HMS Bulwark (R08)

HMS Bulwark
History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Bulwark
Ordered17 April 1943
BuilderHarland & Wolff
Laid down10 May 1945
Launched22 June 1948
Commissioned4 November 1954
DecommissionedApril 1981
In service
  • 1954–1958
  • 1960–1969
  • 1970 – April 1981
HomeportHMNB Portsmouth
IdentificationPennant number: R08
Motto"Under thy wings I will trust"
Nickname(s)The Rusty B
Honours and
awards
Operation Musketeer
FateScrapped 1984
General characteristics
Class and typeCentaur-class light aircraft carrier
Displacement22,000 tons standard, 27,000 tons full load
Length737.75 ft (224.87 m)
Beam123 ft (37 m)
Draught27.8 ft (8.5 m)
Propulsion4 boilers, 2 shafts
Speed28 knots (52 km/h; 32 mph)
Range7,000 nautical miles (13,000 km; 8,100 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Complement850 (+ 200 Naval Air Squadron + 800 Royal Marines Commando)
Aircraft carriedAs a commando carrier: 16 Wessex V helicopters of 845 or 848 Naval Air Squadron

The sixth HMS Bulwark of the Royal Navy was a 22,000 ton Centaur-class light fleet aircraft carrier. Initially commissioned as a light aircraft carrier in 1954, the ship was converted into a commando carrier in 1958 and recommissioned as such in 1960. Bulwark remained in this capacity until 1979 following failed efforts to sell the ship, Bulwark re-entered service as an anti-submarine warfare carrier and remained as such until being decommissioned in 1981. The ship was scrapped in 1984.