R05 Audacious / Eagle (Eagle Class)

Laid down	24th October 1942
Launched	19th March 1946
Completed	N/A
Commissioned	1st October 1951
Fate	Decommissioned: January 1972
Builders	Harland & Wolff, Belfast United Kingdom
Complement	2688
Dimensions
Displacement	As built: 33000 tons std 42390 tons max 1964: 44100 tons std 54100 tons max
Dimensions	803' 9" x 112' 9"
Draught	As built: 25' 6" 1964: 36'
Armament
Main guns	As built: 16 x MkV 4.5" (8 x 2) 1964: 8 x MkV 4.5" (4 x 2)
Secondary guns	As built: 20 x 40mm Bofors (20 x 1) 1964: 18 x 20m (18 x 1)
Torpedo tubes	None
Other weapons	As built: 18 x 20mm (18 x 1) 1964: SAM: 24 x SeaCat launchers (6 x 4)
Countermeasures	None
Armour	Deck: 4" Hangar: 1.5" - 4.5" Belt: 4"
Aircraft Facilities
Aircraft	As built: 78 various 1970: 41 various
Flightdeck	As built: 800' x 112' 1964: 800' x 166' 9"
Hangar	N/A
Catapults	As built: 2 1967: 3
Arrestor system	Cross deck wires
Aviation fuel	103300 gallons
Electronics Fit
Radar	As built: Type 960 surveillance 2 x Type 982 aircraft direction 2 x Type 983 air search 1964: Type 984 Type 965 air search 2 x Type 982 aircraft direction 2 x Type 983 air search
Sonar	None
ECM	N/A
Other	12 x Mk37 gun directors
Machinery
Engines	8 x Admiralty boilers 4 x Parsons steam turbines
Power output	152000shp
Speed	31.5kts
Shafts	4
Range	6000NM @ 24kts
Fuel	6096 tons oil

Audacious was renamed Eagle in 1946 after the cancellation of the first ship. Her first air group was made up of Firebrands and Attackers. Between 1954 and 1955 she was refitted with a 5.5 degree angled deck. In 1956 she took part in the Suez operation.

From 1959 to 1964, the angled deck was increased to 8.5 degrees, and the forward 4.5" guns were removed, along with all the 40mm. The armour on the deck was replaced. Six SeaCat launchers were added, and the ship could now accomodate 42 aircraft including helicopters.

Between 1966 and 1967, a third catapult was added, and she was fitted for Buccaneer operations. In March 1969 she completed trials with the F4 Phantom. In 1970 she received ASW helicopters. She was scrapped starting in October 1978.

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