HMS Venerable (R63)

HMS Venerable
History
United Kingdom
Name	HMS Venerable
Ordered	7 August 1942
Builder	Cammell Laird
Yard number	1126
Laid down	3 December 1942
Launched	30 December 1943
Commissioned	17 January 1945
Decommissioned	April 1947
Identification	Pennant number R63
Fate	Sold to the Netherlands 1 April 1948
Netherlands
Name	HNLMS Karel Doorman
Namesake	Karel Doorman
Acquired	1 April 1948
Commissioned	28 May 1948
Decommissioned	29 April 1968
Refit	1955-1958 1965-1966
Identification	R81
Fate	Sold to Argentina 15 October 1968
Argentina
Name	ARA Veinticinco de Mayo
Namesake	Date of the May Revolution
Acquired	15 October 1968
Commissioned	12 March 1969
Decommissioned	1997
Out of service	Inoperable by 1990
Refit	1969
Homeport	Puerto Belgrano Naval Base
Identification	V-2
Fate	Provided spare parts for Minas Gerais and remainder was scrapped at Alang, India, in 2000
General characteristics [1]
Class and type	Colossus-class aircraft carrier
Displacement	13,190 long tons (13,400 t)
Length	695 ft (212 m) oa 630 ft (192 m) pp
Beam	80 ft (24 m)
Draught	18 ft 6 in (5.64 m) (mean) 23 ft 6 in (7.16 m) (deep load)
Propulsion	2 × shafts Parsons geared Steam turbines 4 × Admiralty 3-drum boilers 40,000 shp (30,000 kW)
Speed	25 kn (46 km/h; 29 mph)
Range	12,000 nmi (22,000 km; 14,000 mi) at 14 kn (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Complement	1,300 (including air group)
Armament	24 × QF 2-pounder naval gun (6 quadruple mounts) 32 × Oerlikon 20 mm cannon
Aircraft carried	48(52)

HMS Venerable (R63) was a Colossus-class aircraft carrier of the Royal Navy. She served for only the last few months of World War II, and in 1948 she was sold to the Netherlands and renamed HNLMS Karel Doorman, taking part in the military clash in 1962 in Western New Guinea. Subsequently, she was sold to Argentina and renamed ARA Veinticinco de Mayo, later taking part in the Falklands War.