] 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. ^ a b c Hobbs 2013, p. 291.
    3. ^ a b c d e f "Queen Elizabeth Class Facts and Figures". Royal Navy. Archived from the original on 8 August 2010. Retrieved 18 September 2010.
    4. ^ "Commissioning day for HMS Prince of Wales". Royal Navy. Portsmouth. 10 December 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2019.

    References

    • Hobbs, David (2013). British Aircraft Carriers: Design, Development and Service Histories. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-138-0.

    External links

    • Maritimequest Royal Navy aircraft carrier photo gallery