Eagle

ARK ROYAL Class

 fleet aircraft carrier
Perhaps inappropriately, both ARK ROYAL and EAGLE will be covered here; ARK was completed after EAGLE, and underwent considerably more improvements than her older sister. Both were originally to be part of the IMPLACABLE class of fleet carriers, neither were complete at the end of the war, and so both were altered to a different design. However, EAGLE was initially completed much as per her original design as her construction was more advanced at the end of war than that of ARK ROYAL.

EAGLE started builder's trials in late 1951, and entered service in 1952 as the most modern of the large carriers. In 1954 she entered a refit, and re-entered service in 1955 with a 5.5 degree angled flight deck and new mirror landing sight. In 1956, EAGLE flew off Sea Hawks, Wyverns, and Sea Venoms during 6 days of attacks on Egyptian forces during the Anglo-French action to take control of the Suez Canal. From 1959 to 1964, she was in refit during which a fully 8.5 degree angled deck was added along with steam catapults, long range 3D and Type 965 AKE-2 air search radars, Seacat GWS22 SAMs, and additional generating power. Flight deck armour was reduced, and her boiler plant was overhauled. Fresh from this overhaul, she took part in the Indonesian Confrontation providing air cover over the Malacca Strait, provided air defence for Zambia during an invasion threat from Rhodesia, and spent 71 days at sea blockading oil from Rhodesia. In 1972, EAGLE was paid off and canabalized to keep ARK ROYAL in operating condition. She was scrapped in 1978.

ARK ROYAL was changed substantially after the end of the war, and did not enter builder's trials until 1954 and entered service in 1955. She entered service already sporting the new 5.5 degree angled deck. Apart from the alterations made to EAGLE over the years, ARK ROYAL had been originally given a deck-edge aircraft lift which was removed in 1959. The hangar was enlarged in 1956 with the removal of the forward starboard 4.5" guns, and the remainder were removed in 1969. From 1967 to 1970, she was refitted to carry the new Phantom F-4K and Buccaneer S2 aircraft, was given a second Type 965M radar, and also a new US type CCA (Carrier Controlled Approach) radar. Always burdened with unreliable machinery, ARK ROYAL missed every major action apart from the Indonesian Confrontation, and was paid off in late 1978 after EAGLE had been canabalized to keep her in service, and sold for scrap in late 1980.

ARK ROYAL Class
Specifications

EAGLE
 		ARK ROYAL
Displacement:
 53,390 tons full load
53,060 tons full load
Dimensions:
 247.4 x 51.8 (34.3 WL) x 11.0 meters
804 x 171 (113 WL) x 36 feet
 247.4 x 50.0 (34.3 WL) x 11.0 meters
804 x 164.5 (113 WL) x 36 feet
Propulsion:
 4 shafts, Parsons single reduction geared steam turbines,
8 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 152,000 shp,
31.5 knots
4 shafts, Parsons single reduction geared steam turbines,
8 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 152,000 shp,
31.5 knots
Armour:
 Waterline Belt 4.5"
Flight Deck 4" - 1.5"
Hangar Side 1.5"
Hangar Deck 2.5" - 1"
 Waterline Belt 4.5"
Flight Deck 4" - 1.5"
Hangar Side 1.5"
Hangar Deck 2.5" - 1"
Crew:
 2750 with air group
 2345 with air group


Aviation


EAGLE
 		ARK ROYAL
Fixed Wing:
 Original:    (60 aircraft)

Sea Hawk
Wyvern
Sea Venom
Avenger
Skyraider AEW

Final:         (45 aircraft)

Buccaneer S2
Scimitar (retired from sea duty 1966)
Sea Vixen (retired 1972)
Gannet AEW  

 Original:     (50 aircraft)

Sea Hawk
Wyvern
Sea Venom
Avenger
Skyraider AEW

Final:        (36 aircraft)

Phantom F-4K
Buccaneer S2
Scimitar (retired from sea duty 1966)
Sea Vixen (until 1966??)
Gannet AEW

Helicopters:
 Original:    Dragonfly
Final:         Wessex, Sea King
 Original:    Dragonfly
Final:         Wessex, Sea King

Surface Action


EAGLE
 		ARK ROYAL
Guns:
 Original:

8 - 4.5"/45 Mk.6 DP twin mounts

Final:

4 - 4.5"/45 Mk.6 DP twin mounts

 Original:

6 - 4.5"/45 Mk.6 DP twin mounts

Final:

None.
Radar:
 Type 974 navigation (Decca 12)
Type 275 tracker (for 4")
 Type 974 navigation (Decca 12)
Type 275 tracker (for 4")


Air Defence


EAGLE
 		ARK ROYAL
Guns:
 Original:

8 - 4.5"/45 Mk.6 DP twin mounts
8 - 40mm/60 Mk.6 sextuple AA
2 - 40mm/60 Mk.5 twin mounts AA
9 - 40mm/60 Mk.7 single mounts AA

Final:

4 - 4.5"/45 Mk.6 DP twin mounts

 Original:

6 - 4.5"/45 Mk.6 DP twin mounts
6 - 40mm/60 Mk.6 sextuple AA
2 - 40mm/60 Mk.5 twin mounts AA
6 - 40mm/60 Mk.7 single mounts AA

Final:

None.
Missiles:
 6 - Seacat GWS22 quadruple mounts SAM (after 1964)

 4 - Seacat GWS22 quadruple mounts SAM (never fitted)
Radar:
 Original:

Type 960 long range air search
Type 982 "Hayrake" air warning scanner
Type 983 height finder

Final:

Type 965 AKE-2 long range air search
Type 984 3D CDS
Type 963 CCA (AN/SPN 35)

 Original:

Type 960 long range air search
Type 982 "Hayrake" air warning scanner (x2)
Type 983 height finder (x2)

Final:

Type 965 AKE-2 long range air search (x2)
Type 963 CCA  (AN/SPN 35)
Fire Control:
 Type 275 tracker (for 4")
Type 262 tracker for CRBF (for 40mm)
 Type 275 tracker (for 4")
Type 262 tracker for CRBF (for 40mm)


Undersea Warfare

Armament:
 None.
Sonar:
 None.


Electronic Warfare

Attack:
ESM:
ComInt:


Ships:
 
Name
Pendant
Completed
Comments
Fate
EAGLE
R 05
1951
 Ex-AUDACIOUS, refitted 1954-55, 1959-64.
Paid off 1972, Scrapped, 1978.
ARK ROYAL
R 09
1955
 Refitted 1956, 1959, 1961, 1964, 1967-70
Paid off 1978, Scrapped 1980.

Photos:

 (click on thumbnail for bigger image) 
 

Eagle
Port side view of EAGLE. The first two rows of aircraft are Buccaneers, with a row of Gannets behind. Sea Vixens line the superstructure, and two Sea Kings are right aft. The Type 965 AKE-2 double bedstead radar antenna is on the main mast, with the Type 984 3D CDS mounted over the bridge just forward of it. M.D. Thomas photo.
Eagle
Another port side view of EAGLE, this time as she appeared while laid up prior to scrapping.  M.D. Thomas photo.
Ark
Contrast this port-side view of ARK ROYAL with the views of EAGLE above. In this view she carries Phantoms, Bucaneers, Gannets, and Sea Kings. Both Type 965 AKE-2 radars are installed, and the Type 963 CCA dome is visible at the aft end of the island.  M.D. Thomas photo.
Ark
A starboard-aft quarter shot of ARK. The aft mast-mounted Type 965 AKE-2 radar was added during the 1967 refit. M.D. Thomas photo.
Ark
A port-midships view of ARK. From left to right can be seen the tail of a Gannet, a Sea King, a Phantom, and a Bucaneer. M.D. Thomas photo.
Ark
This shot shows the forward end of the island, and some more of ARK's aircraft. Three Gannets can be seen with their unique Z-shaped folding wings. M.D. Thomas photo.
Ark
ARK seen laid up sometime between 1978 and 1980, with most of her equipment stripped. M.D. Thomas photo.

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