HMS Eagle (R05)

	HMS Eagle at flying stations in the Mediterranean, January 1970
History
United Kingdom
Name	HMS Eagle
Builder	Harland and Wolff
Yard number	1220
Laid down	24 October 1942
Launched	19 March 1946
Completed	1 October 1951
Commissioned	1 March 1952
Decommissioned	26 January 1972
Homeport	HMNB Devonport
Identification	Pennant: R05
Nickname(s)	The Big E
Fate	Scrapped 1978
General characteristics
Class and type	Audacious-class aircraft carrier
Displacement	36,800 long tons (37,391 t) standard (1951); 46,000 long tons (46,738 t) full load (1951); 43,060 long tons (43,751 t) standard (1957); 54,100 long tons (54,968 t) standard (1964);
Length	803 ft (245 m) (1951?); 720 ft (220 m) p.p. (1964); 720 ft (220 m) oa (1964);
Beam	135 ft (41 m) overall (1951?); 112.8 ft (34.4 m) hull (1964); 171 ft (52 m) overall width (1964);
Draught	33.25 ft (10.13 m) (1951); 36 ft (11 m) (1964);
Propulsion	4 shaft geared steam turbines; 8 boilers; 152,000 shp (113,000 kW);
Speed	31 knots (36 mph; 57 km/h)
Range	7,000 nmi (13,000 km) at 18 knots (21 mph; 33 km/h)
Complement	2,500 (average); 2,750 (max.)
Armament	As built:; 16 × 4.5 inch guns (8×2); 61 × 40 mm guns (8×6, 2×2, 9×1); Post-1964 re-fit:; 8 × 4.5 inch guns (4×2); 6 × Seacat SAM missile launchers;
Armour	Waterline belt: 4 in (100 mm); Armoured flight deck: 1–4 in (25–102 mm); Hangar side: 1 in (25 mm); Hangar deck: 1 in (25 mm);
Aircraft carried	As built: 60; Post-refit (1964): 45; Final (1971): 39;
Notes	1951: standard axial flight deck; 1954: 5.5º angled flight deck; 1964: 8.5º angled flight deck;

HMS Eagle was an Audacious-class aircraft carrier of the Royal Navy, in service 1951–1972. Until the arrival of the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers in the 21st century, she and her sister Ark Royal were the two largest Royal Navy aircraft carriers ever built.

She was laid down on 24 October 1942 at Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast as one of four ships of the Audacious class. These were laid down during World War II as part of the British naval buildup during that conflict. Two were cancelled at the end of hostilities, and the remaining two were suspended. Originally designated Audacious, she was renamed as Eagle (the fifteenth Royal Navy ship to receive this name), taking the name of the cancelled third ship of the class on 21 January 1946. She was finally launched by Princess Elizabeth on 19 March 1946.

Although Eagle was completed in October 1951 without an angled flight deck, one was added three years later. In 1952 she took part in the first large NATO naval exercise, Exercise Mainbrace.

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