RN Aircraft Carriers: Colossus Class 1942

[Brian James]

Colossus Class Aircraft Carrier HMS Glory pictured at Port Melbourne in 1946.

[Brian James]

Colossus Class Light Fleet Carrier HMS Theseus pictured c1952.

[Brian James]

Colossus Class Light Fleet Carrier HMS Glory pictured as she returns Canadian POWs to Esquimalt in 1945.

[Blackbat242]

Let's not forget the TRIUMPH; very useful as a repair ship. DFO

OK I'll bite , repairing What Dennis , spring washers , bulldog clips , pencil sharpeners , paper clips

Seriously what did she repair and why was she diverted from her intended use please

OK - it seems no one answered you, so I will.

She was basically a heavy repair shop for the ships of the Far East Fleet - fixing everything that could be removed from another ship and craned aboard her - pumps, steam turbine components, etc. She had full machine shops for fabrication of parts etc - basically a small shipyard-in-a-can.
Her trained repairmen also went aboard other ships to carry out en-situ repairs that the ship's company could not (or needed assistance with).


HMS Triumph was placed into reserve in 1955 (having served in combat in Korea in 1950, then for training, transport, etc duties). She was then converted into a "Heavy Repair Ship" from Dec. 1957 (as the major work on HMS Victorious finished) - with work suspended between 1960/62 and completed c Aug 1964. After post-conversion sea trials she recommissioned as a Fleet Repair Ship at HMNB Portsmouth on 7 Jan 1965.

She then headed to Singapore for duty as "Fleet Repair Ship", where she would remain until 1971, when she returned to the UK.
She was refit from Mar. 1972 to Dec. 1975, then placed into reserve, where she remained until being placed on the disposal list in 1980 (sold to a Spanish scrapping firm in Dec. 1981).

HMS Triumph Hong Kong `65

HMS Triumph HK `65.jpg

Triumph 1.jpg

Triumph pic4.jpg

HMS TRIUMPH-R16-8-1944-1981T.jpg

HMS Triumph prior to RN withdrawal from Singapore

HMS Triumph prior to RN withdrawal from Singapore.jpg

[designeraccd]

Sorry Ivor, I over looked your question @ the TRIUMPH. Fortunately her role as a repair ship was now amply explained!!!

The pics used to illustrate her far surpassed the few I have DFO

[Brian James]

Colossus Class Light Fleet Carrier HMS Glory pictured at Vancouver in 1945.

[Brian James]

Colossus Class Light Fleet Carrier HMS Theseus seen here in 1947,in her role as Flagship of 1st Aircraft Carrier Squadron (They were Formidable, Indomitable, Victorious, Illustrious and Indefatigable. It was disbanded in 1947.)

[Pelican]

H.M.S. FORMIDABLE

Dear Members, the following is self explanatory, if necessary I can act as a link to Terry.

The following photos are courtesy of an old school mate, David Brett. His wife's Uncle, Albert Heselgrave, served on HMS Formidable during WW2. She is not sure of who he is in the small group photo. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks, Terry.

[Brian James]

Colossus Class Light Fleet Carrier HMS Perseus pictured in her role as an Aircraft Maintenance Carrier.Built at Vickers Armstrong Yards,Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1944.She was initially named HMS Edgar, but she was renamed in 1944 when the Admiralty decided to convert her into an Aircraft Maintenance Carrier. She was completed in 1945, after the end of World War II, and she made a trip to Australia late in the year. Upon her return to the UK in early 1946, Perseus was placed in reserve. The ship was recommissioned in 1950 to serve as the trials ship for the steam catapult then under development. Over 1,600 test launches were conducted before the catapult was removed in 1952 and she was converted for use as a ferry carrier to transport aircraft, troops and equipment overseas. She was reduced to reserve again in 1954 and sold for scrap in 1958.

[timlewin]

here is one I saved from the old forum, but not the story with it.....