Albion as designed
Albion 1962
Bulwark 1960
Centaur 1963
Centaur 1964
Centaur 1968
Bulwark 1979
Hermes 1959
Hermes 1963
Hermes 1968
Hermes 1978
Hermes 1979
Hermes 1982
| Name | No | Yard No | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comp | Fate |
| Centaur | R06 | 1280 | Harland & Wolff, Belfast | 30.5.1944 | 22.4.1947 | 1.9.1953 | stricken 1971 |
| Albion | R07 | 1721 | Swan Hunter, Wallsend | 23.3.1944 | 6.5.1947 | 26.5.1954 | amphibious helicopter carrier 8.1962, sold 10.1973 |
| Bulwark | R08 | 1281 | Harland & Wolff, Belfast | 10.5.1945 | 22.6.1948 | 4.11.1954 | amphibious helicopter carrier 1.1960, anti-submarine aircraft carrier 2.1979, stricken 3.1981 |
| Hermes (ex-Leviathan) | R12 | 928 | Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow | 21.6.1944 | 16.2.1953 | 18.11.1959 | amphibious helicopter carrier 8.1973, anti-submarine aircraft carrier12/1976, aircraft carrier 5.1981, to India 4.1986 (Viraat) |
| Arrogant | 1723 | Swan Hunter, Wallsend | --- | --- | --- | cancelled 10.1945 | |
| Hermes | 1158 | Cammell Laird, Birkenhead | --- | --- | --- | cancelled 10.1945 | |
| Monmouth | 721 | Fairfield, Govan | --- | --- | --- | cancelled 10.1945 | |
| Polyphemus | Devonport DYd | --- | --- | --- | cancelled 10.1945 |
| Data variant | original design |
|
Displacement standard, t |
18310 |
|
Displacement full, t |
24000 |
|
Length, m |
198.1 pp 224.6 oa |
|
Breadth, m |
27.4 wl |
|
Draught, m |
7.52 deep load |
|
No of shafts |
2 |
|
Machinery |
2 sets Parsons geared steam turbines, 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers |
|
Power, h. p. |
76000 |
|
Max speed, kts |
29.5 |
|
Fuel, t |
oil 4000 |
| Endurance, nm(kts) | 6000(20) |
| Armour, mm | inner belt: 25, flight deck: 19, box-shaped protection of magazines: 51, machinery glacis: 25 |
|
Armament |
4 x 2 - 114/45 RP.10 Mk IIBD, 2 x 6 - 40/56 RP.10 Mk I, 11 x 2 - 40/56 STAAG, 42 aircraft (Seafire, Firefly, Sea Hornet, Sea Fury fighters, Firebrand torpedo bombers) |
| Electronic equipment |
radars |
|
Complement |
1390 |
Aircraft facilities, original design: Hangar was 5.3m in height. Two lifts: 16.5x13.4m, 15.9t. 1 catapult BH-V (13.6t plane was launched at 139km/h).
Aircraft facilities, Centaur, Albion and Bulwark: Hangar was 5.3m in height. Two elevators: 16.5x13.4m, 15.9t. 2 BH-V catapults (13.6t plane was launched at 139km/h). Centaur had 5.5°-angled flight deck, Bulwark and Albion had 5.75°. Catapults were replaced by steam B5-4 in 1956.
Aircraft facilities, Hermes: Hangar was 5.3m in height. Two lifts: fore deck edge lift (16.5x10.7m, 15.9t) and aft centerline lift (16.5x13.4m, 15.9t). 2 catapults B5-4. There was 6.5°-angled flight deck.
Ship project history, original design: Enlarged Majestics with higher speed and able to operate 13.6t planes.
Protection, original design: Inner belt covered machinery only. Underwater protection was very poor. Machinery was additionally protected by glacises.
Protection, Centaur, Albion and Bulwark: Inner belt covered machinery only. Underwater protection was very poor. Machinery was additionally protected by glacises.
Protection, Hermes: Inner belt covered machinery only. Underwater protection was very poor. Machinery was additionally protected by glacises.
| Data variant | Centaur, Albion, Bulwark as completed |
|
Displacement standard, t |
22000 |
|
Displacement full, t |
27000 |
|
Length, m |
198.1 pp 224.8 oa |
|
Breadth, m |
27.4 wl 37.5 oa |
|
Draught, m |
8.20 deep load |
|
No of shafts |
2 |
|
Machinery |
2 sets Parsons geared steam turbines, 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers |
|
Power, h. p. |
78000 |
|
Max speed, kts |
28 |
|
Fuel, t |
oil 3880 |
| Endurance, nm(kts) | 10000(20) |
| Armour, mm | inner belt: 25, flight deck: 19, box-shaped protection of magazines: 51, machinery glacis: 25 |
|
Armament |
R06: 2 x 6 - 40/60 Mk 6, 8 x 2 - 40/60 Mk 5, 4 x 1 - 40/60 Mk 7, 26 aircraft (Firefly, Sea Fury, Attacker, Sea Hawk fighters, Wyvern attackers, Firefly, Avenger ASW planes, Skyraider early warning planes, Dragonfly helicopters) R07: 2 x 6 - 40/60 Mk 6, 8 x 2 - 40/60 Mk 5, 4 x 1 - 40/60 Mk 7, 26 aircraft (Firefly, Sea Fury, Attacker, Sea Hawk, Sea Venom fighters, Wyvern attackers, Firefly, Avenger ASW planes, Skyraider early warning planes, Dragonfly helicopters) R08: 2 x 6 - 40/60 Mk 6, 8 x 2 - 40/60 Mk 5, 4 x 1 - 40/60 Mk 7, 26 aircraft (Firefly, Sea Fury, Sea Hawk, Sea Venom fighters, Wyvern attackers, Firefly, Avenger ASW planes, Skyraider EW planes, Dragonfly helicopters) |
| Electronic equipment |
10x type 262, type 982, type 983, type 275, type 974 radars |
|
Complement |
1400 |
| Year | Fighters | Attackers | ASW planes | EW planes | Cargo planes | Helicopters |
| 1954 Centaur | 9 Sea Hawk FGA.6, 9 Sea Fury FB.11 | --- | 6 Avenger AS.4 | --- | --- | 1 Dragonfly HR.5 |
| 1956 Albion | 12 Sea Venom FAW.21, 16 Sea Hawk FGA.6 | --- | --- | 4 Skyraider AEW.1 | --- | 1 Dragonfly HR.5 |
| 1961 Centaur | 8 Scimitar F.1, 9 Sea Vixen FAW.1 | --- | --- | 4 Gannet AEW.3 | --- | 6 Whirlwind HAS.7 |
| 1966 Bulwark | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | 16 Wessex HU.5, 1 Wasp HAS.1 |
| 1966 Hermes | 12 Sea Vixen FAW.2 | 7 Buccaneer S.1 | --- | 4 Gannet AEW.3 | 1 Gannet COD.4 | 5 Wessex HAS.3 |
| 1977 Hermes | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | 9 Sea King HAS.1, 4 Wessex HU.5 |
| 1982 Hermes | 16 Sea Harrier FRS.1 | --- | --- | --- | --- | 18 Sea King HAS.5 |
Modernizations: 1956, Centaur, Albion, Bulwark: new catapults fitted; - 1 x 6 - 40/60.
(1/1959 - 1.1960, Devonport DYd), Bulwark: was converted to "commando carrier" (LPH). Catapults and arrester gears were removed. Accommodation for 733 marines fitted, 4 LCA on davits were carried. - 2 x 6 - 40/60, 4 x 2 - 40/60, 4 x 1 - 40/60, 6x type 262 radars; air group consisted of 8 Whirlwind helicopters (later 16).
(2/1961 - 8.1962, Devonport DYd), Albion: was converted to "commando carrier" (LPH). Catapults and arrester gears were removed. Accommodation for 900 marines fitted, 4 LCA on davits were carried. - 2 x 6 - 40/60, 4 x 2 - 40/60, 4 x 1 - 40/60, 6x type 262 radars; air group consisted of 8 Wessex helicopters (later 16)
| Data variant | Hermes as completed |
|
Displacement standard, t |
23900 |
|
Displacement full, t |
28700 |
|
Length, m |
198.1 pp 226.9 oa |
|
Breadth, m |
27.4 wl 44.1 oa (48.8 oa since 1966) |
|
Draught, m |
8.80 mean |
|
No of shafts |
2 |
|
Machinery |
2 sets Parsons geared steam turbines, 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers |
|
Power, h. p. |
76000 |
|
Max speed, kts |
28 |
|
Fuel, t |
oil 4200 |
| Endurance, nm(kts) | 10000(20) |
| Armour, mm | inner belt: 25, flight deck: 19, box-shaped protection of magazines: 51, machinery glacis: 25 |
| Armament |
5 x 2 - 40/60 Mk 5, 28 aircraft (Sea Hawk, Sea Vixen, Scimitar fighters, Gannet ASW planes, Sea Venom, Gannet ECM planes, Skyraider, Gannet EW planes, Dragonfly helicopters) |
|
Electronic equipment |
type 984, type 982, 5x type 262, type 974 radars |
| Complement | 2100 |
(2/1964 - 5.1966), Hermes: - 5 x 2 - 40/60, 5x type 262 radars; + 2 x 4 Sea Cat GWS22 SAM, 2x type 903 radars.
(3/1971 - 8.1973, Devonport DYd), Hermes: converted to "commando carrier" (LPH) - type 984 radar, catapults, arrester gears; + type 965 radar. Fitted to carry Wessex helicoperts.
(5 - 12.1976), Hermes: converted to ASW carrier: fitted to carry Sea King ASW helicopters
(5/1980 - 5.1981), Hermes: converted to VSTOL carrier: 7°-ski-jump ramp fitted, Sea Harriers FRS.1 VSTOL attackers can be carried
Naval service: Bulwark was paid off 3.1980 after fire in engine rooms. Hermes: was stricken 7.1985 and sold to India 4.1986.
Many thanks to Wolfgang Stöhr for additional information on this page.
Many thanks for Borys Estrin for additional information.
Bulwark & Albion 1962
Centaur 1964
Hermes 1959
© Ivan Gogin, 2008-15