class light fleet aircraft carrier built royal_navy world war ship initially named renamed admiralty decided convert aircraft maintenance carrier completed end world war trip australia late year return early placed reserve ship recommissioned serve trials ship steam catapult development test launches conducted catapult removed converted use ferry carrier transport aircraft troops equipment overseas reduced reserve sold scrap design description construction class carriers intended meet shortage naval flight decks design based class modified permit rapid construction commercial yards completed original design success maintenance aircraft carrier prompted modification ship whilst construction aircraft maintenance ship aircraft overall length feet beam feet inches draught feet deep load displaced long tons standard load ship sets parsons geared steam turbines drove propeller shaft 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 maximize space workshops stores ship arresting gear catapult fitted facilities required flying operations removed large added port island rear flight deck ship single hangar feet inches high aircraft transported flight deck aircraft lifts elevators measured feet large cranes mounted flight deck aircraft stores flight deck ship carried small self propelled allow aircraft transferred ships shore facilities bulk petrol storage consisted imperial gallons gal ship crew totalled plus aircraft repair department aircraft undergo maintenance functional equipment tests carried aboard hangar deck components repaired board work carried workshops engine repair component repair ships accompany maintenance carrier ship 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 fitted single mounts fired pound shell muzzle velocity rate fire rounds minute maximum range yards guns mounted flight deck hull like half sisters completed aircraft carriers mount provided separate fire control director fitted type gunnery radar ordered march laid newcastle january launched march ship renamed july decision convert aircraft maintenance ship completed october service arrived portsmouth october end world war begin working sailed november australia arrived sydney december time charge winding air train supported ship departed melbourne march carrying load aircraft return united_kingdom arrived placed reserve fitted experimental steam catapult catapult placed carrier existing flight deck port island removed accommodate launches catapult beginning wheeled dead loads gradually increasing weight moving aircraft wings truncated reduce ability final tests manned aircraft type flown ship arrived philadelphia january demonstrate catapult united_states_navy launches manned aircraft british americans arrived portsmouth march catapult removed remaining maintenance equipment removed converted use ferry carrier december ship carried squadron singapore arriving january arrived portsmouth february embarked transferred royal_navy terms norfolk virginia march arrived norfolk load remaining aircraft april fitted temporary seating june important persons press elizabeth_ii later year trip transporting troops equipment far_east january squadron second line unit flew aboard conduct trials anti submarine version helicopter successful squadron redesignated squadron ferried malta april ship continued deliver relief supplies singapore intended korea reduced reserve return july admiralty intended convert submarine depot ship towed belfast begin work defence white paper caused conversion cancelled ship towed await decision ship disposition sold scrap towed port glasgow begin demolition
HMS Perseus (R51)