Английская Википедия:Audacious-class aircraft carrier

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Шаблон:Infobox ship imageШаблон:Infobox ship class overviewШаблон:Infobox ship characteristics

The Audacious-class aircraft carriers were a class of aircraft carriers proposed by the British government in the 1930s - 1940s and completed after the Second World War. The two ships built were heavily modified and diverged over their service lives. They were in operation from 1951 until 1979.

History

Файл:HMS Ark Royal USS Nimitz Norfolk1 1978.jpeg
HMS Ark Royal (left) next to Шаблон:USS in 1978.

The Audacious class was originally designed as an expansion of the Шаблон:Sclass with double storied hangars. However, it was realised that the hangar height would not be sufficient for the new aircraft that were expected to enter service, so the design was considerably enlarged.[1]

Four ships were laid down between 1942 and 1943 during World War II as part of the British naval buildup - Africa, Irresistible, Audacious and Eagle. At the end of hostilities Africa and Eagle were cancelled. Work on the remaining two was suspended. They would be renamed and built to differing designs in the 1950s.

As the builds of Audacious (renamed Eagle) and Irresistible (renamed Ark Royal) progressed they differed so much that they effectively became the lead (and sole) ships of each of their own classes. They formed the backbone of the postwar carrier fleet, and were much modified.

Ships in class

Name Pennant Number Builder Laid Down Launched Commissioned Fate
HMS Eagle (Ex Audacious) R05 Harland and Wolff, Belfast 19 March, 1946 5 October, 1951 Decommissioned 26 January, 1972.
HMS Ark Royal (Ex Irresistible) R09 Cammell Laird, Birkenhead
  • 3 May, 1943 as HMS Irresistible
  • Later renamed after the third Ark Royal that was lost in 1941.
3 May, 1950 22 February, 1955 Decommissioned 14 February, 1979.
HMS Eagle N/A 19 April, 1944 N/A N/A Cancelled January 1946 when 23% complete.
HMS Africa N/A N/A N/A N/A Cancelled 15 October, 1945.

References

Further reading

  • Ireland, Bernard. The Illustrated Guide to Aircraft Carriers of the World. Hermes House, London, 2005. Шаблон:ISBN
  • Johnstone-Bryden, Richard. Britain's Greatest Warship: HMS "Ark Royal IV". Sutton Publishing Ltd., Stroud, 2000. Шаблон:ISBN

External links

Шаблон:Audacious class aircraft carrier Шаблон:WWII British ships