History

Majestic was built by Vickers Armstrong, Barrow-in-Furness, laid down 15 April 1943, and launched 28 February 1945. However, construction was suspended in 1945. She was sold to Australia in 1949, and completed in 1955 to a modified design including a 5.5 degree angled flight deck, finally being commisioned and renamed as HMAS Melbourne on 28 October, 1955.  Paid off 1983. Broken up 1985 although the flight deck still survived in 2001.

She served as Australia's Flag Ship for 26 years, taking part in exercises with other nations, representing Australia in overseas celebrations, and assisting in natural disasters. From 1959 through to the late 1960s, Melbourne served in the Far East Strategic Reserve. The Malayan crisis led to Sydney’s recommissioning in 1962. Eight-two sailors died in February 1964, when in a collision with the aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne, the destroyer HMAS Voyager was sunk during exercises off Jervis Bay.She took part in exercises and escorted HMS Sydney which was then used to ferry troops and vehicles to Vietnam in 1972. During her service she steamed 868, 893 nautical miles, or 1,579,804 kilometers, equivalent to 20 return trips to the moon.

She was finally decommissioned 30 June1982. She was finally sold in February 1985, to China United Shipbuilding Company for AUS $1.4 million. She was finally broken up in Dalian, China.

On 13 January 2001, the online Australian magazine of Melbourne "The Age.com.au" indicated that China has been using the flight deck of the former Australian aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne to train its pilots ahead of the launch of its first locally-made aircraft carrier. Quoting unnamed sources, the Hong Kong-based independent Chinese-language Ming Pao daily reported that the 4.8 billion yuan ($A892 million) aircraft carrier is slated to be in the water in 2003, although it will take another two years to have it fully ready for service.

Battle Honours
None in World War II

Captains
None in World War II

Squadrons and Aircraft
None in World War II

In 1956 - 808 (Sea venoms) , 816 and 817 Squadrons (Fairey Gannets). She also carried Bristol
Sycamore helicopters

FAA squadrons embarked	Dates	Aircraft type

Associations and Reunions
No information

Carrier name	HMS Majestic. Sold as HMAS Melbourne (Australia)
Class	Majestic Class
Type	Light Fleet Aircraft Carrier
Ships in Class	Majestic, Terrible, Magnificent, Powerful, Leviathan, Hercules
Launched	Laid down 15 April 1943. Launched 28 Feb 1945. Construction suspended 1945. Sold to Australia Completed 1955. Commissioned 28 October 1955.
Tonnage	Displacement: 14,224 tons standard ; 18,085 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	25x40 mm Bofors AA
Crew Complement	1100 (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)	80 feet 2 inches
Draught (ft/inches)	25 feet 5 inches
Flight Deck length (ft/inches)	690 feet 8 inches
Flight Deck width (ft/inches)
Armour
Number of aircraft carried	37
Fate of carrier	Paid off 1983. Broken up 1985
Notes	Originally part of the Colossus class, these last six ships were completed to a slightly modified design more suited to operating heavier aircraft. None commissioned into the Royal Navy, all but one being sold.

 
 
 

FURTHER INFORMATION   Bonaventure 'Modified Majestic type' Magnificent 'Majestic type' Warrior 'Collossus type    HMAS Melbourne by Australian Aviation Archive   Aussie aircraft carriers by Aussie Armourers website Aussie aircraft carriers Brief history of HMS Majestic Personal website of HMAS Melbourne : -New Zealand, Singapore Road [Malaya], Far East, HMAS Penguin 1957-1960 Personal recollections and photos of HMAS Melbourne 1957-1960 Compensation win for HMAS Melbourne sailor by the website of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1999) Audio sound recollections of the Melbourne collission with HMAS Voyager "Chinese military finds use for HMAS Melbourne flight deck" in "The Age.com.au" online Australian magazine, Melbourne (13 January 2001) Article about the continued survival of the flight deck of HMAS Melbourne in 2001 The Australian Carrier Era by the Museum of Flight Brief history of the Melbourne 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). Janes 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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