# List of aircraft carriers of the Royal Navy

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.

## Key

| 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

| Ship | Aircraft | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | Service | Service |
| Ship | Aircraft | Displacement | Propulsion | Laid down | Commissioned | Fate |
| HMS Argus (I49) (ex-Conte Rosso) | 18 | 15,775 long tons (16,028 t) | 12 cylindrical boilers; 4 Parsons geared turbines, 4 shafts: max. speed 20 kn | 1914 | 6 September 1918 | Sold for scrap 1946 |

### HMS Hermes

| Ship | Aircraft | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | Service | Service |
| Ship | Aircraft | Displacement | Propulsion | Laid down | Commissioned | Fate |
| HMS Hermes (95) | 20 | 13,000 long tons (13,209 t) | 6 Yarrow small-tube boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines: max. speed 25 kn | 15 January 1918 | 18 February 1924 | Sunk 9 April 1942 by Japanese aircraft from the carriers Soryu, Hiryu and Akagi. |

### HMS Eagle

| Ship | Aircraft | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | Service | Service |
| Ship | Aircraft | Displacement | Propulsion | Laid down | Commissioned | Fate |
| HMS Eagle (1918) (ex-Almirante Cochrane) | 25-30 | 26,000 long tons (26,417 t) | 32 Yarrow boilers, 4 shafts, Parsons geared turbines: max. speed 24 kn | 20 February 1913 | 20 February 1924 | Torpedoed and sunk 11 August 1942, by U-73 |

### Courageous class

| Ship | Aircraft | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | Service | Service |
| Ship | Aircraft | Displacement | Propulsion | Laid down | Commissioned | Fate |
| HMS Courageous (50) | 48 | 27,419 long tons (27,859 t) | 18 Yarrow small-tube boilers, 4 shafts, Parsons geared turbines: max. speed 30 kn | 18 March 1915 | November 1916 | Sunk by U-29, 17 September 1939 |
| HMS Glorious (77) | 48 | 26,990 long tons (27,423 t) | 18 Yarrow small-tube boilers, 4 shafts, Parsons geared turbines: max. speed 30 kn | 1 May 1915 | January 1917 | Sunk by Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, 8 June 1940 |
| HMS Furious (47) | 36 | 28,500 long tons (28,957 t) | 18 Yarrow small-tube boilers, 4 shafts, Brown-Curtis geared turbines: max. speed 30 kn | 8 June 1915 | June 1917 | Sold for scrap 1948 |

### HMS Ark Royal

| Ship | Aircraft | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | Service | Service |
| Ship | Aircraft | Displacement | Propulsion | Laid down | Commissioned | Fate |
| HMS Ark Royal (91) | 54 | 27,720 long tons (28,165 t) | 6 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 3 shafts, Parsons geared turbines: max. speed 30-31 kn | 16 September 1935 | 16 December 1938 | Sunk 14 November 1941 by German submarine U-81, off Gibraltar. |

### HMS Unicorn

HMS Unicorn was an aircraft repair ship and light aircraft carrier; an "aircraft maintenance carrier".
| Ship | Aircraft | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | Service | Service |
| Ship | Aircraft | Displacement | Propulsion | Laid down | Commissioned | Fate |
| HMS Unicorn (I72) | 35 | 20,300 long tons (20,626 t) | 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers; 4 Parsons geared steam turbines, 4 shafts: max. speed 24 kn | 26 June 1939 | 12 March 1943 | Sold for scrap 1960 |

### Illustrious class

| Ship | Aircraft | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | Service | Service |
| Ship | Aircraft | Displacement | Propulsion | Laid down | Commissioned | Fate |
| HMS Illustrious (87) | 36 | 23,000 long tons (23,369 t) | 6 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 3 shafts, Parsons geared turbines | 27 April 1937 | 25 May 1940 | Sold for scrap 1956 |
| HMS Formidable (R67) | 40 | 23,000 long tons (23,369 t) | 6 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 3 shafts, Parsons geared turbines | 17 June 1937 | 24 November 1940 | Sold for scrap 1956 |
| HMS Victorious (R38) | 36 | 23,000 long tons (23,369 t) | 6 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 3 shafts, Parsons geared turbines | 4 May 1937 | 14 May 1941 | Sold for scrap 1969 |
| HMS Indomitable (R92) | 45 | 23,000 long tons (23,369 t) | 6 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 3 shafts, Parsons geared turbines | 10 November 1937 | 10 October 1941 | Sold for scrap 1955 |

### Implacable class

| Ship | Aircraft | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | Service | Service |
| Ship | Aircraft | Displacement | Propulsion | Laid down | Commissioned | Fate |
| HMS Implacable (R86) | 54 | 32,624 long tons (33,148 t) | 8 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 4 shafts, Parsons geared turbines | 21 February 1939 | 28 August 1944 | Sold for scrap 1955 |
| HMS Indefatigable (R10) | 54 | 32,624 long tons (33,148 t) | 8 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 4 shafts, Parsons geared turbines | 3 November 1939 | 3 May 1944 | Sold for scrap November 1956 |

### Colossus class

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.
| Ship | Aircraft | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | Service | Service |
| Ship | Aircraft | Displacement | Propulsion | Laid down | Commissioned | Fate |
| HMS Colossus (R61) | 48 | 18,330 long tons (18,624 t) | 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines | 1 June 1942 | 16 December 1944 | Loaned to France as Arromanches from August 1946, then sold to France 1951 |
| HMS Glory (R62) | 48 | 18,330 long tons (18,624 t) | 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines | 27 August 1942 | 2 April 1945 | Scrapped 1961 |
| HMS Ocean (R68) | 48 | 18,330 long tons (18,624 t) | 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines | 8 November 1942 | 8 August 1945 | Scrapped 1962 |
| HMS Theseus (R64) | 48 | 18,330 long tons (18,624 t) | 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines | 6 January 1943 | 9 February 1946 | Scrapped 1962 |
| HMS Triumph (R16) | 48 | 18,330 long tons (18,624 t) | 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines | 27 January 1943 | 9 May 1946 | Scrapped 1981 in Spain |
| HMS Venerable (R63) | 48 | 18,330 long tons (18,624 t) | 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines | 3 December 1942 | 17 January 1945 | Sold to Netherlands 1948 and renamed Karel Doorman II then later sold in 1968 to Argentina as Veinticinco de Mayo. Scrapped 2000. |
| HMS Vengeance (R71) | 48 | 18,330 long tons (18,624 t) | 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines | 16 November 1942 | 15 January 1945 | Transferred to the Royal Australian Navy from 1953 to August 1955. Sold to Brazil as Minas Gerais December 1956. Scrapped 2004. |
| HMS Warrior (R31) ex-Brave | 48 | 18,330 long tons (18,624 t) | 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines | 12 December 1942 | November 1948 | 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. |
| HMS Perseus (R51) ex-Ethalion ex-Mars | 48 | 18,330 long tons (18,624 t) | 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines | 1 June 1942 | 19 October 1945 | Scrapped 1958 |
| HMS Pioneer (R76) ex-Edgar | 48 | 18,330 long tons (18,624 t) | 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines | 2 December 1942 | 8 February 1945 | Scrapped 1954 |

### Majestic class

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.
| Ship | Aircraft | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | Service | Service |
| Ship | Aircraft | Displacement | Propulsion | Laid down | Commissioned | Fate |
| HMS Majestic (R77) | 37 | 18,085 long tons (18,375 t) | 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines) | 15 April 1943 | 28 October 1955 | 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. |
| HMS Hercules (R49) | 37 | 18,085 long tons (18,375 t) | 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines | October 1943 | 4 March 1961 | Laid up till purchased by India in January 1957, renamed INS Vikrant, commissioned 1961, decommissioned 1997, scrapped 2014. |
| HMS Leviathan (R97) | 37 | 18,085 long tons (18,375 t) | 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines | October 1943 | | Never completed scrapped 1968 |
| HMS Magnificent (R36) | 37 | 18,085 long tons (18,375 t) | 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines | July 1943 | 7 April 1948 | Loaned to Royal Canadian Navy upon completion in 1948. Commissioned in RCN March 1948, returned to Royal Navy 1957 and scrapped 1965 |
| HMS Powerful (R95) | | 18,985 long tons (19,290 t) | 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines | November 1943 | 17 January 1957 | 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 |
| HMS Terrible (R93) | 37 | 18,085 long tons (18,375 t) | 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines | 19 November 1943 | 16 December 1948 | 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

| Ship | Aircraft | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | Service | Service |
| Ship | Aircraft | Displacement | Propulsion | Laid down | Commissioned | Fate |
| HMS Eagle (R05) ex-Audacious | 60+ | 49,950 long tons (50,752 t) | 8 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 4 shafts, Parsons SR geared turbines | 24 October 1942 | 5 October 1951 | Sold for scrap 1978 |
| HMS Ark Royal (R09) ex-Irresistible | 50 | 53,950 long tons (54,816 t) | 8 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 4 shafts, Parsons SR geared turbines | 3 May 1943 | 25 February 1955 | Sold for scrap 1980 |
| HMS Eagle | 60+ | 49,950 long tons (50,752 t) | 8 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 4 shafts, Parsons SR geared turbines | 19 April 1944 | | Cancelled January 1946 when 23% complete. Scrapped on slip. |
| HMS Africa | | | | | | Cancelled |

### Centaur class

| Ship | Aircraft | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | Service | Service |
| Ship | Aircraft | Displacement | Propulsion | Laid down | Commissioned | Fate |
| HMS Centaur (R06) | 42 | 26,200 long tons (26,620 t) | 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines | 30 May 1944 | 1 September 1953 | Scrapped 1972 |
| HMS Albion (R07) | 42 | 27,800 long tons (28,246 t) | 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines | 23 March 1944 | May 1954 | Scrapped November 1973 |
| HMS Bulwark (R08) | 42 | 26,200 long tons (26,620 t) | 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines | 10 May 1945 | 29 October 1954 | Scrapped April 1984 |
| HMS Hermes (R12) ex-Elephant | 42 | 27,800 long tons (28,246 t) | 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines | 21 June 1944 | November 1959 | Sold to India April 1986, as INS Viraat, decommissioned. |
| HMS Hermes | 42 | 27,800 long tons (28,246 t) | 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines | 21 June 1944 | | Cancelled October 1945, scrapped on slip. |
| HMS Arrogant | 42 | 27,800 long tons (28,246 t) | 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines | 1944 | | Cancelled October 1945, scrapped on slip. |
| HMS Monmouth | | | | | | Cancelled |
| HMS Polyphemus | | | | | | Cancelled |

### Malta class

| Ship | Aircraft | Displacement | Propulsion | Fate |
| HMS Malta | 80 | 56,800 long tons (57,711 t) | 4 or 5 x shafts Steam turbines 8 x boilers | Cancelled 13 December 1945 |
| HMS New Zealand | 80 | 56,800 long tons (57,711 t) | 4 or 5 x shafts Steam turbines 8 x boilers | Cancelled 13 December 1945 |
| HMS Gibraltar | 80 | 56,800 long tons (57,711 t) | 4 or 5 x shafts Steam turbines 8 x boilers | Cancelled 15 October 1945 |
| HMS Africa | 80 | 56,800 long tons (57,711 t) | 4 or 5 x shafts Steam turbines 8 x boilers | Cancelled 15 October 1945 |

### Queen Elizabeth class (CVA-01)

| Ship | Aircraft | Displacement | Propulsion | |
| Ship | Aircraft | Displacement | Propulsion | Fate |
| CVA-01 (possible name HMS Queen Elizabeth) | 50 | 54,500 long tons (55,375 t) | 3 x shafts Parsons turbines 6 boilers | Cancelled 1966 |
| HMS Duke of Edinburgh (Possibly) | 50 | 54,500 long tons (55,375 t) | 3 x shafts Parsons turbines 6 boilers | Cancelled 1963 |
| HMS Prince of Wales (Possibly) | 50 | 54,500 long tons (55,375 t) | 3 x shafts Parsons turbines 6 boilers | Cancelled 1963 |
| HMS Princess Royal (Possibly) | 50 | 54,500 long tons (55,375 t) | 3 x shafts Parsons turbines 6 boilers | Cancelled 1963 |

### Invincible class

| Ship | Aircraft | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | Service | Service |
| Ship | Aircraft | Displacement | Propulsion | Laid down | Commissioned | Fate |
| HMS Invincible (R05) | 20 | 22,000 long tons (22,353 t) | 4 Olympus gas turbine engines combined gas and gas, 2 Shafts | July 1973 | July 1980 | Sold for scrap 2010 |
| HMS Illustrious (R06) | 20 | 22,000 long tons (22,353 t) | 4 Olympus gas turbine engines combined gas and gas, 2 Shafts | October 1976 | June 1982 | Sold for scrap 2016 |
| HMS Ark Royal (R07) ex-Indomitable | 20 | 20,000 long tons (20,321 t) | 4 Olympus gas turbine engines combined gas and gas, 2 Shafts | December 1978 | 1 July 1985 | Sold for scrap 2012 |

### Queen Elizabeth class

| Ship | Aircraft | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | Service | Service |
| Ship | Aircraft | Displacement | Propulsion | Laid down | Commissioned | Fate |
| HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08) | 50 | Est. 80,600 tonnes (79,300 long tons; 88,800 short tons) Full Load | 2 x Rolls-Royce MT30 Gas Turbines | 7 July 2009 | 7 December 2017 | Active |
| HMS Prince of Wales (R09) | 50 | Est. 80,600 tonnes (79,300 long tons; 88,800 short tons) Full Load | 2 x Rolls-Royce MT30 Gas Turbines | 26 May 2011 | 10 December 2019 | Active |