1944    

UK Colossus class



Aircraft Carrier

ships





Derivatives / Succeeded by
1948 UK Majestic class
1965 UK AO Triumph class



  Specifications


13190light (tn)
18400full load (tn)
211.80length (m)
24.40beam (m)
7.20draught (m)
12000range (nm)
25max speed (knots)
42000power (shp)

2Naval Engine steam turbines

32Naval Gun single 20 mm

1Naval Radar air direction radar Type 277




  Shipyards


UK Alexander Stephen - 1
UK Cammell Laird - 1
UK Harland and Wolff - Belfast2
UK Hawthorn Leslie - Hebburn1
UK Kvaerner (Govan) - Govan1
UK Swan Hunter (Wallsend) - Wallsend1
UK Vickers-Armstrong - High Walker2



  List of Ships


Filter:     Hide Transfers     Hide derivatives

----UKRoyal NavyMajestic class HMS PowerfulMKGZ
19571970 CA Canadian Armed Forces CVL 22 HMCS Bonaventure
----UKRoyal NavyMajestic class HMS MajesticGKZS
19551982 AU RAN R21 HMAS Melbourne
----UKRoyal NavyR49Majestic class HMS HerculesGKZK
19611997 IN Indian Navy R11 INS Vikrant
----UKRoyal NavyR93Majestic class HMS Terrible
19481973 AU RAN R17 HMAS Sydney
19441946UKRoyal NavyR15HMS ColossusS
19461973 FR French Navy R95 Arromanches
19441952UKRoyal NavyR71HMS VengeanceGGRV - Q
19521955 AU RAN R71 HMAS Vengeance
19602001 BR Brazilian Navy A11 NAeL Minas Gerais
19451957UKRoyal NavyR51HMS PerseusGGSL
19451956UKRoyal NavyR62HMS GloryGGSN - R
19451948UKRoyal NavyR63HMS VenerableV
19481968 NL Royal Netherlands Navy R81 Hr. Ms. Karel Doorman
19681997 AR Argentine Navy V2 ARA Veinticinco de Mayo
19451958UKRoyal NavyR68HMS OceanMVNZ - O
19461965UKRoyal NavyR16HMS TriumphMVRB - P
19651980 Triumph class A108 HMS Triumph
19461948CACanadian Armed ForcesR31HMCS WarriorGGDY - W
19481958 UK Royal Navy R31 HMS Warrior
19591970 AR Argentine Navy V1 ARA Independencia
19461956UKRoyal NavyR64HMS TheseusMVQW - T
19481948UKRoyal NavyMajestic class HMS Magnificent
19481956 CA Canadian Armed Forces CVL 21 HMCS Magnificent
19571965 UK Royal Navy HMS Magnificent (1957)

14 units



  Events


1942-mar-25OrderedOrdered UK R62 HMS Glory
1942-mar-25OrderedOrdered UK R15 HMS Colossus
1942-mar-25OrderedOrdered UK R51 HMS Perseus
1942-jun-01Laid downLaid down UK R15 HMS Colossus Yard No. 55
1942-aug-07OrderedOrdered UK R64 HMS Theseus
1942-aug-07OrderedOrdered UK R16 HMS Triumph
1942-aug-07OrderedOrdered UK R68 HMS Ocean
1942-aug-07OrderedOrdered UK R71 HMS Vengeance
1942-aug-07OrderedOrdered UK R31 HMS Warrior
1942-aug-28Laid downLaid down UK R62 HMS Glory Yard No. 1191
1942-nov-08Laid downLaid down UK R68 HMS Ocean Yard no. 598
1942-nov-16Laid downLaid down UK R71 HMS Vengeance as Yard No. 1699
1942-dec-03Laid downLaid down UK R63 HMS Venerable Yard No. V.1126
1942-dec-12Laid downLaid down CA R31 HMCS Warrior
1943-jan-06Laid downLaid down UK R64 HMS Theseus when the yard was known as Fairfield. Yard No. 709
1943-jan-27Laid downLaid down UK R16 HMS Triumph Yard No. 662
1943-jun-01Laid downLaid down UK R51 HMS Perseus as HMS Edgar, Yard no. 56
1943-sep-30LaunchedLaunched UK R15 HMS Colossus
1943-nov-27LaunchedLaunched UK R62 HMS Glory
1943-dec-30LaunchedLaunched UK R63 HMS Venerable
1944-feb-23LaunchedLaunched UK R71 HMS Vengeance
1944-mar-26LaunchedLaunched UK R51 HMS Perseus as HMS Perseus and completed as an aviation maintenance carrier, without catapults
1944-may-20LaunchedLaunched CA R31 HMCS Warrior as Yard no. 1224.
1944-jul-06LaunchedLaunched UK R64 HMS Theseus
1944-jul-08LaunchedLaunched UK R68 HMS Ocean
1944-oct-02LaunchedLaunched UK R16 HMS Triumph
1944-dec-01CommissionedCommissioned UK R15 HMS Colossus with Deck letter C, then J (1946), then S
1945-jan-15CommissionedCommissioned UK R71 HMS Vengeance Decl letter A, then N (by 1946) , then Q
1945-jan-17CommissionedCommissioned UK R63 HMS Venerable Deck letter B, then N, T in 1946), then V
1945-feb-21CommissionedCommissioned UK R62 HMS Glory with Deck Code L, became R
1945-aug-08CommissionedCommissioned UK R68 HMS Ocean
1945-oct-19CommissionedCommissioned UK R51 HMS Perseus
1945-nov-17DeploymentDeployment UK R51 HMS Perseus Departed UK to ferry fixed wing aircraft to Australia. Arrived Sydney.22 Dec 1945.
1945-dec-03AircraftAircraft UK R68 HMS Ocean first carrier landing by a jet aircraft. A Sea Vampire flown by Eric Winkle Brown.
1946-janTrialsTrials UK R68 HMS Ocean in the Mediterranean, as a Nightfighter carrier, completed Apr 1946
1946-jan-16RefitRefit UK R71 HMS Vengeance short refit in Sydney Garden Island Dockyard, until Mar 1946
1946-jan-24CommissionedCommissioned CA R31 HMCS Warrior
1946-feb-09CommissionedCommissioned UK R64 HMS Theseus
1946-marHomeportHomeport CA R31 HMCS Warrior departed HMNB Portsmouth for Halifax, NS.
1946-marPort VisitPort Visit UK R51 HMS Perseus visit to Melbourne while returning to UK
1946-may-09CommissionedCommissioned UK R16 HMS Triumph
1946-jun UK R51 HMS Perseus Into the Reserve fleet.
1946-augDecommissionedDecommissioned UK R15 HMS Colossus on loan to French Navy as Arromanches
1946-aug-06CommissionedCommissioned FR R95 Arromanches ex RN HMS Colossus, for 5 year loan
1947-junPort VisitPort Visit UK R71 HMS Vengeance visited Oslo.
1948DecommissionedDecommissioned CA R31 HMCS Warrior
1948DecommissionedDecommissioned UK R63 HMS Venerable to Royal Netherlands Navy as HMNLS Karel Doorman
1948-janRefitRefit UK R62 HMS Glory until c Jun 1949 to allow operations by heavier aircraft
1948-marFate: transferedFate: transfered CA R31 HMCS Warrior transferred to UK Royal Navy
1948-mar-23CommissionedCommissioned UK R31 HMS Warrior ex RCN HMCS Warrior. RN Deck Letter J
1948-mayDeploymentDeployment UK R68 HMS Ocean operating in eastern Mediterranean, to cover withdrawal of British forces from Palestine.
1948-may-28CommissionedCommissioned NL R81 Hr. Ms. Karel Doorman ex RN HMS Venerable
1948-nov-03TrialsTrials UK R31 HMS Warrior Trials of flexible (rubber) deck Nov to early Dec 1948
1948-decRefitRefit UK R16 HMS Triumph until c Mar 1949
1949RefitRefit UK R51 HMS Perseus Refit for newly designed steam catapult until 1950
1949DeploymentDeployment FR R95 Arromanches off French Indo-China (Vietnam) with French Navy
1949-janTrialsTrials UK R71 HMS Vengeance Arctic trials until early Mar. Included 705 NAS Dragonfly WB220.
1949-marTrialsTrials UK R31 HMS Warrior Further trials of flexible (rubber) deck Mar 1949
1949-mar-08RefitRefit UK R71 HMS Vengeance repairs at Rosyth until c Jun, to rectify flight deck cracks and other defects incurred during the Arctic trials.
1949-junHomeportHomeport UK R68 HMS Ocean departed HMNB Devonport to serve with Mediterranean Fleet
1949-julDeploymentDeployment UK R16 HMS Triumph Operation Firedog departed UK for Far East deployment, contributing to air strikes in Malayan jungles.
1950-jun-29DeploymentDeployment UK R16 HMS Triumph while on Far East station, diverted to Kure to re-store for Korea and departed 29 Jun, with CAG-13 embarked.
1950-jul-02DeploymentDeployment UK R16 HMS Triumph reassigned to US Task Group 77.4 (with USS Valley Forge), off east coast of Korean peninsula after N Korea invaded S Korea. Remained with TF 77 until 26 Jul.
1950-augDeploymentDeployment UK R31 HMS Warrior departed UK to ferry aircraft and troops to the Far East.
1950-aug-18DeploymentDeployment UK R64 HMS Theseus departed HMNB Portsmouth for Far East to relieve HMS Triumph in Korean War operations.
1950-sep-20DeploymentDeployment UK R16 HMS Triumph completed mission with Commonwealth Task Force (off Korean west coast) and after being relieved by HMS Theseus on 10 Oct, left theatre for the UK, arriving Portsmouth in Nov.
1950-oct-10DeploymentDeployment UK R64 HMS Theseus Served in Korean War 10 Oct 1950 with CAG-17 embarked relieving HMS Triumph and joing Task Group 95.1, until Apr 1951, when relieved by HMS Glory on 23 Apr.
1950-decRefitRefit UK R16 HMS Triumph at HMD Portsmouth, until c Apr 1951, as a transport carrier.
1951-janRefitRefit UK R68 HMS Ocean until c May 1951
1951-janAircraftAircraft UK R64 HMS Theseus towards end of Jan, a USN S-51 was embarked to replace the Sea Otter in the SAR Flight.
1951-marDeploymentDeployment UK R62 HMS Glory departed Malta with CAG-14 embarked, for Korean waters to relieve HMS Theseus and embarking a USN S-51 for her SAR Flight at Sasebo. Relieved by HMAS Sydney 4 Oct 1951.
1951-may-14DeploymentDeployment UK R62 HMS Glory First operational rescue by its Dragonfly SAR Flight while serving in Korean War 1951-1953 with 14th Carrier Air Group and a single planeguard Dragonfly.
1951-jun-22DeploymentDeployment UK R31 HMS Warrior departed UK for Far East, transporting 16 Parachute Brigade to Cyprus and stores and at least Dragonfly HR.1 VZ964 and VZ965. Arrived Singapore towards end of Jul.
1951-augFate: transferedFate: transfered UK R15 HMS Colossus sold by RN to French Navy, at end of loan period.
1951-aug-27DeploymentDeployment FR R95 Arromanches departed Toulon for Djibouti with air group including S-51 detachment from 58S. Arrived Djibouti 7 Sep.
1951-octRefitRefit UK R62 HMS Glory at Garden Island, Sydney, until c Jan 1952
1951-novAircraftAircraft UK R31 HMS Warrior assigned Dragonfly HR.1 VX596 for Ship Flight until c Dec, to Far East.
1951-dec-31DeploymentDeployment UK R51 HMS Perseus departed HMNB Rosyth for Philadelphia to demonstrate the steam catapult to US Navy. Returned to HMNB Portsmouth on 21 Mar 1952
1952RefitRefit UK R31 HMS Warrior air search radar Type 281 in HMD Devonport for refit until Sep 1953.
1952TrialsTrials UK R16 HMS Triumph trials conducted with commercial version of Sycamore
1952-janDeploymentDeployment UK R68 HMS Ocean departed Malta, to support Korean War operations in the Far East
1952-janDeploymentDeployment UK R71 HMS Vengeance departed HMNB Portsmouth for Singapore as an aircraft ferry to re-inforce efforts for the Korean War. Returned Mar 1952.
1952-febTrialsTrials UK R16 HMS Triumph angled flight deck trials (painted 3 deg offset).
1952-feb-02DeploymentDeployment UK R62 HMS Glory relieved HMAS Sydney off Korea. In turn, relieved by HMS Ocean on station, on 1 May.
1952-aprAircraftAircraft UK R62 HMS Glory Assigned Dragonfly HR.1 VZ965 mid Apr as SAR Flt. Transferred to HMS Ocean, when relieved in May.
1952-may-01DeploymentDeployment UK R68 HMS Ocean relieved HMS Glory and transferred Dragonfly HR.1 VZ965 aboard as SAR Flt until c Aug 1952. Korean war service until 30 Oct.
1952-sepRefitRefit UK R71 HMS Vengeance wear and tear repairs and work in preparation for transfer to RAN.
1952-novDecommissionedDecommissioned UK R71 HMS Vengeance to RAN as HMAS Vengeance
1952-novDeploymentDeployment UK R68 HMS Ocean relieved as duty Far East carrier by HMAS Sydney.
1952-nov-10DeploymentDeployment UK R62 HMS Glory relieved HMS Ocean off Korea and served until mid May 1953.
1952-nov-13CommissionedCommissioned AU R71 HMAS Vengeance ex RN HMS Vengeance
1952-dec-12DeploymentDeployment UK R51 HMS Perseus Operation Firedog departed UK with 10 Whirlwind HAR.21 of 848 NAS embarked to support forces in Borneo. Also ferried Dragonfly HR.3 WG707 and WG721 to Sembawang. Arrived in Singapore on 8 Jan 1953.
1953RefitRefit UK R16 HMS Triumph became Cadet Training Ship, completed c Aug
1953-jan-16AircraftAircraft AU R71 HMAS Vengeance took delivery of first 3 Sycamore HR.50 for the RAN in the English Channel (XA219, XA220 and XA221) and transported them to Oz, arriving early Mar.
1953-febDeploymentDeployment UK R51 HMS Perseus Departed Sembawang for UK, included ferrying of Dragonfly WG667.
1953-may-17DeploymentDeployment UK R68 HMS Ocean again relieved HMS Glory, on operations during the Korean War, until end of Oct. She returned to Hong Kong, having been relieved in turn by HMAS Sydney.
1953-jun-15DeploymentDeployment UK R64 HMS Theseus Fleet Review: Coronation Review of the Fleet as part of the Home Fleet
1953-jun-15DeploymentDeployment UK R51 HMS Perseus Fleet Review: Coronation Review of the Fleet as part of the Home Fleet - Portsmouth
1953-julRefitRefit UK R62 HMS Glory at HMD Portsmouth until c Oct 1953.
1953-sep-07AircraftAircraft UK R64 HMS Theseus embarked Dragonfly WG722/902-HF after it had assisted in post-earthquake relief work on Zakynthos and Kefalonia, departed for Malta but diverted to Cyprus
1953-sep-09DeploymentDeployment FR R95 Arromanches departed Toulon with 58S embarked, off French Indo-China (Vietnam). Returned to Toulon 19 Sep 1954.
1953-sep-28DeploymentDeployment UK R51 HMS Perseus Departed Sembawang for UK, included ferrying of Dragonfly HR.3 WG668.
1953-octPort VisitPort Visit UK R16 HMS Triumph visited Leningrad
1953-novRefitRefit UK R64 HMS Theseus until c Jun 1954, conversion to a training carrier, to replace HMS Implacable (R86).
1953-decHomeportHomeport UK R68 HMS Ocean returned to HMNB Devonport
1954-janRefitRefit UK R68 HMS Ocean at HMD Devonport until c Jun, to become a training carrier, to replace HMS Indefatigable (R10).
1954-jan-20TrialsTrials UK R51 HMS Perseus embarked Whirlwind HAS.22 of 706 NAS for anti-submarine trials.
1954-marRefitRefit UK R62 HMS Glory until c Jul 1954, as an aircraft and equipment transporter between UK and the Far East
1954-apr-21DeploymentDeployment UK R51 HMS Perseus Embarked 845 Squadron to transport it to Malta. Returned to UK Jul 1954
1954-may-12DeploymentDeployment UK R31 HMS Warrior relieved HMAS Sydney, off Korean peninsula.
1954-aug-31DeploymentDeployment UK R31 HMS Warrior departed Hong Kong after rapid fit of extra accommodation, to evacuate civilians from Vietnam, until mid Sep 1954.
1954-dec-14RefitRefit UK R31 HMS Warrior carrier controlled approach radar Type 961 at HMD Devonport., which included fitting of a 5° angled deck, a mirror landing sight and strengthening the flight deck.
1955RefitRefit NL R81 Hr. Ms. Karel Doorman until 1958 with angled flight deck, mirror landing sight and new radar
1955 UK R16 HMS Triumph into Reserve, anticipating the Admiralty decision in 1956 for Frigates to take over training duties.
1955RefitRefit UK R51 HMS Perseus towed to Belfast for conversion to fleet maintenance ship, but cancelled by 1957 Defence White Paper and towed to Gareloch for the Reserve.
1955-jan-24DeploymentDeployment UK R62 HMS Glory Operation Snowdrop Helicopter support ship in Loch Eriboll (deep water anchorage), near Durness, N Scotland during severe winter, for Operation Snowdrop.
1955-junDeploymentDeployment AU R71 HMAS Vengeance departed Sydney for return to UK. Her Ships Company would take over HMAS Melbourne after hand-over in the UK.
1955-aug-13DecommissionedDecommissioned AU R71 HMAS Vengeance returned to RN, until sold to Brazil on 13 Dec 1956.
1956-junDecommissionedDecommissioned UK R62 HMS Glory
1956-junAircraftAircraft UK R68 HMS Ocean 845 Squadron Whirlwind HAS.22 embarked. In mid Oct 1956, the unit then embarked on HMS Theseus
1956-junAircraftAircraft UK R64 HMS Theseus Initially, an 845 Squadron detachment of Whirlwind HAS.22 embarked, followed in Nov by whole unit after it had departed HMS Ocean, until Dec 1956
1956-aug-05DeploymentDeployment UK R68 HMS Ocean with HMS Theseus, transported 16 Parachute Brigade to Cyprus, during preparations for Operation Musketeer.
1956-aug-05DeploymentDeployment UK R64 HMS Theseus with HMS Ocean, transported 16 Parachute Brigade to Cyprus, during preparations for Operation Musketeer, returning to UK later that month.
1956-sep-30AircraftAircraft UK R64 HMS Theseus embarked Whirlwinds and Sycamore of JEHU for pre-Suez work up. Transferred to HMS Ocean on 14 Oct.
1956-oct-14DeploymentDeployment UK R64 HMS Theseus Departed UK for Malta, with 845 Squadron Whirlwinds embarked.
1956-oct-19DeploymentDeployment UK R68 HMS Ocean Departed UK for Malta, with JEHU embarked.
1956-oct-23DeploymentDeployment FR R95 Arromanches Arrived in Bizerte, covertly preparing for Op Mousquetaire. SAR Flt equipped with 2x HUP-2, detached from 23S (including 23S-7).
1956-oct-31DeploymentDeployment UK R64 HMS Theseus Operation Musketeer Participated in Suez Canal rotary wing operations off Suez Canal Zone, until 6 Nov 1956. JEHU embarked. Returned to HMNB Portsmouth on 21 Dec.
1956-novAircraftAircraft UK R31 HMS Warrior assigned Whirlwind HAR.3 XG579 / 993-J, XG584 / 994-J and XG588 / 995-J until Oct 1957.
1956-nov-01DeploymentDeployment UK R68 HMS Ocean Operation Musketeer Participated in Suez Canal rotary wing operations.
1956-nov-01DeploymentDeployment FR R95 Arromanches Operation Musketeer Participated in Suez Canal rotary wing operations.
1957 UK R64 HMS Theseus into reserve, moored in Fareham Creek.
1957RefitRefit FR R95 Arromanches until 1958, with a 4° angled deck and mirror landing sight
1957-jan-10AircraftAircraft UK R68 HMS Ocean embarked Whirlwind HAS.22 WV199/T of 845 Sq ditched and sank off Malta
1957-febDeploymentDeployment UK R31 HMS Warrior Operation Grapple In Pacific Ocean for H Bomb test as part of Operation Grapple. Whirlwinds were used for an air sampling programme during the Grapple tests.
1957-may-27DeploymentDeployment UK R68 HMS Ocean Took part in the Royal Review of the Home Fleet in the Cromarty Firth.
1957-junRefitRefit BR A11 NAeL Minas Gerais until Dec 1960 in Rotterdam (NL): reconstruction for Brazilian service
1957-decRefitRefit UK R16 HMS Triumph Conversion to Heavy Repair Ship commenced (as the major work on HMS Victorious finished), to be suspended between 1960/62 and completed c Aug 1964
1958-febDecommissionedDecommissioned UK R31 HMS Warrior
1958-marDecommissionedDecommissioned UK R68 HMS Ocean
1958-may-06Fate: scrappedFate: scrapped UK R51 HMS Perseus Sold for scrap at Port Glasgow
1958-nov-11Fate: transferedFate: transfered UK R31 HMS Warrior transferred to Argentina in a ceremony at HMNB Portsmouth, as ARA Independencia
1958-decDeploymentDeployment AR V1 ARA Independencia Sailed from HMNB Portsmouth on delivery voyage to Argentina.
1959-jul-08CommissionedCommissioned AR V1 ARA Independencia
1960RefitRefit FR R95 Arromanches became a training carrier
1960-febStruckStruck UK R68 HMS Ocean sold for scrap
1960-dec-06CommissionedCommissioned BR A11 NAeL Minas Gerais ex RN HMS Vengeance (from reserve)
1961-aug-23Fate: scrappedFate: scrapped UK R62 HMS Glory at Inverkeithing. Scrapping completed by 1962.
1961-nov-29Fate: scrappedFate: scrapped UK R64 HMS Theseus sold for scrapping, later towed from Portsmouth to be scrapped at Inverkeithing.
1962AircraftAircraft FR R95 Arromanches Took on assault role. HSS-1 of 33F embarked.
1962-mar-27Port VisitPort Visit NL R81 Hr. Ms. Karel Doorman 27mar to 2apr
1962-apr-18 NL R81 Hr. Ms. Karel Doorman arrived
1962-mayFate: scrappedFate: scrapped UK R68 HMS Ocean scrapped at Faslane
1968RefitRefit FR R95 Arromanches became anti-submarine carrier, helicopter complement increased to 24.
1968-jan-23 NL R81 Hr. Ms. Karel Doorman departure
1968-feb-09Port VisitPort Visit NL R81 Hr. Ms. Karel Doorman 9-12 feb
1968-mar-15 NL R81 Hr. Ms. Karel Doorman arrived
1968-apr-29DecommissionedDecommissioned NL R81 Hr. Ms. Karel Doorman
1968-oct-15Fate: transferedFate: transfered NL R81 Hr. Ms. Karel Doorman to Argentina as ARA Veinticinco de Mayo
1968-oct-15CommissionedCommissioned AR V2 ARA Veinticinco de Mayo ex HMNLS Karel Doorman
1970DecommissionedDecommissioned AR V1 ARA Independencia
1971-marFate: scrappedFate: scrapped AR V1 ARA Independencia
1973-novDecommissionedDecommissioned FR R95 Arromanches
1976RefitRefit BR A11 NAeL Minas Gerais Service Life Extension Programme until 1981
1978Fate: scrappedFate: scrapped FR R95 Arromanches at Toulon
1997DecommissionedDecommissioned AR V2 ARA Veinticinco de Mayo
2000Fate: scrappedFate: scrapped AR V2 ARA Veinticinco de Mayo sold for scrap to India
2001-oct-16DecommissionedDecommissioned BR A11 NAeL Minas Gerais
2004-aprFate: scrappedFate: scrapped BR A11 NAeL Minas Gerais towed to Alang, India and scrapped.









Helicopters for sale
Accidents
Acronyms
Airshows
Future helicopters
Flying a helicopter
Helicopter stories
TV and movies

Helicopter books
Helicopter patches
Helicopter model kits


az