Royal Navy Aircraft Carriers
1939-45
v.1.0 March 31, 2002
Sources:
Fleet Air Army Archive - ships not commissioned
Andrew Toppan's Hazegray
Fleet Air Arm Archive - Aircraft Carrier Index
With so many ships discrepancies in lists are inevitable, and there are plenty between Andrew Toppan’s lists and the Fleet Air Arm’s list. Our purpose is simply to provide some idea of numbers, so we do not attempt to reconcile differences. Mr. Toppan, in particular, is at pains to provide names even for ships that were never laid down, and we have some. For a detailed study readers must directly consult the above references.
Please note that the Royal Navy had a large number of seaplane tenders, aviation transports, support carriers, aircraft maintenance carriers and the like. This was inevitable considering the navy was operating in all four corners of the World Ocean. We use the following abbreviations:
CVA for the large attack carriers
CVL for the light aircraft carriers
CVE for the escort aircraft carriers, usually 16-20 aircraft
AVT for aviation transport carrier, could carry up to 90 depending on type
AV for other support carriers – seaplane ships might have only 3-4 seaplanes
MAC for merchant aircraft carrier, converted merchant ships, that could be performing many different roles
|
Carrier |
Type |
|
Acavus |
MAC – AVT |
|
Activity |
CVE |
|
Adula |
MAC |
|
Albatross |
|
|
Albion |
CVL |
|
Alexia |
MAC |
|
Amastra |
MAC |
|
Ameer |
CVE |
|
Ancylus |
MAC |
|
Arbiter |
CVE |
|
Archer |
CVE |
|
Argus |
|
|
Ariguani |
|
|
Ark Royal I (later Pegasus) |
CVA |
|
Ark Royal II |
|
|
Ark Royal III |
CVA, Commissioned 1955 |
|
Assistance |
|
|
Atheling |
CVE |
|
Athene |
|
|
Attacker |
CVE |
|
Audacious |
CVA, Commissioned 1952 |
|
Audacity |
CVE |
|
Avenger |
CVE |
|
Battler |
CVE |
|
Begum |
CVE |
|
Biter |
CVE |
|
Bulwark |
CVL |
|
Campania |
CVE |
|
Centaur |
CVL, Commissioned 1953 |
|
Charger |
CVE |
|
Chaser |
CVE |
|
Colossus |
CVL |
|
Courageous |
CVA |
|
Cullin Sound |
|
|
Dasher |
CVE |
|
Deer Sound |
|
|
Eagle I |
CVA |
|
Eagle III |
CVA |
|
Emperor |
CVE |
|
Empire Faith |
|
|
Empire Lawrence |
|
|
Empire MacAlpine |
MAC |
|
Empire MacAndrew |
MAC |
|
Empire MacCabe |
MAC |
|
Empire MacColl |
MAC |
|
Empire MacDermott |
MAC |
|
Empire McKay |
MAC |
|
Empire MacKendrick |
MAC |
|
Empire MacMahon |
MAC |
|
Empire McRae |
MAC |
|
Empire Morn |
|
|
Empress |
CVE |
|
Engadine |
AV – Seaplane |
|
Fencer |
|
|
Formidable |
CVA |
|
Furious |
CVA |
|
Gadila |
|
|
Glorious |
CVA |
|
Glory |
CVL |
|
Hercules |
CVL, Commissioned as INS Vikrant 1961 |
|
Hermes |
CV, Commissioned 1959 |
|
Hermes |
CVL |
|
Holm Sound |
|
|
Hunter |
CVE |
|
Illustrious |
CVA |
|
Implacable |
CVA |
|
Indefatigable |
CVA |
|
Indomitable |
CVA? |
|
Khedive |
CVE |
|
Leviathan |
CVL |
|
Macoma |
|
|
Magnificent |
CVL, commissioned as HMAS Magnificent 1948 |
|
Majestic |
CVL, commissioned as HMAS Melbourne 1955 |
|
Maplin |
|
|
Michael E |
|
|
Miralda |
MAC |
|
Nabob |
CVE |
|
Nairana |
CVE |
|
Ocean |
|
|
Patia |
|
|
Patroller |
CVE |
|
Pegasus |
|
|
Pioneer |
|
|
Powerful |
CVL, Commissioned as HMCS Bonaventure 1956 |
|
Premier |
CVE |
|
Pretoria Castle |
CVE, at 23,450 tons the largest CVE, 21 aircraft |
|
Puncher |
CVE |
|
Pursuer |
CVE |
|
Queen |
CVE |
|
Rajah |
CVE |
|
Ranee |
CVE |
|
Rapana |
MAC |
|
Ravager |
CVE |
|
Reaper |
CVE |
|
Ruler |
CVE |
|
Searcher |
CVE |
|
Shah |
CVE |
|
Slinger |
CVE |
|
Smiter |
CVE |
|
Speaker |
CVE |
|
Springbank |
|
|
Stalker |
CVE |
|
Terrible |
CVE, Commissioned as HMAS Sydney 1949 |
|
Thane |
CVL |
|
Theseus |
CVL |
|
Tracker |
CVE |
|
Triumph |
CVL, Commissioned 1946 |
|
Trouncer |
CVE |
|
Trumpeter |
CVE |
|
Unicorn |
CVL |
|
Venerable |
CVL |
|
Vengeance |
CVL |
|
Victorious |
CVA |
|
Vindex |
CVE |
|
Vindex |
Seaplane Carrier |
|
Vindictive |
|
|
Warrior |
CVL, Commissioned as HMCS Warrior 1946 |
Eight Ships in Andrew Toppan’s List, never built
These are just two classes that struck our eye while researching. Please do not consider this a complete list in any way.
|
Arrogant |
CVL, Centaur class |
|
Hermes |
CVL, Centaur class |
|
Monmouth |
CVL, Centaur class |
|
Polyphemus |
CVL, Centaur class |
|
Malta |
CVA, 60,000 tons, 81 aircraft, largest RN WWII carriers planned |
|
New Zealand |
CVA, Malta class |
|
Gibralter |
CVA, Malta class |
|
Africa |
CVA, Malta class |