INDEX OF NAVAL

AIRCRAFT CARRIERS

HMS GLORY

Light Fleet Carrier

History

HMS Glory was built by Harland & Wolff, laid down on 27 August 1942 and launched 27 November 1943. She was commissioned 2 April 1945 as a Colossus class Light Fleet Carrier 1945 - 56.

HMS Glory in 1945

During a few brief months in World War II from April 1945, Barracuda and Corsair IVs of 837 and 1831 squadrons operated from HMS Glory, the Corsairs remaining with the ship until October 1946.

One wartime claim of history for HMS Glory, was the Japanese surrender by Lt. General Imamura at Rabaul, on board the aircraft carrier Glory. The Japanese surrender party signing documents on the deck of HMS Glory (see images in State of Victoria Archives).

HMS Glory flight deck crowded with Barracudas of 837 squadron and Corsairs of 1831 squadron 1945

In 1952, Fairey Firefly FR.IV of 804 Squadron paired with the Sea Fury, provided the "heavy attack" element for the HMS Glory and other Royal Navy carriers that served in the Korean War.

HMS Glory was placed on Reserve 1956-1961. Stricken 1961. Broken up after being sold for scrap at Inverkeithing 23 August 1961.

Battle Honours
None in WWII. Korean Battle Honours 1952
Captains
No information on Captains.

HMS Glory Seafire XV coded 141/2, 1945
Squadrons and Aircraft

FAA squadrons embarked Dates Aircraft type

837 April-Oct 1945 Barracuda II

1831 May 1945-Oct 1946 Corsair IV

837 Oct 1945-Oct 1947 Firefly F.1

Associations and Reunions

HMS Glory 1943-56 Association.
Contact: Peter G Warde, 91 Dinglederry, Olney, Buckinghamshire. MK46 5EU.Tel: 01234 711611 (2001) Also see website

Carrier name HMS Glory

Class Colossus

Type Light Fleet Aircraft Carrier

Ships in Class Colossus, Vengeance, Venerable, Pioneer, Glory, Ocean, Perseus, Theseus, Triumph, Warrior

Launched Laid down 27 August 1942. Launched 27 November 1943. Commissioned 2 April 1945.

Tonnage Displacement: 13,400 tons standard ; 18,330 tons full load

Engines Propulsion: Steam Turbines (4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines), 40,000 shp.

Speed in Knots Speed: 25 knots

Armament Guns: 24 x 2 pdr AA ; 32 x 20 mm

Crew Complement Compliment: 1300 (including air group)

Range Range: 12,000 nmiles at 14 knots

Length (ft/inches) Dimensions: 630 pp, 650 wl, 695 oa x 80 x 23.5 feet

Beam (ft/inches)

Draught (ft/inches)

Flight Deck length (ft/inches)

Flight Deck width (ft/inches)

Armour

Number of aircraft carried Aircraft: 48

Fate of carrier Stricken 1961. Broken up.

Notes Scaled down version of Illustrious class but with a large aircraft compliment achieved by a lack of armour. Designed for rapid construction in merchant yards to make up for the shortfall in carriers but much more capable than escort carriers. Perseus and Pioneer were completed as maintenance carriers without catapults. After the war various units of the class were sold or reconstructed with angled decks or as helicopter carriers.

FURTHER INFORMATION

HMS GLORY website. Website dedicated to this post war RN aircraft carrier.

HMS Glory web page-Third tour: 8th November, 1952 to 19th May, 1953 - In Britain's small wars website Details of the involvement of HMS Glory in the Korean war

World Aircraft Carrier Lists and Photo Gallery - from 1913 to 2000. Naval History Information Center, Haze Gray & Underway

Sturtivant, R & Ballance, T (1994). 'The Squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm' Published by Air Britain (Historians) Ltd, 1994 ISBN: 0 85130 223 8
The World’s Warships 1941 by Francis E. McMurtrie (1944). Jane's London 1941 1st ed.
Jane's Fighting Ships of World War II by Francis E. McMurtrie (Editor)(1984). 320 pages. Crescent Books; ISBN: 0517679639

Last Modified: 23-2-2001

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FAA squadrons embarked	Dates	Aircraft type
837	April-Oct 1945	Barracuda II
1831	May 1945-Oct 1946	Corsair IV
837	Oct 1945-Oct 1947	Firefly F.1

Carrier name	HMS Glory
Class	Colossus
Type	Light Fleet Aircraft Carrier
Ships in Class	Colossus, Vengeance, Venerable, Pioneer, Glory, Ocean, Perseus, Theseus, Triumph, Warrior
Launched	Laid down 27 August 1942. Launched 27 November 1943. Commissioned 2 April 1945.
Tonnage	Displacement: 13,400 tons standard ; 18,330 tons full load
Engines	Propulsion: Steam Turbines (4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines), 40,000 shp.
Speed in Knots	Speed: 25 knots
Armament	Guns: 24 x 2 pdr AA ; 32 x 20 mm
Crew Complement	Compliment: 1300 (including air group)
Range	Range: 12,000 nmiles at 14 knots
Length (ft/inches)	Dimensions: 630 pp, 650 wl, 695 oa x 80 x 23.5 feet
Beam (ft/inches)
Draught (ft/inches)
Flight Deck length (ft/inches)
Flight Deck width (ft/inches)
Armour
Number of aircraft carried	Aircraft: 48
Fate of carrier	Stricken 1961. Broken up.
Notes	Scaled down version of Illustrious class but with a large aircraft compliment achieved by a lack of armour. Designed for rapid construction in merchant yards to make up for the shortfall in carriers but much more capable than escort carriers. Perseus and Pioneer were completed as maintenance carriers without catapults. After the war various units of the class were sold or reconstructed with angled decks or as helicopter carriers.