Aircraft Carriers

The Aircraft Carrier came of age during the Second World War (1939-1945), and British units proved particularly resilient to Japanese Kamikaze attacks in the Pacific. However the end of hostilities, coupled with the economic crisis that faced Britain in the immediate postwar years, lead to the cancellation or delay of a number of vessels under construction or on the drawing board. The run down of the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) and the 'carrier force continued during the 1960s and the 1970s as Britain withdrew from her Empire. Nevertheless the Aircraft Carrier was a vital component of the Royal Navy during the Cold War.

Illustrious & Implacable Class Fleet Aircraft Carriers....	HMS Unicorn - Maintenance Aircraft Carrier
Campania Class Escort Aircraft Carrier	Colossus Class Light Fleet Aircraft Carriers......
Majestic Class Light Fleet Aircraft Carriers	Malta Class Fleet Carriers
Centaur Class Light Fleet Aircraft Carriers....	Audacious Class Fleet Aircraft Carriers............
Queen Elizabeth Class Fleet Carriers (CVA Project).......	...

HMS Eagle (R05) and HMS Ark Royal (R09).

Above: HMS Eagle (left) and HMS Ark Royal (right) were the only Audacious Class Aircraft Carriers completed- two additional units were cancelled. Photograph kindly provided by 'Will'.

See Also:

	....n..The Royal Navy Today: The three Invincible Class Aircraft Carriers.
	....n..Future Warships: Two new 'carriers planned to enter service in 2012 and 2015.
	....n..Aircraft Carriers and the Falklands War: the involvement of Aircraft Carriers in the 1982 Falklands Conflict.
	....n..The History of Royal Navy Aircraft Carriers: Charting the development of the Aircraft Carrier.
	....n..Carriers In Action: A photographic look at everyday operations on Ark Royal and Eagle during the 1970s.

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