 HMSEagle | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Audacious class |
| Operators |  Royal Navy |
| Preceded by | Implacable class |
| Succeeded by |
|
| Planned | 4 |
| Completed | 2 |
| Canceled | 2 |
| Retired | 2 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Aircraft carrier |
| Displacement | 36,800 tons (as built) |
| Length | 804 ft (245 m) |
| Beam |
|
| Draught | 33 ft (10 m) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed |
|
| Range |
|
| Armament |
|
| Armour |
|
| Aircraft carried |
|
TheAudacious-class aircraft carriers were a class ofaircraft carriers proposed by theBritish government in the 1930s – 1940s and completed after theSecond World War. The two ships built were heavily modified and diverged over their service lives. They were in operation from 1951 until 1979.
TheAudacious class was originally designed as an expansion of theImplacable class with double storied hangars. However, it was realised that the hangar height would not be sufficient for the new aircraft that were expected to enter service, so the design was considerably enlarged.[1]
Four ships were laid down between 1942 and 1943 duringWorld War II as part of the British naval buildup –Africa,Irresistible,Audacious andEagle. At the end of hostilitiesAfrica andEagle were cancelled. Work on the remaining two was suspended. They would be renamed and built to differing designs in the 1950s.[citation needed]
As the builds ofAudacious (renamedEagle) andIrresistible (renamedArk Royal) progressed they differed so much that they effectively became the lead (and sole) ships of each of their own classes. They formed the backbone of the postwar carrier fleet, and were much modified.[citation needed]
| Name | Pennant Number | Builder | Laid Down | Launched | Commissioned | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HMSEagle | R05 | Harland & Wolff,Belfast |
| 19 March 1946 | 5 October 1951 | Decommissioned 26 January 1972. |
| HMSArk Royal | R09 | Cammell Laird,Birkenhead |
| 3 May 1950 | 22 February 1955 | Decommissioned 14 February 1979. |
| HMSEagle | N/A |
| 19 April 1944 | N/A | N/A | Cancelled January 1946 when 23% complete. |
| HMSAfrica | N/A |
| N/A | N/A | N/A | Cancelled 15 October 1945. |
Media related toAudacious class aircraft carriers at Wikimedia Commons