The following is a list of fleet aircraft carriers of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom.
There are two carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, currently in service.<!-- Pennant numbers are inconsistent as this page uses a template dependent on the ship page titles. If you want them to be more consistent you'll need to: either remove the template where a ship article's name is unconventional; or correct the inconsistencies in article naming for RN aircraft carriers. -->
Key
{| class="wikitable"
|-
| Aircraft
| The number of aircraft carried by the vessel
|-
| Displacement
| Ship displacement at full combat load
|-
| Propulsion
| Number of shafts, type of propulsion system, and top speed generated
|-
| Service
| The dates work began and finished on the ship and its ultimate fate
|-
| Laid down
| The date keel assembly was begun
|-
| Commissioned
| The date the ship was commissioned
|-
| Fate
| Notes on what happened to the ship: sunk, scrapped, cancelled, sold or some other
|}
Fleet carriers
HMS Argus
thumb|right|HMS Argus, 1918
{| class="wikitable" style="width:98%;"
|- valign="top"|- valign="top"
! style="width:15%; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Ship
! style="width:10%; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Aircraft
! style="width:10%; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Displacement
! style="width:20%; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Propulsion
! style="width:40%; text-align:center;" colspan="3"| Service
|- valign="top"
! style="width:10%; text-align:center;"| Laid down
! style="width:10%; text-align:center;"| Commissioned
! style="width:20%; text-align:center;"| Fate
|- valign="top"
| align= left | <br>(ex-Conte Rosso)
| style="text-align:center;"| 18
| style="text-align:center;"|
| align= left |12 cylindrical boilers; 4 Parsons geared turbines, 4 shafts: max. speed 20 kn
| style="text-align:center;"| 1914
| style="text-align:center;"|6 September 1918
| align= left |Sold for scrap 1946
|}
HMS Hermes
thumb|HMS Hermes August 1938
{| class="wikitable" style="width:98%;"
|- valign="top"|- valign="top"
! style="width:15%; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Ship
! style="width:10%; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Aircraft
! style="width:10%; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Displacement
! style="width:20%; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Propulsion
! style="width:40%; text-align:center;" colspan="3"| Service
|- valign="top"
! style="width:10%; text-align:center;"| Laid down
! style="width:10%; text-align:center;"|Commissioned
! style="width:20%; text-align:center;"|Fate
|- valign="top"
| align= left |
| style="text-align:center;"| 20
| style="text-align:center;"|
| align= left |6 Yarrow small-tube boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines: max. speed 25 kn
| style="text-align:center;"|15 January 1918
| style="text-align:center;"|18 February 1924
| align= left |Sunk 9 April 1942 by Japanese aircraft from the carriers , and .
|}
HMS Eagle
thumb|HMS Eagle
{| class="wikitable" style="width:98%;"
|- valign="top"|- valign="top"
! style="width:15%; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Ship
! style="width:10%; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Aircraft
! style="width:10%; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Displacement
! style="width:20%; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Propulsion
! style="width:40%; text-align:center;" colspan="3"| Service
|- valign="top"
! style="width:10%; text-align:center;"| Laid down
! style="width:10%; text-align:center;"| Commissioned
! style="width:20%; text-align:center;"| Fate
|- valign="top"
| align= left | <br>(ex-Almirante Cochrane)
| style="text-align:center;"| 25-30
| style="text-align:center;"|
| align= left |32 Yarrow boilers, 4 shafts, Parsons geared turbines: max. speed 24 kn
| style="text-align:center;"|20 February 1913
| style="text-align:center;"|20 February 1924
| align= left |Torpedoed and sunk 11 August 1942, by
|- valign="top"
|}
Courageous class
thumb|HMS Furious
{| class="wikitable" style="width:98%;"
|- valign="top"|- valign="top"
! style="width:15%; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Ship
! style="width:10%; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Aircraft
! style="width:10%; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Displacement
! style="width:20%; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Propulsion
! style="width:40%; text-align:center;" colspan="3"| Service
|- valign="top"
! style="width:10%; text-align:center;"| Laid down
! style="width:10%; text-align:center;"| Commissioned
! style="width:20%; text-align:center;"| Fate
|- valign="top"
| align= left |
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | 48
| style="text-align:center;"|
| rowspan="2" align="left" |18 Yarrow small-tube boilers, 4 shafts, Parsons geared turbines: max. speed 30 kn
| style="text-align:center;"|18 March 1915
| style="text-align:center;"|November 1916
| align= left |Sunk by , 17 September 1939
|- valign="top"
| align= left |
| style="text-align:center;"|
| style="text-align:center;"|1 May 1915
| style="text-align:center;"|January 1917
| align= left |Sunk by and , 8 June 1940
|- valign="top"
| align= left |
| style="text-align:center;"|36
| style="text-align:center;"|
| align= left |18 Yarrow small-tube boilers, 4 shafts, Brown-Curtis geared turbines: max. speed 30 kn
| style="text-align:center;"|8 June 1915
| style="text-align:center;"| June 1917
| align= left |Sold for scrap 1948
|- valign="top"
|}
HMS Ark Royal
thumb|HMS Ark Royal in 1939, with Swordfish of [[820 Naval Air Squadron passing overhead.]]
{| class="wikitable" style="width:98%;"
|- valign="top"|- valign="top"
! style="width:15%; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Ship
! style="width:10%; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Aircraft
! style="width:10%; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Displacement
! style="width:20%; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Propulsion
! style="width:40%; text-align:center;" colspan="3"| Service
|- valign="top"
! style="width:10%; text-align:center;"| Laid down
! style="width:10%; text-align:center;"| Commissioned
! style="width:20%; text-align:center;"| Fate
|- valign="top"
| align= left |
| style="text-align:center;"| 54
| style="text-align:center;"|
| align= left |6 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 3 shafts, Parsons geared turbines: max. speed 30-31 kn
| style="text-align:center;"|16 September 1935
| style="text-align:center;"|16 December 1938
| align= left |Sunk 14 November 1941 by German submarine , off Gibraltar.
|}
HMS Unicorn
thumb|HMS Unicorn 1951
HMS Unicorn was an aircraft repair ship and light aircraft carrier; an "aircraft maintenance carrier".
{| class="wikitable" style="width:98%;"
|- valign="top"|- valign="top"
! style="width:15%; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Ship
! style="width:5%; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Aircraft
! style="width:10%; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Displacement
! style="width:20%; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Propulsion
! style="width:40%; text-align:center;" colspan="3"| Service
|- valign="top"
! style="width:10%; text-align:center;"| Laid down
! style="width:10%; text-align:center;"| Commissioned
! style="width:20%; text-align:center;"| Fate
|- valign="top"
| align= left |
| style="text-align:center;"| 35
| style="text-align:center;"|
| align= left |4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers; 4 Parsons geared steam turbines, 4 shafts: max. speed 24 kn
| style="text-align:center;"|26 June 1939
| style="text-align:center;"|12 March 1943
| align= left |Sold for scrap 1960
|}
Illustrious class
thumb|HMS Illustrious
{| class="wikitable" style="width:99%;"
|- valign="top"|- valign="top"
! style="width:15%; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Ship
! style="width:5%; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Aircraft
! style="width:10%; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Displacement
! style="width:20%; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Propulsion
! style="width:40%; text-align:center;" colspan="3"| Service
|- valign="top"
! style="width:10%; text-align:center;"| Laid down
! style="width:10%; text-align:center;"| Commissioned
! style="width:20%; text-align:center;"| Fate
|- valign="top"
| align= left |
| style="text-align:center;"| 36
| rowspan="4" style="text-align:center;" |
| rowspan="4" align="left" |6 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 3 shafts, Parsons geared turbines
| style="text-align:center;"|27 April 1937
| style="text-align:center;"|25 May 1940
| rowspan="2" align="left" |Sold for scrap 1956
|- valign="top"
| align= left |
| style="text-align:center;"|40
| style="text-align:center;"|17 June 1937
| style="text-align:center;"|24 November 1940
|- valign="top"
| align= left |
| style="text-align:center;"|36
| style="text-align:center;"|4 May 1937
| style="text-align:center;"|14 May 1941
| align= left |Sold for scrap 1969
|- valign="top"
| align= left |
| style="text-align:center;"| 45
| style="text-align:center;"|10 November 1937
| style="text-align:center;"|10 October 1941
| align= left |Sold for scrap 1955
|}
Implacable class
thumb|HMS Implacable 1944
{| class="wikitable" style="width:98%;"
|- valign="top"|- valign="top"
! style="width:15%; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Ship
! style="width:10%; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Aircraft
! style="width:10%; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Displacement
! style="width:20%; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Propulsion
! style="width:40%; text-align:center;" colspan="3"| Service
|- valign="top"
! style="width:10%; text-align:center;"| Laid down
! style="width:10%; text-align:center;"| Commissioned
! style="width:20%; text-align:center;"| Fate
|- valign="top"
| align= left |
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | 54
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |
| rowspan="2" align="left" |8 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 4 shafts, Parsons geared turbines
| style="text-align:center;"|21 February 1939
| style="text-align:center;"|28 August 1944
| align= left |Sold for scrap 1955
|- valign="top"
| align= left |
| style="text-align:center;"|3 November 1939
| style="text-align:center;"|3 May 1944
| align= left |Sold for scrap November 1956
|- valign="top"
|}
Colossus class
thumb|HMS Triumph 1950
The 1942 Design Light Fleet Carriers were designed and constructed by civilian shipyards to serve as an intermediate step between the expensive, full-size fleet aircraft carriers and the less expensive but limited-capability escort carriers. Perseus and Pioneer were modified to operate as maintenance carriers.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:98%;"
|- valign="top"|- valign="top"
! style="width:15%; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Ship
! style="width:10%; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Aircraft
! style="width:10%; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Displacement
! style="width:20%; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Propulsion
! style="width:40%; text-align:center;" colspan="3"| Service
|- valign="top"
! style="width:10%; text-align:center;"| Laid down
! style="width:10%; text-align:center;"|Commissioned
! style="width:20%; text-align:center;"|Fate
|- valign="top"
| align= left |
| rowspan="10" style="text-align:center;" |48
| rowspan="10" style="text-align:center;" |
| rowspan="10" align="left" |4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines
| style="text-align:center;"|1 June 1942
| style="text-align:center;"|16 December 1944
| align= left |Loaned to France as Arromanches from August 1946, then sold to France 1951
|- valign="top"
| align= left |
| style="text-align:center;"|27 August 1942
| style="text-align:center;"|2 April 1945
| align= left |Scrapped 1961
|- valign="top"
| align= left |
| style="text-align:center;"|8 November 1942
| style="text-align:center;"|8 August 1945
| rowspan="2" align="left" |Scrapped 1962
|- valign="top"
| align= left |
| style="text-align:center;"|6 January 1943
| style="text-align:center;"|9 February 1946
|- valign="top"
| align= left |
| style="text-align:center;"|27 January 1943
| style="text-align:center;"|9 May 1946
| align= left |Scrapped 1981 in Spain
|- valign="top"
| align= left |
| style="text-align:center;"|3 December 1942
| style="text-align:center;"|17 January 1945
| align= left |Sold to Netherlands 1948 and renamed Karel Doorman II then later sold in 1968 to Argentina as Veinticinco de Mayo. Scrapped 2000.
|- valign="top"
| align= left |
| style="text-align:center;"|16 November 1942
| style="text-align:center;"|15 January 1945
| align= left |Transferred to the Royal Australian Navy from 1953 to August 1955. Sold to Brazil as Minas Gerais December 1956. Scrapped 2004.
|- valign="top"
| align= left |<br />ex-Brave
| style="text-align:center;"|12 December 1942
| style="text-align:center;"|November 1948
| align= left |Loaned to Royal Canadian Navy 1946-48 and not commissioned into RN until November 1948. Returned to UK 1956 and modernised. Sold to Argentina as Independencia 1958.
|- valign="top"
| align= left |<br />ex-Ethalion<br />ex-Mars
| style="text-align:center;"|1 June 1942
| style="text-align:center;"|19 October 1945
| align= left |Scrapped 1958
|- valign="top"
| align= left |<br />ex-Edgar
| style="text-align:center;"|2 December 1942
| style="text-align:center;"|8 February 1945
| align= left |Scrapped 1954
|}
Majestic class
thumb|right|HMS Hercules
The 1942 design was modified to take more modern aircraft and these ships became the Majestic-class. Not completed until after the end of the war, most ended up purchased by other navies.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:98%;"
|- valign="top"|- valign="top"
! style="width:15%; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Ship
! style="width:10%; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Aircraft
! style="width:10%; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Displacement
! style="width:20%; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Propulsion
! style="width:40%; text-align:center;" colspan="3"| Service
|- valign="top"
! style="width:10%; text-align:center;"| Laid down
! style="width:10%; text-align:center;"| Commissioned
! style="width:20%; text-align:center;"| Fate
|- valign="top"
| align= left |
| rowspan="4" style="text-align:center;" |37
| rowspan="4" style="text-align:center;" |
| rowspan="6" align="left" |4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines)
| style="text-align:center;"|15 April 1943
| style="text-align:center;"|28 October 1955
| align= left |Sold to Australia in 1949, and completed in 1955 to a modified design including an angled flight deck and renamed as HMAS Melbourne. Sold for scrap in February 1985 to China United Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., Dalian, China.
|- valign="top"
| align= left |
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |October 1943
| style="text-align:center;"|4 March 1961
| align= left |Laid up till purchased by India in January 1957, renamed INS Vikrant, commissioned 1961, decommissioned 1997, scrapped 2014.
|- valign="top"
| align= left |
| style="text-align:center;"|
| align= left |Never completed scrapped 1968
|- valign="top"
| align= left |
| style="text-align:center;"|July 1943
| style="text-align:center;"|7 April 1948
| align= left |Loaned to Royal Canadian Navy upon completion in 1948. Commissioned in RCN March 1948, returned to Royal Navy 1957 and scrapped 1965
|- valign="top"
| align= left |
| style="text-align:center;"|
| style="text-align:center;"|
| style="text-align:center;"|November 1943
| style="text-align:center;"|17 January 1957
| align= left |Sold to Canada on 23 April 1952, then completed to a modified design with an angled flight deck and renamed HMCS Bonaventure and broken up in 1971
|- valign="top"
| align= left |
| style="text-align:center;"|37
| style="text-align:center;"|
| style="text-align:center;"|19 November 1943
| style="text-align:center;"|16 December 1948
| align= left |Transferred to Royal Australian Navy as HMAS Sydney 1948. Sold for scrap on 28 October 1975 to Dongkuk Steel Mill Co. Ltd., Seoul, South Korea
|}
Audacious class
thumb|HMS Eagle
{| class="wikitable" style="width:98%;"
|- valign="top"|- valign="top"
! style="width:15%; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Ship
! style="width:10%; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Aircraft
! style="width:10%; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Displacement
! style="width:20%; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Propulsion
! style="width:40%; text-align:center;" colspan="3"| Service
|- valign="top"
! style="width:10%; text-align:center;"| Laid down
! style="width:10%; text-align:center;"| Commissioned
! style="width:20%; text-align:center;"| Fate
|- valign="top"
| align= left | <br />ex-Audacious
| style="text-align:center;"| 60+
| style="text-align:center;"|
| rowspan="3" align="left" |8 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 4 shafts, Parsons SR geared turbines
| style="text-align:center;"|24 October 1942
| style="text-align:center;"|5 October 1951
| align= left |Sold for scrap 1978
|- valign="top"
| align= left | <br />ex-Irresistible
| style="text-align:center;"|50
| style="text-align:center;"|
| style="text-align:center;"|3 May 1943
| style="text-align:center;"|25 February 1955
| align= left |Sold for scrap 1980
|- valign="top"
| align= left | HMS Eagle
| style="text-align:center;"|60+
| style="text-align:center;"|
| style="text-align:center;"|19 April 1944
| style="text-align:center;"|
| align= left |Cancelled January 1946 when 23% complete. Scrapped on slip.
|- valign="top"
| align= left |HMS Africa
| style="text-align:center;"|
| style="text-align:center;"|
| align= left |
| style="text-align:center;"|
| style="text-align:center;"|
| align= left |Cancelled
|}
Centaur class
thumb|HMS Centaur
{| class="wikitable" style="width:98%;"
|- valign="top"|- valign="top"
! style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Ship
! style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Aircraft
! style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Displacement
! style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"| Propulsion
! style="text-align:center;" colspan="3"| Service
|- valign="top"
! style="text-align:center;"| Laid down
! style="text-align:center;"| Commissioned
! style="text-align:left;"| Fate
|- valign="top"
| align= left |
| rowspan="6" style="text-align:center;" |42
| style="text-align:center;"|
| rowspan="6" align="left" |4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines
| style="text-align:center;"|30 May 1944
| style="text-align:center;"|1 September 1953
| align= left |Scrapped 1972
|- valign="top"
| align= left |
| style="text-align:center;"|
| style="text-align:center;"|23 March 1944
| style="text-align:center;"|May 1954
| align= left |Scrapped November 1973
|- valign="top"
| align= left |
| style="text-align:center;"|
| style="text-align:center;"|10 May 1945
| style="text-align:center;"|29 October 1954
| align= left |Scrapped April 1984
|- valign="top"
| align= left |<br />ex-Elephant
| rowspan="3" style="text-align:center;" |
| style="text-align:center;"|21 June 1944
| style="text-align:center;"|November 1959
| align= left |Sold to India April 1986, as INS Viraat, decommissioned.
|- valign="top"
| align= left | HMS Hermes
| style="text-align:center;"|21 June 1944
| style="text-align:center;"|
| rowspan="2" align="left" | Cancelled October 1945, scrapped on slip.
|- valign="top"
| align= left | HMS Arrogant
| style="text-align:center;"|1944
| style="text-align:center;"|
|- valign="top"
| align= left |HMS Monmouth
| style="text-align:center;"|
| style="text-align:center;"|
| align= left |
| style="text-align:center;"|
| style="text-align:center;"|
| rowspan="2" align="left" |Cancelled
|- valign="top"
| align= left |HMS Polyphemus
| style="text-align:center;"|
| style="text-align:center;"|
| align= left |
| style="text-align:center;"|
| style="text-align:center;"|
|}
Malta class
{| class="wikitable" style="width:98%;"
|- valign="top"|- valign="top"
! style="width:15%; text-align:center;" | Ship
! style="width:10%; text-align:center;" | Aircraft
! style="width:10%; text-align:center;" | Displacement
! style="width:20%; text-align:center;" | Propulsion
!Fate
|- valign="top"
| align="left" |
| rowspan="4" style="text-align:center;" |80
| rowspan="4" style="text-align:center;" |
| rowspan="4" align="left" |4 or 5 x shafts<br />Steam turbines<br />8 x boilers
| rowspan="4" style="text-align:left;" |Cancelled 13 December 1945
|- valign="top"
| align="left" | HMS New Zealand
|- valign="top"
| align="left" | HMS Gibraltar
|- valign="top"
| align="left" |HMS Africa
|}
Queen Elizabeth class (CVA-01)
{| class="wikitable" style="width:98%;"
|- valign="top"|- valign="top"
! style="width:15%; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Ship
! style="width:10%; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Aircraft
! style="width:10%; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Displacement
! style="width:20%; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Propulsion
!
|- valign="top"
! style="width:20%; text-align:center;"| Fate
|- valign="top"
| align= left | CVA-01 (possible name HMS Queen Elizabeth)
| rowspan="4" style="text-align:center;" |50
| rowspan="4" style="text-align:center;" |
| rowspan="4" align="left" |3 x shafts<br />Parsons turbines<br />6 boilers
| align= left |Cancelled 1966
|- valign="top"
| align= left | HMS Duke of Edinburgh (Possibly)
| rowspan="3" align="left" |Cancelled 1963
|- valign="top"
| align= left | HMS Prince of Wales (Possibly)
|- valign="top"
| align= left |
|}
Invincible class
thumb|HMS Invincible
{| class="wikitable" style="width:98%;"
|- valign="top"|- valign="top"
! style="width:15%; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Ship
! style="width:10%; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Aircraft
! style="width:10%; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Displacement
! style="width:20%; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Propulsion
! style="width:40%; text-align:center;" colspan="3"| Service
|- valign="top"
! style="width:10%; text-align:center;"| Laid down
! style="width:10%; text-align:center;"| Commissioned
! style="width:20%; text-align:center;"| Fate
|- valign="top"
| align= left |
| rowspan="3" style="text-align:center;" | 22
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |
| rowspan="3" align="left" |4 Olympus gas turbine engines combined gas and gas, 2 Shafts
| style="text-align:center;"|July 1973
| style="text-align:center;"|July 1980
| align= left |Sold for scrap 2010
|- valign="top"
| align= left |
| style="text-align:center;"|October 1976
| style="text-align:center;"|June 1982
| align= left | Sold for scrap 2016
|- valign="top"
| align= left | <br />ex-Indomitable
| style="text-align:center;"|
| style="text-align:center;"| December 1978
| style="text-align:center;"|1 July 1985
| align= left |Sold for scrap 2012
|}
Queen Elizabeth class
thumb|HMS Queen Elizabeth
{| class="wikitable" style="width:98%;"
|- valign="top"|- valign="top"
! style="width:15%; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Ship
! style="width:10%; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Aircraft
! style="width:10%; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Displacement
! style="width:20%; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Propulsion
! style="width:40%; text-align:center;" colspan="3"| Service
|- valign="top"
! style="width:10%; text-align:center;"| Laid down
! style="width:10%; text-align:center;"| Commissioned
! style="width:20%; text-align:center;"| Fate
|- valign="top"
| align= left |
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | 50
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |Est. Full Load
| rowspan="2" align="left" |2 x Rolls-Royce MT30 Gas Turbines
|}
See also
- Timeline of aircraft carriers of the Royal Navy
- List of escort carriers of the Royal Navy
- List of seaplane carriers of the Royal Navy
- Aircraft maintenance carriers of the Royal Navy
- List of aircraft carriers in service
- List of sunken aircraft carriers
Notes
References
External links
- Maritimequest Royal Navy aircraft carrier photo gallery