List of aircraft carriers of the Royal Navy

The following is a list of aircraft carriers of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom.

Active

* "Invincible" class
** "Illustrious" (1982)
** "Ark Royal" (1985)

Planned

* "Queen Elizabeth" class - supercarrier, CTOL/STOVL ships of 65,000-75,000 tonnes
** HMS "Queen Elizabeth" (2014)
** HMS "Prince of Wales" (2016)

In reserve

*"Invincible class
** HMS "Invincible" (1977)

Former

Fleet carriers

* "Argus" (1916)
* "Furious" (1916)
* "Glorious" class
** "Glorious" (1916)
** "Courageous" (1916)
* "Vindictive" (1918) - converted to cruiser 1925
* "Eagle" (1918)
* "Hermes" (1923) - first purpose-designed aircraft carrier
* "Ark Royal" (1938)
* "Unicorn" fleet maintenance carrier (1943)
* "Illustrious" class
** "Illustrious" (1939)
** "Formidable" (1939)
** "Victorious" (1939)
* "Indomitable" (1940)
* "Implacable" class
** "Implacable" (1942)
** "Indefatigable" (1942)
* "Audacious" class
** "Eagle" (ex-"Audacious") (1946)
** "Ark Royal" (ex-"Irresistible") (1950)
** "Eagle" - cancelled
** "Africa" - to Malta class then cancelled
* "Colossus" class
** "Colossus" (1943), to France 1946 as "Arromanches"
** "Glory" (1943)
** "Ocean"
** "Theseus" (1944)
** "Triumph" (1944)
** "Venerable" - to Netherlands 1948 as "Karel Doorman", to Argentina 1968 as "Veinticinco de Mayo"
** "Vengeance" (1944) - to Brazil 1956 as renamed "Minas Gerais"
** "Warrior" (1944) - to Canada 1946-1948, to Argentina 1958 as "Independencia"
** "Perseus" (1944)
** "Pioneer" (1944)
* "Majestic" class
** "Majestic" (1945) - to Australia 1955 as "Melbourne"
** "Hercules" (1945) - to India 1957 as "Vikrant"
** "Leviathan" (1945) - was never completed
** "Magnificent" - sold to Canada as HMCS "Magnificent"
** "Powerful" (1945) - to Canada 1952 as "Bonaventure"
** "Terrible" (1944) - to Australia in 1948 as "Sydney"
* "Centaur" class
** "Centaur" (1947)
** "Albion" (1947)
** "Bulwark" (1948)
** "Hermes" (ex-"Elephant") (1953), to India 1986 as "Viraat"
** "Hermes" - cancelled
** "Arrogant" - cancelled
** "Monmouth" - cancelled
** "Polyphemus" - cancelled
* "Malta" class - cancelled 1946
**"Malta"
**"New Zealand"
**"Gibraltar"
**"Africa"
* "Queen Elizabeth" class - cancelled 1966
**"Queen Elizabeth"
**"Duke of Edinburgh"
* "Invincible" class
** "Invincible" (1977)

Escort carriers

* "Audacity" (1941) - torpedoed 1941
* "Long Island" class
** "Archer"
* "Avenger" class
** "Avenger"
** "Biter"
** "Charger"
** "Dasher"
* "Bogue" class
** "Tracker" group
*** "Battler"
*** "Attacker"
*** "Hunter"
*** "Chaser"
*** "Fencer"
*** "Stalker"
*** "Pursuer"
*** "Striker"
*** "Searcher"
*** "Ravager"
*** "Tracker"
** ""'Ruler" group"
*** "Slinger"
*** "Atheling"
*** "Emperor"
*** "Ameer"
*** "Begum"
*** "Trumpeter"
*** "Empress"
*** "Khedive"
*** "Speaker"
*** "Nabob"
*** "Premier"
*** "Shah"
*** "Patroller"
*** "Rajah"
*** "Ranee"
*** "Trouncer"
*** "Thane"
*** "Queen"
*** "Ruler"
*** "Arbiter"
*** "Smiter"
*** "Puncher"
*** "Reaper"
* "Activity"
* "Nairana" class
** "Nairana" (1943) - to Royal Netherlands Navy as "Karel Doorman" 1946
** "Vindex" (1943)
* "Pretoria Castle" (1943)
* "Campania" (1944)

Merchant aircraft carriers

* "'Empire class grain carrier conversions
** MV "Empire MacAlpine"
** MV "Empire MacAndrew"
** MV "Empire MacKendrick"
** MV "Empire MacDermott"
** MV "Empire MacRae"
** MV "Empire MacCallum"
* Empire class oil tanker conversions
** MV "Empire MacCabe"
** MV "Empire MacColl"
** MV "Empire MacKay"
** MV "Empire MacMahon"
* "Rapana" class
** MV "Acavus"
** MV "Adula"
** MV "Alexia"
** MV "Amastra"
** MV "Ancylus"
** MV "Gadila"
** MV "Macoma"
** MV "Miralda"
** MV "Rapana"

Seaplane carriers

* "Ark Royal" (1914) - renamed "Pegasus" 1934
* "Empress" (1914) - sold 1919
* "Engadine" (1914) - sold 1919
* "Riviera (1914) - sold 1919
* "Campania" (1914) - sunk in collision 1918
* "Anne" (1915) - sold 1922
* "Raven II" (1914) - sold 1923
* "Ben-my-Chree" (1915) - sunk 1917
* "Vindex" (1915) - sold 1920
* "Manxman" (1915) - sold 1920
* "Nairana" (1917) - sold 1920
* "Pegasus" (1917) - sold 1931
* "Slinger" - experimental catapult ship - sold 1919
* "Albatross" (1928) - transferred from Royal Australian Navy 1938

See also

External links

* [http://www.maritimequest.com/warship_directory/great_britain/pages/aircraft_carrier_index.htm Maritimequest Royal Navy aircraft carrier photo gallery]