Eagle as designed
| Name | No | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comp | Fate |
| Eagle (ex-Audacious) | R05 | Harland & Wolff, Belfast | 24/10/1942 | 19/3/1946 | 1/10/1951 | stricken 10/1978 |
| Eagle | Vickers-Armstrong, Tyne | 19/4/1944 | --- | --- | cancelled 1/1946 | |
| Ark Royal | R09 | Cammell Laird, Birkenhead | 3/5/1943 | 3/5/1950 | 25/2/1955 | stricken 2/1979 |
As designed:
|
Displacement standard, t |
36800 |
|
Displacement full, t |
46000 |
|
Length, m |
219.5 pp 245.0 oa |
|
Breadth, m |
34.4 wl 31.2 fd |
|
Draught, m |
9.50 deep load |
|
No of shafts |
4 |
|
Machinery |
Parsons geared steam turbines, 8 Admiralty 3-drum boilers |
|
Power, h. p. |
152000 |
|
Max speed, kn |
32 |
|
Fuel, t |
7490 oil |
|
Armour, mm |
belt: 114, hangar sides: 38, bulkheads: 114 - 38, flight deck: 102 |
|
Armament |
8 x 2 - 114/45 QF Mk III, 8 x 8 - 40/39 pompom, 60 - 20/70 Oerlikon, 78 aircraft (Seafire, Firefly, Sea Hornet, Sea Fury fighters, Barracuda, Firebrand torpedo bombers) |
|
Sensors |
not known |
| Complement | 2740 |
Aircraft facilities (fd - 7,560m², ha - 4,840m² / 25,652m³): Flight deck: 242.3 (useful length) x 31.2m. Upper and lower hangars were 5.3m in height and had useful area 4840m2 summary. There were 2 lifts (13.6t, 16.5 x 13.4m fwd and 16.5 x 10.0m aft). There were 2 catapults BH-V (13.6t plane dispersed to 139km/h). Aircraft fuel stowage was 465,000l.
Ship project history: Much improved Illustrious would have flight deck protected by 102mm armour on 25mm plating. Very large hangar had area as on Ark Royal. Underwater protection was modified, two sea water-filled outer compartments there are. It was planned that this protection can stand explosion of 545kg warhead and possibly 908kg. Late 1945 they planned to arm these ships by 8 x 6, 2 x 2 and 12 x 1 40mm Bofors and 18 20mm Oerlikons.
Protection: Flight deck has 102mm of armour, lying over 25mm steel plates inside and 37mm outside citadel. There was 64-25mm lower hangar deck, magazines and steering gear were protected by 114 - 51mm vertical and 102-mm horizontal armour. Hangar sides had 38mm protection. Underwater protection was a modification of previous designs, longitudinal bulkhead was 63mm thick.
EAGLE
Eagle 1952
Eagle 1964
| Name | No | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comp | Fate |
| Eagle (ex-Audacious) | R05 | Harland & Wolff, Belfast | 24/10/1942 | 19/3/1946 | 1/10/1951 | stricken 10/1978 |
|
Displacement standard, t |
43060 (finally nearly 45000) |
|
Displacement full, t |
53390 |
|
Length, m |
219.5 pp 245.0 oa (finally 247.4) |
|
Breadth, m |
34.4 wl 52.1 fd |
|
Draught, m |
11.0 |
|
No of shafts |
4 |
|
Machinery |
Parsons geared steam turbines, 8 Admiralty 3-drum boilers |
|
Power, h. p. |
152000 |
|
Max speed, kn |
31 |
|
Fuel, t |
oil 5500 (endurance - 4500 (24) nm) |
|
Armour, mm |
belt: 102, hangar sides: 25, flight deck: 102 - 25, hangar deck: 51 - 25 |
|
Armament |
8 x 2 - 114/45 Mk 6, 8 x 6 - 40/60 Mk 6, 2 x 2 - 40/60 Mk 5, 9 x 1 - 40/60 Mk 7, 60 aircraft (Firefly, Sea Hornet, Sea Fury, Attacker fighters, Barracuda, Firebrand torpedo bombers, Firefly ASW planes, Hoverfly, Dragonfly, Sycamore helicopters) |
|
Sensors |
type 960, 940, 982, 983, 242Q, 293Q, 4x 275, 8x 262, 974 radars |
| Complement | 2750 |
Aircraft facilities (fd - ~ 12,765m², ha - 4,840m² / 25,652m³): Flight deck: 245.0 (useful length) x 52.1m. Upper and lower hangars were 5.3m in height and had useful area 4840m2 summary. There were 2 lifts (13.6t, 16.5 x 13.4m fwd and 16.5 x 10.0m aft). There were 2 catapults BH-V (13.6t plane dispersed to 153km/h). Aircraft fuel stowage was 1,700,000l of kerosine and 72,000l of petrol.
| Year | Fighters | Attackers | ASW planes | Early warning planes | Helicopters |
| 1953 | 16 Attacker FB.2, 16 Firefly, 8 Sea Hornet NF.21 | --- | --- | 4 Skyraider AEW.1 | 1 Dragonfly HR.5 |
| 1956 | 16 Sea Hawk FGA.6, 14 Sea Venom FAW.21 | 6 Wyvern S.4 | 6 Gannet AS.4 | --- | --- |
| 1966 | 16 Sea Vixen FAW.2, 4 Scimitar F.1 | 14 Buccaneer S.1 | 4 Gannet AEW.3 | 5 Wessex HAS.1, 1 Whirlwind HAR.5 |
Protection: Flight deck has 102mm armour lying over 25mm steel plates. There was 64-38mm lower hangar deck, magazines and steering gear were protected by 114 - 51mm vertical and 102mm horizontal armour. Underwater protection was a modification of previous designs.
Modernizations: Named Eagle 1/1946.
2/1955: angled deck (5.50) was fitted. - 1 x 6 - 40/60, 3 x 1 - 40/60, 1 type 262 radar
(Devonport DYd, 5/1959 - 5/1964): new angled deck (8.50), catapults replaced by new B5-4 type (13.6t planes dispersed up to 195km/h). Starboard catapult was 46m length, port catapult was 61m. Thickness of flight deck reduced to 38 - 25mm. Power of electric station doubled. New armament and sensors: 6 x 4 Seacat GWS22 SAM launchers, 4 x 2 - 114/45 Mk 6 guns, 45 aircraft (Sea Vixen, Scimitar fighters, Buccaneer attackers, Sea Venom, Gannet ECM planes, Gannet EEW planes, Dragonfly, Whirlwind, Wessex, Wasp helicopters), type 984, 963, 965 (AKE-2), 242Q, 293Q, 4x 275 radars. Half of lower hangar area was used as workshops.
Naval service: Paid off 1/1972.
ARK ROYAL
Ark Royal 1955
Ark Royal 1965
| Name | No | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comp | Fate |
| Ark Royal | R09 | Cammell Laird, Birkenhead | 3/5/1943 | 3/5/1950 | 25/2/1955 | stricken 2/1979 |
|
Displacement standard, t |
43340 |
|
Displacement full, t |
53060 |
|
Length, m |
219.5 pp 245.0 oa (finally 247.4) |
|
Breadth, m |
34.4 wl 50.1 deck |
|
Draught, m |
11.0 |
|
No of shafts |
4 |
|
Machinery |
Parsons geared steam turbines, 8 Admiralty 3-drum boilers |
|
Power, h. p. |
152000 |
|
Max speed, kn |
31 |
|
Fuel, t |
5500 oil (endurance - 4500 (24) nm) |
|
Armour, mm |
belt: 102, hangar sides: 25, flight deck: 102 - 25, hangar deck: 51 - 25 |
|
Armament |
6 x 2 - 114/45 Mk 6, 6 x 6 - 40/60 Mk 6, 2 x 2 - 40/60 Mk 5, 6 x 1 - 40/60 Mk 7, 50 aircraft (Sea Hawk, Wyvern, Sea Venom fighters, Firefly, Avenger, Gannet ASW planes, Skyraider EEW planes, Dragonfly, Sycamore helicopters) |
|
Sensors |
type 960, 2õ 982, 2õ 983, 3x 275, 6x 262, 974 radars |
| Complement | 2637 |
Aircraft facilities (fd - ~ 12,275m², ha - 4,840m² / 25,652m³): 5.50-angled flight deck: 245.0 (useful length) x 50.1m. Upper and lower hangars were 5.3m in height and had useful area 4840m2 summary. There were 3 lifts (13.6t, 16.5 x 13.4m fwd and 16.5 x 10.0m aft centreline lifts and 13.6t, 17.5 x 10.7m deck edge lift for upper hangar). There were 2 catapults BH-V (46m, on foredeck and on angled deck) (13.6t plane dispersed to 153km/h). Aircraft fuel stowage was 1,460,000l of kerosine and 314,000l of petrol. Angled deck catapult was lengthened to 61m in 1970.
| Year | Fighters | Attackers | EEW planes | Helicopters |
| 1960 | 14 Scimitar F.1, 6 Sea Vixen FAW.1 | --- | 4 Gannet AEW.3 | 14 Whirlwind HAS.7, 1 Dragonfly HR.5 |
| 1977 | 14 Phantom FG.1 | 12 Buccaneer S.2 | 5 Gannet AEW.3 | 7 Sea King HAS.1, 1 Wessex HU.5 |
Protection: There was 51-25mm lower hangar deck, magazines and steering gear were protected by 114 - 51mm vertical and 102mm horizontal armour. Underwater protection was a modification of previous designs.
Modernizations: 1956: - 2 x 2 - 114/45, 1 type 275 radar
9/1959: deck edge lift removed; - 2 x 6 - 40/60, 6 x 1 - 40/60, 2 type 262 radars; + type 965 M radar
1961: new more powerful catapults fitted
11/1964: new angled deck (8.50), thickness of flight deck decreased to 38mm; - 2 x 2 - 114/45
2/1970: New armament and sensors: places reserved for 4 õ 4 Seacat GWS22 SAM launchers, no guns, 36 aircraft (Sea Vixen, Phantom fighters, Buccaneer attackers, Gannet EEW planes), type 960, 2õ 982, 2õ 983, 2x 275, 4x 262, 2x 965M (AKE-2), 974, SPN-35 radars
Naval service: Paid off 12/1978.
Eagle 1957
Ark Royal 1961
© Ivan Gogin, 2008-09