1939 The British aircraft carrier Illustrious took part in many operations in the Atlantic and the Pacific during World War II.
THE BEST OF ITS CLASS
The Illustrious was designed by the Royal Navy in 1936, laid down at the Vickers-Armstrong shipyard in Barrow on 27 April 1937 and launched on 5 April 1939. After the completion of sea trials the ship was commissioned on 21 June 1940. The flight deck had armour plating 100mm (3.9in) thick. She carried more than 60 aircraft and was fitted with 16 4.5in (114mm) guns in twin mountings and no fewer than 48 40mm cannon for defence against air attack.
ACTION IN FOUR OCEANS
The Illustrious was involved in combat missions for the entire duration of World War II and suffered considerable combat damage. On 12 November 1940 her Swordfish torpedo aircraft attacked the Italian fleet at Taranto. In January 1941, she was hit by three German 1000kg (2200 bombs and was only saved by her armoured flight deck. After repair in the USA she was involved in a collision with her sister-ship, the Formidable. She took part in the landing at Madagascar in 1942 and the Salerno landings in 1943. At the end of 1944 she sailed to the Pacific with her sister-ships Victorious and Formidable a well as the Implacable, and she remained there until April 1945. She was rebuilt after the end of the war and was used for trials, but was laid up in 1954 and scrapped in 1 956. A new HMS Illustrious, another aircraft carrier, is now a major player in the British fleet.
TECHNICAL DATA
Type: Fleet aircraft carrier
Machinery: 3-shaft geared turbines, giving 110,000shp
Dimensions: Length 229.5m (753ft); beam, 29m (95ft)
Displacement: 23,000t (standard)
Draught: 8.7m (28.5ft)
