Majestic class aircraft carrier
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
|
| General characteristics (original configuration) |  |
|---|---|
| Displacement: | 14,224 tons standard, approximately 18,085 tons at full load |
| Length: | 695 feet (212 m) |
| Beam: | 80 feet (24 m) |
| Draught: | 23.5 feet (7.2 m) |
| Propulsion: | Steam Turbines (4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, Parsons geared turbines); 40,000 shp |
| Speed: | 25 knots (46 km/h) |
| Range: | 12,000 nmiles at 14 knots |
| Complement: | 1200 (including air group) |
| Armament: | 25 × Bofors 40 mm guns 37 aircraft |
The Majestic-class aircraft carriers were initially intended to be part of the Colossus-class, but were instead built to a modified design, still based on the Colossus design for operating heavier aircraft. The Majestics have the dubious distinction of having no service in the Royal Navy, each of them was sold, with the exception of just one.
- Hercules - She was launched in 1942, yet was neglected for 10 years until bought by India. She was commissioned into the Indian Navy in 1961, being named INS Vikrant.
- Leviathan - She was launched in 1945, though never completed. Her boilers were removed for the Argentine carrier ARA Veinticinco de Mayo, a Colossus-class carrier. Leviathan was scrapped in 1968.
- Magnificent - Once completed, she was loaned to the Royal Canadian Navy. Broken up, late 1960s.
- Majestic - Sold to Australia, becoming the flagship of the Royal Australian Navy, being renamed HMAS Melbourne. She was broken up in 1985.
- Powerful - Launched in 1945 and subsequently purchased by Canada in 1952. She was renamed HMCS Bonaventure and was scrapped in Taiwan in 1971.
- Terrible - She was launched in 1944, and was transferred to the Royal Australian Navy, under the name of HMAS Sydney in 1948. She was broken up in 1975
