HMS Theseus (R64)
_off_Japan_1951.jpg)
HMS Theseus (R64) off Japan 1951
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| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom
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| Builder: | Fairfield |
| Laid down: | 1943 |
| Launched: | 6 July 1944 |
| Commissioned: | 9 February 1946 |
| Fate: | Broken up 1962 at Inverkeithing, Scotland |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Colossus class aircraft carrier |
| Displacement: | 13,400 tons |
| Length: | 695 ft (212 m) |
| Beam: | 80 ft (24 m) |
| Draught: | 23.5 ft (7.2 m) |
| Propulsion: |
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| Speed: | 25 knots (46 km/h) |
| Range: | 12,000 nautical miles (22,000 km) at 14 knots (26 km/h) |
| Complement: | 1,300 |
| Armament: | 30 × Bofors 40 mm guns |
| Aircraft carried: | 48 |
HMS Theseus (R64) was a Colossus-class light fleet aircraft carrier of the Royal Navy. She was laid down in 1943 by Fairfield at Govan, and launched on 6 July 1944.
Theseus was laid down to serve in the Second World War, but was not completed before peace was declared in 1945. She was utilized as a training vessel until the outbreak of the Korean War.
In 1946, she embarked on workup and embarked aircraft, conducted trials, and a further work up for operational service. After preparation for duty in the Far East, she sailed to join the British Pacific Fleet at Singapore as Flagship for the Flag Officer Air, Far East. In 1947, she deployed as the Flagship, 1st Aircraft Carrier Squadron with the British Pacific Fleet. On return to UK she refitted for service in Home Fleet. On completion, she joined the 3rd Aircraft Carrier Squadron, Home Fleet.
In 1950, with the beginning of the Korean War, Theseus was deployed to Korea, commencing standard carrier operations. Her first operation involved suppressing enemy defences and communications at Chinnampo, among other locations. Her second operational patrol involved only Combat Air Patrols (CAP), because her takeoff weight capacity was limited by a dysfunctional catapult, and thus the aircraft were unable to be armed with rockets and bombs. Her third operational duty was as part of a Commonwealth Task Force. Theseus sailed with accompanying ships from Sasebo in Japan. The carrier's aircraft launched successful air strikes on bridges, North Korean troops and other opportune targets, mainly concentrating on the Chinnampo area, resulting in extreme chaos and heavy damage.
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