RN Aircraft Carriers: Centaur Class 1953

Add your posts about Royal Navy ships in this section
timlewin
Posts: 916
Joined: Tue Jul 31, 2018 12:18 pm

RN Aircraft Carriers: Centaur Class 1953

Unread post by timlewin »

a few of Happy Hermes for the collection, many more to follow; the swimmers are Captain TTL and Commander John Fieldhouse, who could then predict where this team would be 18 years hence (1982)
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
User avatar
ivorthediver
Posts: 3659
Joined: Fri Aug 10, 2018 8:42 pm
Location: Cambridge Shore Battery

Re: Royal Navy Aircraft Carriers: Centaur Class 1953

Unread post by ivorthediver »

Indeed Tim , thanks for sharing those with us on the Forum , look forward to viewing more when you are able
"What Ever Floats your Boat"
User avatar
jbryce1437
Posts: 1879
Joined: Sun Aug 05, 2018 7:28 pm
Location: Roker, Sunderland

Re: RN Aircraft Carriers: Centaur Class 1953

Unread post by jbryce1437 »

The Centaur Class comprised eight aircraft carriers, ordered in 1944, but due to the end of the war construction was halted and four of them were cancelled, two of them being scrapped on the slipway - Hermes and Arrogant. The proposed HMS Elephant was renamed Hermes and, together with Centaur 1953, Albion and Bulwark 1954, were all completed with Hermes being the last to be completed in 1959 - 15 years after work first started on her.
Consequently, she had many features that differed from other ships of the class, including a full angled flight deck
Centaur was decommissioned in 1965 and spent a time as an accommodation ship, whereas Albion and Bulwark ended their service as helicopter/commando carriers. Albion was decommissioned in 1973 and Bulwark in 1980. Hermes was converted to the commando carrier role following the withdrawal of Albion and Bulwark, but she was later fitted with a "ski jump" on her flight deck to enable her to operate Sea Harrier aircraft and she saw considerable action in the Falklands War and she was finally decommissioned in 1984 and sold to India and renamed INS Viraat.

Centaur
centa2b.jpg

Albion
62961albion_at_sidney_harbour[1].jpg

Bulwark
bulwark-(1965) 1.jpg

Hermes
hermes 32.jpg
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
HMS Raleigh 1963 , HMS Collingwood 1963 & 67 , HMS Ark Royal 1964-7, HMS Undaunted 1968-71, HMS Victory (Fleet Maintenance Group) 1971-72, HMS Exmouth 1972-74
JEM, EM, OEM, LOEM, POOEL
Then 28 years in the Fire Brigade
Retired since 2002
User avatar
ivorthediver
Posts: 3659
Joined: Fri Aug 10, 2018 8:42 pm
Location: Cambridge Shore Battery

Re: RN Aircraft Carriers: Centaur Class 1953

Unread post by ivorthediver »

Thanks for the update Jim
"What Ever Floats your Boat"
timlewin
Posts: 916
Joined: Tue Jul 31, 2018 12:18 pm

Re: Royal Navy Aircraft Carriers: Centaur Class 1953

Unread post by timlewin »

a few more from 1976, a flying visit this time, with advice from the Admiral of the World!
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
timlewin
Posts: 916
Joined: Tue Jul 31, 2018 12:18 pm

Re: RN Aircraft Carriers: Centaur Class 1953

Unread post by timlewin »

homecoming from the Falklands deployment, if ever a ship gave her money's worth it has to be Hermes...Her Captain for the Falklands was Lyn Middleton, senior pilot from the 1966/7 commission.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
timlewin
Posts: 916
Joined: Tue Jul 31, 2018 12:18 pm

Re: RN Aircraft Carriers: Centaur Class 1953

Unread post by timlewin »

a couple more, Maggie was busy greeting more senior folks...they flew down together.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
User avatar
ivorthediver
Posts: 3659
Joined: Fri Aug 10, 2018 8:42 pm
Location: Cambridge Shore Battery

Re: Royal Navy Aircraft Carriers: Centaur Class 1953

Unread post by ivorthediver »

Great photo's Tim , what a collection , will jog quite a few memories , and what a turn out when she returned home ....thanks for sharing these with us all .
"What Ever Floats your Boat"
designeraccd
Posts: 2905
Joined: Fri Aug 10, 2018 7:08 pm

Re: Royal Navy Aircraft Carriers: Centaur Class 1953

Unread post by designeraccd »

I wonder how "exciting" landing and the being catapulted off lil HERMES was for the USN Phantom in 1963? :o DFO
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
User avatar
ivorthediver
Posts: 3659
Joined: Fri Aug 10, 2018 8:42 pm
Location: Cambridge Shore Battery

Re: RN Aircraft Carriers: Centaur Class 1953

Unread post by ivorthediver »

Well rumour had it that the USN/Marine Pilots concerned complained of lumps in their throats after take off , but the M.O. advised them to swallow hard , and there was no reoccurrence at the home base of the symptom, so put down to localised irritation :roll:
"What Ever Floats your Boat"
Post Reply Previous topicNext topic

Return to “Royal Navy”