British Carriers in 1946

[Don Bowen]

What if Japan had not surrendered in 1945 and the war had dragged on through the end of 1946. What carriers would the Royal Navy commission in 1946?

Some very interesting ones under construction as of August, 1945...

[xj900uk]

Agreed, they had some very good 'U'-class CVL's several of which served in Korea then went on to have distinguished careers in other navies when, not for the first time, the Royal Navy was forced to abandon a class of ship it had been instrumental in developing [:(]
I may be wrong, but I do believe a few (including the last Hermes, which was laid down as long ago as 1943 and saw service in teh Falklands war) is still around, albeit under another name.

[Dixie]

Probably HMS Audacious and Ark Royal.  Maybe HMS Eagle (and possibly even Africa).

HMS Hercules, Leviathan, Terrible.  Maybe Magnificent, Majestic and Powerful.

HMS Triumph and HMS Warrior.

[Don Bowen]

ORIGINAL: Dixie

Probably HMS Audacious and Ark Royal.  Maybe HMS Eagle (and possibly even Africa).

HMS Hercules, Leviathan, Terrible.  Maybe Magnificent, Majestic and Powerful.

HMS Triumph and HMS Warrior.

Africa is interesting... Any air group guesses??

[Dixie]

ORIGINAL: Don Bowen

ORIGINAL: Dixie

Probably HMS Audacious and Ark Royal.  Maybe HMS Eagle (and possibly even Africa).

HMS Hercules, Leviathan, Terrible.  Maybe Magnificent, Majestic and Powerful.

HMS Triumph and HMS Warrior.

Africa is interesting... Any air group guesses??

I meant the original 4th Audacious class that was cancellled rather than later Malta class, She may have ended up with a different name if she'd gone ahead.

A what-if discussion on the Audacious carriers gave a rough estimate of 84 aircraft:
3x 18 a/c Hellcat/Corsair groups (or 3x24 Seafires)
1x 12a/c Firefly sqn
1x 18a/c Avenger sqn

-OR-
2x21 a/c Hellcat/Corsair groups (or 3x18 Seafires)
2x12 a/c Firefly Sqn
1x18 a/c Avenger

The Seafires are unlikely though.

[Rob Brennan UK]

Navalised Gloucester Meteors .. or even better De Havelin Vampires [8D]..

Pure speculation and wishful thinking on my part.. pretty please.


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[LoBaron]

ORIGINAL: Rob Brennan UK

Navalised Gloucester Meteors .. or even better De Havelin Vampires [8D]..

Pure speculation and wishful thinking on my part.. pretty please.


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No.
Don´t.

It´s enough that Rob beats me using Wildcats... [:-] [:D]

[Andy Mac]

I put all the late war RN ships into Ironman Allied to give the AI a chance cannot remember if I made up the air wings or researched them - as it was AI only they may be made up but they are all in there plus all the DD's on the stocks

[Don Bowen]

ORIGINAL: Andy Mac

I put all the late war RN ships into Ironman Allied to give the AI a chance cannot remember if I made up the air wings or researched them - as it was AI only they may be made up but they are all in there plus all the DD's on the stocks

Thanks, I should have thought of checking there!

[Iridium]

What about British what-if CVs like the Malta class etc? What's the chance of them actually building them if the war went on past '45 and when would these be completed if so?

[Don Bowen]

ORIGINAL: Iridium

What about British what-if CVs like the Malta class etc? What's the chance of them actually building them if the war went on past '45 and when would these be completed if so?

Beyond the scope of what I am looking at. Just what probably would have come online in '46.

Not so sure about the Audacious class. Lenton indicates that little progress was made on them during the war. Not at all convinced they could have been made available within a year. Anyone have more data?

[herwin]

Per Brown: The Ark Royal II was designed based on wartime experience, especially the vulnerability of RN fleet carriers to flooding. The beam was increased to give protection against a 1000 lb contact charge. Subdivision was tight. Hangars were built to American standard. Aircraft stowage was four abreast. The hangars could handle 18 VF and 42 TBR. The deck park could handle 20 more.

The Malta was a much lengthened Ark Royal II, comparable with the Midway. Airgroup of 108, half fighters and half TBR.

Building time for the Colossus class was 21 months. 40 aircraft operated. Could not handle heavy aircraft--limited to 24000 lbs.

The Hermes class was built for modern heavy aircraft (30000 lbs).

[bklooste]

ORIGINAL: Rob Brennan UK

Navalised Gloucester Meteors .. or even better De Havelin Vampires [8D]..

Pure speculation and wishful thinking on my part.. pretty please.


<---------- ships mascot [;)]

Here is a 1945 picture of one on HMS Ocean...