Dates: 1943 - 1960
This ship was the first Royal Navy aircraft carrier to be purpose built for use as a Repair and Maintenance vessel for aircraft. However she was fitted with a full length flight deck to enable landings or launch of existing types of carrier borne aircraft and so could also be deployed for operational use as a Fleet carrier. Her hangars were intended to house any type of aircraft used by the RN including amphibians which could be embarked by crane and launched from a catapult. The lifts were large enough to accommodate the larger amphibians. This ship saw operational service as a Fleet Carrier during WW2 and could act as a landing platform if any accompanying Fleet Carrier was unable to land aircraft after action damage. Maintenance workshops with ample capacity for carrying stores required for aircraft maintenance and repair as well as for ship equipment were provided.
Her designed displacement was 16,510 tons at full load with an overall length of 640 feet, a Beam of 90 feet and draught of 19 feet at full load. Turbine machinery of 40,000 SHP drove two shafts to provide a speed of 22 knots. Her main armament was four twin 4” AA mountings with 2 Pdr Pom Pom mountings all of which were radar controlled. These were supplemented by 20mm Close Range Oerlikon mountings during service. An aircraft warning radar Type 281B was fitted to provide aircraft control and give warning of air attack. Hangar space enabled about 35 aircraft to be fitted for operational use and housed aircraft embarked for repair or when ship was deployed as a Ferry Carrier. The number carried depended on the type of aircraft and was fewer after WW2 when these were larger. Her complement including aircrew if used operationally was over 1,000.
The value of this type of aircraft carrier was fully justified both during WW2 in the Mediterranean and later during UN service in Korea when she was used as a Ferry Carrier as well as in the maintenance role. A proposal made after she had been placed in Reserve for the second time was that she be converted for use as a troop carrier but this was not accepted and she was then sold for scrap.
Forces Reunited Forum Posts involving HMS Unicorn
"I am determined to get this picture on the web [HMS UNICORN.jpg]"
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" Quoting: keith miller I am determined to get this picture on the web [HMS UNICORN.jpg] Congratulations Keith, You got there at last. I remember seeing her in Spithead when I was a kid on Stokes Bay beach at Gosport. She seemed to be transfering stores from the harbour tugs and landing craft. A lot of years ago. "
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" Quoting: keith miller What had you been drinking to see the Unicorn , I know you did’nt give a date for the sighting,but if it was after 1955- it was a ghost. - Kieth, HMS Unicorn -Google search - HMS Unicorn payed off from RN Books in 1968 and accepted by Prince Phillips on ..."
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" Arthur heres a picture of the Unicorn,if you look at my pictures in the gallery you will see some more. I guessed you were having me on , I might add the earlier Unicorn was,nt such a b-----d to serve on as this one . There has been a more recent Unicorn , it was one of the last diesel electric ..."
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" Quoting: keith miller Arthur heres a picture of the Unicorn,if you look at my pictures in the gallery you will see some more. I guessed you were having me on , I might add the earlier Unicorn was,nt such a b-----d to serve on as this one . There has been a more recent Unicorn , it was one of ..."
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