H.M.S. Ark Royal
R.09
1956
(Optatus WDS-K-17)
- Class: Audacious - 2 aircraft carriers of 1944
- Displacement: 36,800 tons standard / 49,950 tons deep load
- Dimensions: 720' (pp) 803'9" (oa) x 112'9" x 35'7"
- Machinery: Parsons geared turbines, 8 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 4 shafts, 152,000 shp = 30.5 knots
- Guns: 12-4.5in (6x2), 52-40mm (8x6+2x2)
- Protection: 4.5in waterline belt, 4in-1.5in flight deck, 1.5in hangar sides, 2.5-1.5in hangar deck
- Aircraft: 50
- Complement: 2,250
- Builder: Cammell Laird, Birkenhead
- Keel Laid: 3 May 1943
- Launched: 3 Mar 1950
- Completed: 25 Feb 1955
- Notes: Ark Royal was the sister ship to Eagle, two of four Audacious-class ships that were laid down, but two were cancelled when World War II ended, and construction of these two was suspended for several years. Launched in 1950, her completion took five more years while she underwent redesign. When completed, she had a 5.5° partially angled flight deck, two steam catapults capable of launching aircraft weighing up to 30,000 pounds, a deck-edge lift on the port side (the first British ship to be fitted with such a device), modified armament, and the new mirror landing system. She was the first ship to be constructed with an angled flight deck and steam catapults, as opposed to having them added after launching. At commissioning she had two twin 4.5in on the port side forward, but these were removed as shown here, as they interfered with flight operations from the angled deck.
Other modifications over the years included removal of the port deck-edge lift in 1960 and removal of all but two 4.5in mounts aft in 1964. A major refit in 1967-70 increased the angled deck to 8.5°, upgraded the steam catapults and arrestor gear, allowed her to operate newer, heavier aircraft. Eventually she was fitted with four Sea Cat missile launchers.
Initially she operated up to 50 Sea Hawks, Sea Venoms, Gannets, Skyraiders and various helicopters. As newer, larger aircraft were fielded, the total dropped to 39, including Phantoms, Buccaneers, Gannets, and Wessex and Sea King helicopters. She decommissioned 14 Feb 1979.
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