hms aircraft repair ship light aircraft carrier built royal_navy late 1930s completed world war provided air cover amphibious landing italy september ship transferred indian_ocean end year supported aircraft carriers fleet operations formed november transferred australia early support operations operation allied invasion okinawa time required carriers ship based japanese surrender august decommissioned placed reserve returned january ship recommissioned support light carrier redesignated end world war unloading aircraft equipment singapore june korean war began spent war aircraft troops stores equipment support commonwealth operations korea supported carriers operations korea aircraft carrier conduct shore bombardment guns wartime attacked north korean observers coast war ship returned end war placed reserve listed disposal sold scrap design description crisis demonstrated admiralty needed depot ship support aircraft carriers active service like submarine destroyer supported types ship able perform wider range aircraft repair maintenance tasks aircraft carriers range aircraft operated royal_navy including amphibians admiral controller navy instrumental gaining approval ship ensuring complete flight deck allow land service launch aircraft active operations ship built navy carry range aircraft maintenance repair work addition ability operate aircraft flight deck practice proved value concept similar support ships pioneer converted aircraft maintenance ships modifying light aircraft carriers construction overall length feet beam feet inches draught feet deep load somewhat overweight completed displaced long tons standard load designed long tons ship sets parsons geared steam turbines drove foot propeller steam supplied admiralty drum water tube boilers operating pressure psi kpa cm2 turbines designed total shaft horsepower gave speed knots mph ship carried long tons fuel oil gave range nautical miles knots mph order land aircraft aboard designed length foot flight deck arresting gear fitted catapult capable launching pound aircraft speed knots mph ship feet inches high aircraft transported flight deck aircraft lifts elevators forward lift measured feet rear feet carry operational aircraft bulk petrol storage consisted imperial gallons gal wartime ship crew totaled ship carried self propelled lighter rear flight deck allow aircraft transferred ships shore facilities lighter lowered flush upper hangar deck aircraft rolled aircraft lifted lighter water armed twin mounts calibre inch dual purpose gun mounting elevate gun fired pound high explosive shells minute muzzle velocity surface targets range yards maximum ceiling effective anti aircraft range equipped quadruple mounts millimetre pounder gun gun mounts elevate maximum viii pounder gun fired millimetre pound shell muzzle velocity distance yards gun rate fire approximately rounds minute close range air defence provided twin mounts single ones fired pound shell muzzle velocity rate fire rounds minute maximum range yards ship equipped high angle control system directors island mount director ship mount type early warning radar director fitted type gunnery radar construction service ordered april laid belfast northern_ireland june construction delayed times favour higher priority projects launched november ship completed march order accelerate ship completion admiralty decided equipped suite maintenance repair equipment excluding armament cost whilst working squadrons flew aboard april squadron torpedo bombers squadron squadron fighters embarked time late escorted convoy gibraltar carrying number loaded escorted returning convoy clyde early june aircraft carrier ship sweep norwegian coast operation governor diversion allied landings sicily early july operation squadron replaced squadron assigned force flotilla british carriers commanded admiral intended provide air cover allied landings preparation mission ship disembarked small detachment squadron self defence squadron replaced squadrons squadrons aircraft total joined escort carriers force august gibraltar moved forward intensive training prior commencement amphibious landing september ship flew sorties day operations september suited carrier landings low wind conditions damaged landing accidents sorties flown september september mechanics managed repair previous night fighter shortage grew acute operation fighters carriers formidable intended provide distant cover attempt italian fleet interfere invasion staged forward order provide air cover landings september situation improved squadron able fly temporary airfield ashore ship returned september load damaged addition aircraft loaded glasgow repaired refitted builders designed role aircraft repair ship far_east end december joined battlecruiser renown battleships queen elizabeth reinforcements squadron carried aboard time ship delivered aircraft india january arriving february addition repair duties ship deck landing practice given brief refit bombay august squadron transferred later disbanded november squadron flew aboard provide anti submarine protection ordered modified separate workshops additional equipment accommodate american engines different screw threads electrical fittings month transferred newly formed left january arrived ceylon conducted deck landing practice pilots new ship loaded aircraft engines later month transport australia available stocks departed sydney january arrived february disembarked stored aircraft sailed february support training opening stages operation ship arrived philippines march serve intermediate base supported operation tasked attack japanese airfields early stages invasion okinawa primarily engaged preparing aircraft issue operational squadrons aboard fleet carriers time repair repair modify service aircraft march ship sailed australia arrived sydney june sailed brisbane june cleaned load replacement aircraft arrived july prepare operations japan japan surrendered august ship began ferry aircraft equipment men australia surrender task ended november arrived sydney departed home december arrived plymouth january decommissioned placed reserve post war reactivated service far_east support carrier triumph sailed september cargo korean war broke june ship aircraft equipment maintenance personnel singapore preparation return home reserve admiralty ordered carrier ferry replacement aircraft supplies royal_navy commonwealth aircraft carriers operating korean waters left singapore july arrived japan july transferred seven august ship ferried headquarters 27th brigade hong_kong arriving august delivered supplies returning singapore begin refit resumed duties december carrying troops addition usual aircraft stores equipment pilots deck landing practice route march ferried jet fighters squadron raaf japan ship remained months accommodation ship resumed role ferry carrier whilst october destroyed overhead power cables stretching lower normal heavy snowfall november carrier warrior exchanged crews singapore ship began refit shortly refit completed january returned ferry duties april adopted possibly ships honoured army regiment operations ocean july ship acted spare flight deck allow damaged aircraft land disrupting strike operations arrived singapore july load replacement aircraft including sailed august japan september borrowed ocean fighters fly combat air patrols fleet whilst ship conducted strike operations docked maintenance october embarked admiral commander chief far east station tour commonwealth forces japan point aircraft carrier conduct shore bombardment wartime engaged north korean point ship returned singapore refit december leave singapore july july route japan received distress saying attack pirates carrier closed freighter position high speed pirates abandoned prize freighter guns bearing yards came effect following day ship accompanied ocean patrols july august monitor north korean compliance terms armistice sailed home october arrived devonport november returned reserve disposal considered modernization capable operating modern heavier jet aircraft required fitting steam catapult reinforcing flight deck handle heavier aircraft moving forward lift room new catapult larger aircraft new crane necessary handle heavier aircraft director naval construction proposed combine single eliminate problems hangar height rejected excessive cost reconstruction begun july entire scheme cancelled november providing existing carriers angled flight decks important ship reduced extended reserve march placed disposal list sold scrap june arrived june begin process hull broken
HMS Unicorn (I72)