INDEX OF NAVAL

AIRCRAFT CARRIERS

HMS POWERFUL

Light Fleet Carrier
renamed HMCS Bonaventure (Canada) 1957

History

HMS Powerful was built by Harland & Wolff, laid down 27 November 1943 and launched 27 February 1945. Decommissioned July 1970, stricken. Broken up in Taiwan.

Poweful was in mothballs in Belfast after the end of WWII, and was sold to Canada on 23 April 1952, then completed to a modified design with 8 degree angled flight deck. On 17 January, 1957, HMS Powerful was commissioned into
the Royal Canadian Navy as HMCS Bonaventure. ASW carrier from 1961.

Powerful was decommissioned 3 July 1970, stricken and broken up in Taiwan.

Battle Honours
None in World War II
Captains
None in World War II
Squadrons and Aircraft
None in World War II
Associations and Reunions
No information

Carrier name HMS Powerful. sold as HMCS Bonaventure 1952 (Canada)

Class Majestic Class

Type Light Fleet Aircraft Carrier

Ships in Class Majestic, Terrible, Magnificent, Powerful, Leviathan, Hercules

Launched Laid down November 1943. Launched February 1945. Sold to Canada. Completed to a modified design. Commissioned 17 January 1957. ASW carrier from 1961.

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 Guns: 24 x 2 pdr AA ; 19 x 40 mm

Crew Complement Compliment: 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)

Draught (ft/inches)

Flight Deck length (ft/inches) short, straight flight deck (only 207m/680')

Flight Deck width (ft/inches)

Armour

Number of aircraft carried 37

Fate of carrier Decommissioned July 1970, stricken. Broken up.

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

Canadian Aircraft Carriers Full history of HMS Powerful in RCN as HMCS Bonaventure postwar.

Warship1 website on Canadian Aircraft Carriers: Bonaventure 'Modified Majestic type' Magnificent 'Majestic type' Warrior 'Collossus type

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

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

Last Modified: 23-2-2001

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Carrier name	HMS Powerful. sold as HMCS Bonaventure 1952 (Canada)
Class	Majestic Class
Type	Light Fleet Aircraft Carrier
Ships in Class	Majestic, Terrible, Magnificent, Powerful, Leviathan, Hercules
Launched	Laid down November 1943. Launched February 1945. Sold to Canada. Completed to a modified design. Commissioned 17 January 1957. ASW carrier from 1961.
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	Guns: 24 x 2 pdr AA ; 19 x 40 mm
Crew Complement	Compliment: 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)
Draught (ft/inches)
Flight Deck length (ft/inches)	short, straight flight deck (only 207m/680')
Flight Deck width (ft/inches)
Armour
Number of aircraft carried	37
Fate of carrier	Decommissioned July 1970, stricken. Broken up.
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.