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fighting ships of the world

ROYAL NAVY (UNITED KINGDOM)

AIRCRAFT CARRYING SHIPS

ILLUSTRIOUS fleet aircraft carriers (1940-1941)

Victorious 1941

Victorious 1963

Victorious 1964

Victorious 1968

Name No Yard No Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate
Illustrious 87, 1948- R2, 1949- R87 732 Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow 27.4.1937 5.4.1939 25.5.1940 stricken 11.1956
Formidable 67, 1948- R1, 1949- R67 1007 Harland & Wolff, Belfast 17.6.1937 17.8.1939 24.11.1940 stricken 11.1953
Victorious 38, 1948- R23, 1949- R38 11 Vickers-Armstrong, Tyne 4.5.1937 14.9.1939 15.5.1941 stricken 3.1968

 

Data variant as completed

Displacement standard, t

23000

Displacement full, t

28620 (29110 - 29240 service)

Length, m

205.1 pp 229.6 oa

Breadth, m

29.2 w 32.5 oa

Draught, m

8.69 normal

No of shafts

3

Machinery

3 sets Parsons geared steam turbines, 6 Admiralty 3-drum boilers

Power, h. p.

111000

Max speed, kts

30.5

Fuel, t

4840 oil
Endurance, nm(kts) 9250(14)

Armour, mm

belt: 114, hangar sides: 114,  bulkheads: 114 - 64, flight deck: 76

Armament

Illustrious: 8 x 2 - 114/45 QF Mk III, 6 x 8 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, 33 aircraft (Sea Gladiator, Roc fighters, Skua diving bombers, Swordfish, Albacore torpedo bombers, Walrus flying boats)

Formidable: 8 x 2 - 114/45 QF Mk III, 6 x 8 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, 33 aircraft (Sea Gladiator, Fulmar, Martlet fighters, Skua diving bombers, Swordfish, Albacore torpedo bombers, Walrus flying boats)

Victorious: 8 x 2 - 114/45 QF Mk III, 6 x 8 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, 33 aircraft (Fulmar, Sea Hurricane, Buffalo, Martlet fighters, Swordfish, Albacore torpedo bombers, Walrus flying boats)

Electronic equipment

Illustrious: type 79 radar

Formidable: type 279 radar

Victorious: type 79B radar
Complement 1229, up to 1997 later

Aircraft facilities: (fd - 5,510 m², ha - 2,638 m² / 12,928 m³); others: (fd - 5,922 m², ha - 2,638 m² / 12,928 m³): Flight deck: 190(Illustrious)/204.2(Victorious, Formidable) (useful length) x29.0 m. Hangar: 139.6x18.9x4.9m. 2 lifts (6.4t, 13.7x6.7m). 1 catapult BH-III (5.4t plane was launched at 122 km/h). Aircraft fuel stowage: 230,000l. Later useful length of flight deck was increased to 229.6m.

Year Fighters Torpedo bombers / attackers Rescue planes / asw planes helicopters
4.1940 Illustrious 15 Fulmar 18 Swordfish ---  
11/1940 Illustrious 12 Fulmar, 2 Sea Gladiator 24 Swordfish ---  
11.1940 Formidable --- 21 Albacore ---  
2.1941 Formidable 12 Fulmar 21 Albacore ---  
3.1941 Illustrious 15 Fulmar, 2 Sea Gladiator 24 Swordfish ---  
3.1941 Formidable 13 Fulmar 10 Albacore, 4 Swordfish ---  
5.1941 Victorious 6 Fulmar 9 Swordfish ---  
7.1941 Victorious 12 Fulmar 30 Albacore ---  
8.1941 Victorious 2 Martlet 21 Albacore ---  
4.1942 Formidable 16 Martlet 1 Swordfish, 21 Albacore ---  
5.1942 Illustrious 1 Fulmar, 20 Martlet 20 Swordfish ---  
8.1942 Victorious 18 Fulmar, 6 Sea Hurricane 14 Albacore ---  
9.1942 Illustrious 6 Fulmar, 23 Martlet 18 Swordfish ---  
10.1942 Victorious 6 Seafire, 12 Wildcat, 6 Sea Hurricane 14 Albacore ---  
11.1942 Formidable 6 Seafire, 24 Wildcat 6 Albacore ---  
11.1942 Victorious 11 Martlet, 6 Fulmar 21 Albacore, 9 Swordfish ---  
1.1943 Victorious --- 15 Avenger ---  
2.1943 Victorious 18 Wildcat --- ---  
5.1943 Victorious 36 Wildcat 15 Avenger ---  
5.1943 Formidable 5 Seafire, 28 Wildcat 12 Albacore ---  
7.1943 Illustrious 10 Seafire, 24 Martlet 12 Barracuda ---  
9.1943 Illustrious 4 Seafire, 28 Martlet --- ---  
9.1943 Formidable 3 Seafire, 15 Wildcat 12 Albacore ---  
10.1943 Victorious 36 Wildcat 18 Avenger ---  
2.1944 Victorious 14 Corsair 12 Barracuda ---  
3.1944 Victorious 14 Corsair --- ---  
4.1944 Illustrious 42 Corsair 15 Barracuda ---  
4.1944 Victorious 28 Corsair 21 Barracuda ---  
5.1944 Illustrious 28 Corsair 21 Barracuda, 18 Avenger ---  
7.1944 Illustrious 42 Corsair 9 Barracuda ---  
7.1944 Victorious 39 Corsair --- ---  
7.1944 Formidable 18 Corsair 24 Barracuda ---  
8.1944 Victorious 28 Corsair 21 Barracuda ---  
8.1944 Formidable 30 Corsair 24 Barracuda ---  
9.1944 Victorious 36 Corsair 12 Barracuda ---  
10.1944 Victorious 37 Corsair --- ---  
11.1944 Victorious 36 Corsair 19 Avenger 2 Walrus  
12.1944 Illustrious 36 Corsair 21 Avenger ---  
3.1945 Illustrious 36 Corsair 16 Avenger ---  
3.1945 Victorious 37 Hellcat 14 Avenger ---  
3.1945 Formidable 36 Corsair 18 Avenger ---  
7.1945 Formidable 36 Corsair, 6 Hellcat 12 Avenger ---  
8.1945 Victorious 37 Corsair 16 Avenger 2 Walrus  
1959 Victorious 10 Sea Venom FAW.21 12 Scimitar F.1 6 Gannet AS.4 ---
1963 Victorious 8 Sea Venom FAW.21 8 Buccaneer S.2 5 Gannet AS.4 5 Wessex

Project history: Illustrious by right is considered as significant ship in evolution of aircraft carriers. She had protection of the flight deck for the first time in world practice which considerably raised her battle immunity. Six ships of Illustrious class became the largest class of fleet aircraft carriers of Royal Navy. They were sectioned into 3 groups and had significant differences. First three ships had one level hangar and 3 shafts.

Designing of Illustrious has begun in 1936. Ship should have protection against 500pdr (227kg) bombs and 152mm shells. Standard displacement was limited by 23 000ts as resolved by the London conference of 1936.

Protection was rather strong, 62% of flight deck area was covered by 76mm armour. Increase of battle resistance was paid by 2 times smaller, than on Ark Royal, air group and reduction of freeboard (11.6 m at Illustrious instead of 17.1m at Ark Royal).

The "aerodynamic" form of island and funnel in the form of a profile of a plane wing, and also the round-downs of the deck became feature of architecture of Illustrious: it was supposed, that it will decrease the air turbulence and will improve conditions of take-off and landing of aircrafts. At the same time round-downs shrank deck effective length to 189m, therefore on the subsequent aircraft carriers, since Victorious, round-downs became not so large, that has allowed to extend her deck to 204.2m. The AA armament repeated accepted on Ark Royal, but with new 114mm so-called "inter-decks" mountings.

Ship Protection:  Main belt protected about 30% of length by waterline. Main belt amidships was taken to the hangar deck and to the flight deck on the starboard side abreast island. 9m ends of main belt were taken to the upper deck only. Hangar sides were protected on full hangar length. 62% of flight deck (over hangar) had 76mm armour, another part of flight deck was 38mm. Hangar deck had 76 - 64mm thickness between ship sides and hangar sides and 25mm inside citadel. Lower deck was 76mm aft. Lifts were not armoured. There were 38mm anti-torpedo bulkheads. 4.1m deep underwater protection can resist exploding of 340kg TNT.

Modernizations: 1.1941, Illustrious; 11.1941, Formidable: + 10 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV

10/1941, Victorious: + 8 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV

1/1942, Illustrious: - type 79 radar; + type 281 radar

1/1942, Formidable: - type 279 radar; + 2x type 265, type 281 radars

1/1943, Victorious: + 17 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV

4/1943, Victorious: - type 79B radar; + 2 x 4 - 40/56 Bofors Mk 1.2, 2 x 2 - 40/56 Bofors Mk 1.2, 10 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, type 272, type 277, type 279, type 281B, 6x type 282, type 293 radars

6/1943, Illustrious: - type 281 radar; + 16 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, type 79B, type 272, type 281B, 6x type 282, type 285 radars

11/1943, Illustrious: useful length of flight deck increased to 225.7m. (fd - 6,545 m², ha - 5,690 m² / 27,878 m³)

4/1944, Formidable: - type 281 radar; + type 79B, type 277, type 281B radars

4/1944, Victorious: - 1 x 8 - 40/39, 10 x 1 - 20/70; + 13 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV

10/1944, Illustrious: - 1 x 8 - 40/39; + 3 x 1 - 40/56 Bofors Mk I/III, 3 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV

end 1944, Formidable + 20 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, 4 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV

1945, Victorious: - 4 x 2 - 20/70, 2 x 1 - 20/70; + 6 x 1 - 40/56 Bofors Mk I/III

late 1945, Victorious: - 3 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon; + 3 x 1 - 40/56 Bofors Mk I/III

1945, Formidable: - 9 x 2 - 20/70, 2 x 1 - 20/70; + 12 x 1 - 40/56 Bofors Mk I/III

1945, Victorious: + SG radar

1.1946, Illustrious: 8 x 2 - 114/45 Mk IIBD, 3 x 1 - 40/60 Mk III, 5 x 8 - 40/39 Mk VIA, 19 x 2 - 20/70 Mk V, 14 x 1 - 20/70 Mk III, 33 aircraft, type 79B, type 272, type 281B, 6x type 282, type 285 radars

1.1946, Formidable: 8 x 2 - 114/45 Mk IIBD, 12 x 1 - 40/60 Mk III, 6 x 8 - 40/39 Mk VIA, 11 x 2 - 20/70 Mk V, 12 x 1 - 20/70 Mk III, 33 aircraft, type 79B, 2x type 265, type 272, type 277, type 281B, type 293 radars

1.1946, Victorious: 8 x 2 - 114/45 Mk IIBD, 2 x 4 - 40/60 Mk 2, 2 x 2 - 40/60 Mk 1, 9 x 1 - 40/60 Mk III, 5 x 8 - 40/39 Mk VIA, 16 x 2 - 20/70 Mk V, 13 x 1 - 20/70 Mk III, 33 aircraft, type 272, type 277, type 279, type 281B, 6x type 282, type 293, SG radars

mid-1946, Illustrious: catapult was replaced by more powerful, 30% more aviation fuel was carried. Flight deck ends were reconstructed, so its useful area was increased; - 14 x 1 - 20/70; + 1 x 8 - 40/39 Mk VIA, 18 x 1 - 40/60 Mk III, 1x type 282 radar

(3/1950 - 1.1958) Victorious : Hull was lengthened, widened and deepened, machinery and boilers replaced. Two 44m steam catapults, two new faster lifts and angled (8.75°) deck fitted. Hangar height was 5.25m. Electric generating capacity doubled. New artillery fitted.

Data variant Victorious, 1958 modernization

Displacement standard, t

30530

Displacement full, t

35500

Length, m

225.5 pp 238.0 oa

Breadth, m

31.5 wl 47.8 fd

Draught, m

9.50

No of shafts

3

Machinery

3 sets Parsons geared steam turbines, 6 Foster Wheeler boilers

Power, h. p.

110000

Max speed, kts

31

Fuel, t

6000
Endurance, nm(kts) 10000(20)

Armour, mm

belt: 102, hangar sides: 102, flight deck: 76, hangar deck: 51

Armament

6 x 2 - 76/50 Mk 33, 1 x 6 - 40/60 Mk 6, 36 aircraft (Sea Hawk, Sea Venom fighters, Wyvern torpedo bombers, Skyraider attackers, Gannet, Avenger early warning planes, Whirlwind, Sycamore helicopters)

Electronic equipment

type 262, type 963, type 984, type 974, type 293Q, 3x Mk 34 radars
Complement 2400

 (fd - 6,366 m², ha - 5,690 m² / 29,869 m³).

8/1963, Victorious: - 2 x 2 - 76/50, 1 x 6 - 40/60, 1x Mk 34, type 262 radars; Angle deck was strengthened, some other improvements were added.

Naval service: Illustrious was badly damaged by direct hits of seven 500kg and 1 250kg German air bombs and one near-miss 10.1.1941. She has received new bomb hits 16.1.1941 during damage repair at Malta. Illustrious has left out of operation for a year. Formidable was damaged by two 500kg bombs 26.5.1941 off Scarpanto and repaired about half a year.

 Formidable and Victorious were twice damaged by kamikazes in 1945, but in all cases the ships could continue operational task fulfilment.

Many thanks to Wolfgang Stöhr for additional information on this page.

Formidable 1946

Illustrious 1953

Victorious 1967

© Ivan Gogin, 2008-15