Illustrious-class aircraft carrier

Class overview
BuildersVickers-Armstrongs (3), Harland & Wolff (1)
Operators Royal Navy
Preceded byHMS Ark Royal
Succeeded byImplacable class
SubclassesHMS Indomitable
In commission1940–1968
Planned6
Completed4
Scrapped4
General characteristics (Illustrious, as built)
TypeAircraft carrier
Displacement23,000 long tons (23,000 t) (standard)
Length
Beam95 ft 9 in (29.2 m)
Draught28 ft 10 in (8.8 m) (deep load)
Installed power
Propulsion3 shafts; 3 geared steam turbines
Speed30.5 knots (56.5 km/h; 35.1 mph)
Range10,700 nmi (19,800 km; 12,300 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)
Complement1,229
Sensors and
processing systems
1 × Type 79 early-warning radar
Armament
Armour
Aircraft carried36–57
Aviation facilities1 catapult

The Illustrious class was a class of aircraft carrier of the Royal Navy that included some of the most important British warships in the Second World War. They were laid down in the late 1930s as part of the rearmament of British forces in response to the emerging threats of Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy and Imperial Japan.

The Illustrious class comprised four vessels: HM Ships Illustrious, Formidable, Victorious and Indomitable. The last of these was built to a modified design with a second, half-length, hangar deck below the main hangar deck. Each of these ships played a prominent part in the battles of the Second World War. Victorious took part in the pursuit of the German battleship Bismarck, Illustrious and Formidable played prominent parts in the battles in the Mediterranean during 1940 and 1941 and all three took part in the large actions of the British Pacific Fleet in 1945.

The later two ships of the Implacable class were also built to modified designs to carry larger air wings. Implacable and Indefatigable both had two hangar levels, albeit with a limited 14-foot (4.3 m) head room.