HMS Venerable
History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Venerable
Ordered7 August 1942
BuilderCammell Laird
Yard number1126
Laid down3 December 1942
Launched30 December 1943
Commissioned17 January 1945
DecommissionedApril 1947
IdentificationPennant number R63
FateSold to the Netherlands 1 April 1948
Netherlands
NameHNLMS Karel Doorman
NamesakeKarel Doorman
Acquired1 April 1948
Commissioned28 May 1948
Decommissioned29 April 1968
Refit
  • 1955-1958
  • 1965-1966
IdentificationR81
FateSold to Argentina 15 October 1968
Argentina
NameARA Veinticinco de Mayo
NamesakeDate of the May Revolution
Acquired15 October 1968
Commissioned12 March 1969
Decommissioned1997
Out of serviceInoperable by 1990
Refit1969
HomeportPuerto Belgrano Naval Base
IdentificationV-2
FateProvided spare parts for Minas Gerais and remainder was scrapped at Alang, India, in 2000
General characteristics [1]
Class and typeColossus-class aircraft carrier
Displacement13,190 long tons (13,400 t)
Length
  • 695 ft (212 m) oa
  • 630 ft (192 m) pp
Beam80 ft (24 m)
Draught
  • 18 ft 6 in (5.64 m) (mean)
  • 23 ft 6 in (7.16 m) (deep load)
Propulsion
  • 2 × shafts
  • Parsons geared Steam turbines
  • 4 × Admiralty 3-drum boilers
  • 40,000 shp (30,000 kW)
Speed25 kn (46 km/h; 29 mph)
Range12,000 nmi (22,000 km; 14,000 mi) at 14 kn (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Complement1,300 (including air group)
Armament
Aircraft carried48(52)

HMS Venerable (R63) was a Colossus-class aircraft carrier of the Royal Navy. She served for only the last few months of World War II, and in 1948 she was sold to the Netherlands and renamed HNLMS Karel Doorman, taking part in the military clash in 1962 in Western New Guinea. Subsequently, she was sold to Argentina and renamed ARA Veinticinco de Mayo, later taking part in the Falklands War.

Construction and career

HMS Venerable was laid down at Cammell Laird in Birkenhead on 3 December 1942 and launched just over a year later. The ship was commissioned on 17 January 1945.[2] As with others of the class completed just before the ending of hostilities, HMS Venerable immediately headed to the Far East to join the 11th Aircraft Carrier Squadron (Colossus, Glory and Vengeance) of the British Pacific Fleet. Each carrier had around 40 F4U Corsair fighters and Fairey Barracuda torpedo bombers on board.

After the end of hostilities, HMS Venerable repatriated prisoners of war to Canada and Australia, before returning to the UK. Venerable only served three years in the Royal Navy before being sold to the Dutch as HNLMS Karel Doorman. In 1968, after a boiler-room fire, she was sold to the Argentine Navy and renamed ARA Veinticinco de Mayo.

By 1990, she was inoperable, and she subsequently provided spare parts for her sister ship, Minas Gerais, which had been sold to the Brazilian Navy. The remaining part of the ship was scrapped in Alang, India, in 1999 or 2000.

References

  1. ↑ Chesneau 1998, p. 129.
  2. ↑ Beaver, Paul (1987) Encyclopedia of the Fleet Air Arm since 1945, Wellingborough, Northants: Patrick Stephens, ISBN 0-85059-760-9
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