UNICORN light fleet aircraft carrier (1943)
Unicorn 1944
| Name | No | Yard No | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comp | Fate |
| Unicorn | I72, 1948- R72, 1953- A195 | 1031 | Harland & Wolff, Belfast | 29.6.1939 | 20.11.1941 | 12.3.1943 | stricken 1958, sold for BU 6.1959 |
|
Displacement standard, t |
14750 |
|
Displacement full, t |
20300 |
|
Length, m |
171.9 pp 196.9 oa |
|
Breadth, m |
27.4 wl |
|
Draught, m |
7.32 deep load |
|
No of shafts |
2 |
|
Machinery |
2 sets Parsons geared steam turbines, 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers |
|
Power, h. p. |
40000 |
|
Max speed, kts |
24 |
|
Fuel, t |
3157 oil |
| Endurance, nm(kts) | 11000(13.5) |
|
Armour, mm |
flight deck: 51, box-shaped protection: 76 - 51, anti-torpedo bulkhead: 36 |
| Armament |
4 x 2 - 102/45 QF Mk XVI, 4 x 4 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, 4 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, 5 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, 35 aircraft (Fulmar, Seafire, Martlet, Corsair fighters, Swordfish, Albacore, Barracuda, Tarpon torpedo bombers) |
|
Electronic equipment |
type 281B, type 282, type 285 radars |
| Complement | 1200 |
Aircraft facilities (fd - 4,804m², ha - 3,530m² / 17,650m³): Flight deck: 196.9x24.4m; upper hangar 109.7x19.8x5.0m and lower hangar 98.7x19.8x5.0m. There were 2 lifts (fore - 14x10.1m, 9.1t, and aft - 14x7.3m, 9.1t) and catapult BH-III (6.4t plane was launched at 122km/h). Aircraft fuel stowage was 163,656l.
| Year | Fighters | Torpedo-bombers |
| 5.1943 | --- | 18 Swordfish |
| 7.1943 | 10 Seafire | 13 Swordfish |
| 9.1943 | 17 Wildcat, 38 Seafire | 3 Swordfish |
Project history: She was designed as aircraft maintenance ship, the main task would been providing of operation of Illustrious class carriers. It was supposed, that she will represent something an average intermeal an air transport and repair ship, and used in a peace time as the radio-controlled targets carrier, however the war has changed these plans, and Unicorn was commissioned as light fleet aircraft carrier.
In her architecture and a construction Unicorn was as though moderated and simplified variant of Ark Royal. She had a high freeboard at rather short hull.
Protection: 115m of flight deck length were covered by 51mm armour. Lifts were armoured by 25mm plates. Magazines and aviation fuel tanks had separate box-shaped protection. Underwater protection included 38mm anti-torpedo bulkhead.
Modernizations: 1943 - 1945: + 1 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, 1 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV
1/1946, Unicorn: 4 x 2 - 102/45 Mk XIX, 4 x 4 - 40/39 Mk VII, 5 x 2 - 20/70 Mk V, 6 x 1 - 20/70 Mk III, 35 aircraft, type 281B, type 282, type 285 radars
Naval service: Reclassified as aircraft transport 6.1953 (officially was rated as ferry carrier).
Many thanks to Wolfgang Stöhr for additional information on this page.
Unicorn 1951
© Ivan Gogin, 2008-15