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| AV-8S Harriers embarked on the Spanish Navy's Dédalo, the former USS Cabot (CVL-28), an Independence class light aircraft carrier |
A light aircraft carrier is an aircraft carrier that is smaller than the standard carriers of a navy. The precise definition of the type varies by country; light carriers typically have a compliment of aircraft only ½ to ⅔ the size of a full-sized or "fleet" carrier.
In World War II, the United States Navy produced a number of light carriers by converting cruiser hulls. The Independence-class aircraft carriers, converted from Cleveland-class light cruisers, were unsatisfactory ships for aviation with their narrow, short decks and slender, high-sheer hulls; in virtually all respects the escort carriers were superior aviation vessels. The Independence-class ships, however, had the virtue of being available at a time when available carrier decks had been reduced to Enterprise and Saratoga in the Pacific and Ranger in the Atlantic. In addition, unlike escort carriers, they had enough speed to take part in fleet actions with the larger carriers. Late in the war, a follow on design to the Independence-class, the Saipan-class, was designed. Two vessels in this class - Saipan and Wright - were completed after the war's end. After very brief lives as carriers, the Saipans were converted to command and communication ships.
In the post-war period, the British Royal Navy also operated a force of light aircraft carriers, all of which were born out of wartime designs. British-built light fleet carriers of the Colossus and Majestic classes were also sold to Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, India and The Netherlands.
Contents |
List of light carriers
- Argentine Navy
- ARA Independencia (ex-Colossus-class)
- ARA Veinticinco de Mayo (ex-Colossus-class)
- Brazilian Navy
- NAeL Minas Gerais (ex-Colossus-class)
- French Navy
- Lafeyette-class - 2 ships (ex-Independence-class)
- FS Arromanches (ex-Colossus-class)
- Indian Navy
- INS Vikrant (ex-Majestic-class) (decommissioned)
- Italian Navy
- Japanese Navy
- Spanish Navy
- Dédalo (ex-Independence-class)
- Príncipe de Asturias
- Juan Carlos I
- Royal Navy
- Centaur-class - 4 ships
- Colossus-class - 8 ships
- Majestic-class - 5 ships
- Invincible-class - 3 ships
- Royal Australian Navy
- HMAS Sydney (ex-Majestic-class)
- HMAS Vengeance (ex-Colossus-class)
- HMAS Melbourne (ex-Majestic-class)
- Royal Canadian Navy
- HMCS Warrior (ex-Colossus-class)
- HMCS Magnificent (ex-Majestic-class)
- HMCS Bonaventure (ex-Majestic-class)
- Royal Netherlands Navy
- HNLMS Karel Doorman II - 1 ship (ex-Colossus-class)
- Royal Thai Navy
- HTMS Chakri Naruebet - 1 ship
- United States Navy
- Independence-class - 9 ships
- Saipan-class - 2 ships
See also
Notes
References
- Brown, David (1977). Aircraft Carriers. Arco Publishing. ISBN 0-668-04164-1.
- Watts, Anthony J. (1967). Japanese Warships of World War II. Doubleday & Company.
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