UNICORN light fleet aircraft carrier

Unicorn 1944

Name	No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Unicorn	D72 - R72, 1953 - A195	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

Parsons geared steam turbines, 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers

Power, h. p.

40000

Max speed, kn

24

Fuel, t

3157 oil

Armour, mm

flight deck: 51, box-shaped protection: 76 - 51, anti-torpedo bulkhead: 36

Armament
4 x 2 - 102/45 QF Mk XVI HA, 4 x 4 - 40/39 pompom, 4 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon, 5 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon, 35 aircraft (Fulmar, Seafire, Martlet, Corsair fighters, Swordfish, Albacore, Barracuda, Tarpon torpedo bombers)

Sensors

type 281B, 282, 285 radars

Complement 1200

Aircraft facilities (fd - 4,804m², ha - 3,530m² / 17,650m³): Flight deck: 196.9 x 24.4m; upper and lower hangars were 5m in height, totally hangars area was 3530m². There were 2 lifts (fore - 14 x 10.1m, 9.1t, and aft - 14 x 7.3 m, 9.1t) and catapult BH-III (6.4t plane dispersed up to 122km/h). Aircraft fuel stowage was 163,656l.

Year	Fighters	Torpedo-bombers
9/1943	30 Seafire	3 Swordfish

Ship project history: She was projected as aircraft maintenance ship, the main task would been providing of operation of Illustrious class carriers. It was supposed, that it will represent something an average intermeal an air transport and repair ship, and used in a peace time as the carrier of the radio-controlled targets, however the war has changed these plans, and Unicorn has become operational as light aircraft carrier.

In her architecture and a construction Unicorn was as though moderated and simplified variant of Ark Royal. It 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, 1 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon

Naval service: reclassified as aircraft transport 6/1953.

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ROYAL NAVY (UNITED KINGDOM)

AIRCRAFT CARRYING SHIPS

UNICORN light fleet aircraft carrier

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	Parsons geared steam turbines, 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers
Power, h. p.	40000
Max speed, kn	24
Fuel, t	3157 oil
Armour, mm	flight deck: 51, box-shaped protection: 76 - 51, anti-torpedo bulkhead: 36
Armament	4 x 2 - 102/45 QF Mk XVI HA, 4 x 4 - 40/39 pompom, 4 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon, 5 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon, 35 aircraft (Fulmar, Seafire, Martlet, Corsair fighters, Swordfish, Albacore, Barracuda, Tarpon torpedo bombers)
Sensors	type 281B, 282, 285 radars
Complement	1200