Illustrious
Class Fleet Carriers (CV)
The small
number of aircraft carried was due to extensive armouring, including
the flight deck. This was considered more important than aircraft
capacity when operating close to shore based enemy aircraft. Indomitable's
capacity was increased to 48 by completing her with a two-level
hangar for half the length of the ship.
All went
through various war-time reconstructions including a slight increase
in deck space, provisions for deck parking of aircraft which increased
capacity to 54 and a large increase in AA guns. The increase in
size of aircraft, particularly jets, made post-war use of the Illustrious
class impractical due to a lack of hangar height. Victorious was
the only carrier to serve past the early 1950's after being extensively
reconstructed to operate jet aircraft.
HMS
Illustrious Built by Vickers Armstrong, Barrow. Laid down 27
April 1937. Launched 5 April 1939. Commissioned 25 May 1940. British
Pacific Fleet 1945. Trials carrier 1946-1954. Paid off 1954, stricken
3 November 1956 and broken up.
HMS
Victorious Built by Vickers Armstrong, Newcastle. Laid down
4 May 1937. Launched 14 September 1939. Commissioned 15 May 1941.
Took part in the Bismark chase soon after commissioning. Refitted
at Norfolk Navy Yard USA, winter 1942-43, after which she was loaned
to the US Pacific Fleet until being replaced by USS Essex. British
Pacific Fleet 1945, hit by two kamakazes, repaired in Australia.
Reconstructed October 1950 - January 1958, ship rebuilt from hangar
deck upwards with angled flight deck and large increase in hangar
height:
Displacement:
30,530 tons standard ; 35,500 tons full load Dimensions: 781 oa
x 103.25 x 31 feet Propulsion: reboilered Compliment: 2200 (including
air group) Aircraft: 35 inc. Sea Vixen and Buccaneer Guns: 6 x twin
3 inch / 50 ; 6 40 mm AA Radars: 3D Fighter-control - Type 984 ;
Height Finding - Type 293Q ; Navigation - Type 974 Refitted 1960.
Damaged by fire during 1967 refit when it was decided that she should
be decommissioned early. Stricken July 1969 and broken up.
HMS
Formidable Built by Harland & Wolff. Laid down 17 June 1937.
Launched 17 August 1939. Commissioned 24 November 1940. Damaged
by 1000kg bombs 26 May 1941, out of action for six months. Hit by
kamakaze May 1945. Paid off 1947, stricken 1953. Broken up 1956.
HMS
Indomitable (Modified Illustrious Class) Built by Vickers Armstrong,
Barrow. Laid down 10 November 1937. Launched 26 March 1940. Commissioned
10 October 1941. Served in the Far-East from July 1944, kamakazied
4 May 1945. Paid off and stricken May 1953. Broken up.
Displacement:
23,100 tons standard
28,661
tons full load
Dimensions:
673 pp, 743.75 oa x 95.75 x 28 feet
Propulsion:
Steam Turbines (6 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 3 shafts, Parsons geared
turbines), 111,000 shp.
Speed:
30.5 knots
Range:
11,000 nmiles at 14 knots
Compliment:
1200 (including air group)
Aircraft:
36 Guns: 8 x twin 4.5 inch ; 48 x 2 pdr AA
