The Colossus class was a group of light aircraft carriers of the Royal Navy.

  • Colossus - Loaned, then sold to France and renamed FS Arromanches. Broken up in 1978.
  • Glory - Broken up 1961.
  • Ocean - Broken up 1962.
  • Perseus - Was originally called Edgar, then becoming Perseus upon commission in 1945. Broken up in 1958.
  • Pioneer - Originally named HMS Ethalion, then HMS Mars, before finally being renamed Pioneer. Was broken up in 1954.
  • Theseus - Broken up 1962.
  • Triumph - Broken up 1981.
  • Venerable - Became Dutch vessel HNLMS Karel Doorman II in 1948, then sold to Argentina as ARA Vienticino de Mayo. Currently a hulk.
  • Vengeance - Transferred to the RAN, becoming HMAS Vengeance, from 1953-55. Sold to Brazil in 1956, being renamed NAeL Minas Gerais and decommissioned in 2001. There are currently attempts to return her to the UK as a museum ship.
  • Warrior - (loaned to RCN as HMCS Warrior. Returned to UK in 1956 and sold to Argentina in 1958 as ARA Independencia. She was broken up sometime in the 1970s.

Colossus Class Statistics

  • Displacement: 13,400 tons
  • Length: 695 feet
  • Beam: 80 feet
  • Draught: 23.5 feet
  • Speed: 25 knots
  • Compliment: 1,300
  • Aircraft: 48
  • Propulsion: Steam Turbines (4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, Parsons geared turbines)

External Links

Friends of HMS Vengeance Campaign