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R07 Albion (Centaur Class)


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Laid down 23rd March 1944
Launched 6th May 1947
Completed N/A
Commissioned 26th May 1954
Fate Sold for scrapping:
22nd October 1973
Builders Swan Hunter, Tyne
United Kingdom
Complement 1390
Dimensions
Displacement 20260 tons std
26118 tons max
Dimensions 737' x 90' x 27'
224.6m x 27.4m x 8.2m
Armament
Guns As built:
26 x 40mm Bofors (2 x 6, 5 x 2, 4 x 1)
1962:
8 x 40mm
Torpedo tubes None
Other weapons None
Countermeasures N/A
Armour Machinery spaces : 1"
Magazine : 2"
Aircraft Facilities
Aircraft As built:
42 various
1962:
16 x Wessex helicopters
Flightdeck 710' x 123'
2 x steam catapults
Hangar N/A
Aviation fuel N/A
Electronics Fit
Radar Type 982 air search
Type 960 air search
Type 983 height finder
Type 277Q aircraft direction
Sonar None
Other N/A
Machinery
Engines 4 x Admiralty boilers
2 x Parsons steam turbines
Power output 76000shp
Speed 29.5kts
Shafts 2
Range 6000NM @ 20kts
Fuel 4064 tons

Albion was converted to a helicopter carrier between February 1961 to August 1962. The catapults, arrestor gear and 24 of the 40mm guns were removed. Four landing craft were added along with davits. The crew was reduced to 1037, and facilities for up to 750 commandos were added.

In November 1956, Albion was involved in the Suez operation, carrying Sea Hawks and Sea Venoms. She spent most of the 1960s in the Far East, and in 1966 was present at the Indonesian confrontation. Albion was decommissioned in 1972 and