World Aircraft Carriers List: Argentina
Revised 24 April 2000
Version 2.04
Compiled and Maintained by: Andrew Toppan
World Aircraft Carrier Lists Main Page: http://www.hazegray.org/navhist/carriers/
Independence
(HMS Colossus class) light aircraft carrier
Displacement: 18,400 tons full load
Dimensions: 630 x 80 x 23 feet/192 x 24.4 x 7 meters
Extreme Dimensions: 695 x 80 x 23 feet/211.8 x 24.4 x 7 meters
Propulsion: Steam turbines, 4 boilers, 2 shafts, 40,000 shp, 24.25 knots
Crew: 1,075
Armor: none
Armament: 22 40 mm AA
Aircraft: 21
Concept/Program: An ex-RN light fleet carrier transferred in 1958,
after she had been deemed obsolete by RN. Argentina's first aviation
ship.
Design: The ship had been refitted with a minimal angled deck in
RN service.
Departure from Service/Disposal: Replaced by 25 De Mayo
and scrapped.
Independence
ex HMS Warrior, ex HMCS Warrior, ex HMS Brave
(V1)
"J", later "VI"
Photos:
[As Canadian HMCS Warrior],
[HMS Warrior during rubberized flight deck trials],
[HMS Warrior refitted with angled deck],
[Argentine Independence].
Built by Harland & Wolff. Laid down 12 Dec 1942, launched 20 May 1944,
commissioned 25 January 1946. Loaned to the Canadian Navy upon completion as
HMCS Warrior (31).
Decommissioned and returned to RN 23 March 1948; commissioned 11/1948,
primarily as a trials carrier. Fitted for rubberized flight deck trials 1948-1949.
Decommissioned to reserve 9/1949 but recommissioned 6/1950 as a troop and
aircraft transport for service between UK and Korea. Refit at Devonport
Dockyard 3/1952 to 8 Sept 1953. Major refit
14 Dec 1954 to 21 Aug 1956 included fitting of a minimal angled deck for trials purposes.
Decommissioned 2/1958, offered for sale 3/1958, sold to Argentina 4 July
1958. Renamed Independencia 24 July 1958, transferred 4 Nov 1958, commissioned 8 July 1959. Assigned
designation V1 was not carried. Decommissioned to reserve 1970.
Sold 17 March 1971 and subsequently scrapped.
[Back To Top]
Veinticinco De Mayo
(HMS Colossus class) light strike/ASW aircraft carrier
Displacement: 19,900 tons full load
Dimensions: 630 x 80 x 24.5 feet/192 x 24.4 x 7.5 meters
Extreme Dimensions: 695 x 133.4 x 24.4 feet/211 x 40.6 x 7.5 meters
Propulsion: Steam turbines, 4 boilers, 2 shafts, 40,000 shp, 24 knots
Crew: 1300
Armor: none
Armament: 12 40 mm AA
Aircraft: 21
Concept/Program: An ex-Dutch, ex-RN light fleet carrier purchased
as a replacement for Independencia, which was obsolete by the late
1960's. This ship was originally a sister to HMS Warrior (later to
become Independencia), but had been extensively upgraded.
Design: Had been refitted with an angled deck and extensive
modernizations in Dutch service. Received new turbines during
pre-transfer overhaul.
Operational: Initially operated combined ASW and strike air
wing. The ship was in deteriorated condition by the 1980's, and played
no major role in the Falklands war.
Departure from Service/Disposal: Inoperable due to poor condition
by 1985. She was scheduled for re-engining and modernization, and the her
old engines were removed in preparation for reconstruction, but the work
was never carried out. Her hulk remained in nominal reserve until 1997,
when it was announced that she would be scrapped.
Veinticinco De Mayo
ex-HMS Venerable
(V2)
"D"
Photos:
[HMS Venerable as completed],
[HMS Venerable in service],
[Dutch Karel Doorman],
[Rebuilt with angled deck],
[Argentine 25 de Mayo].
Built by Cammell Laird. Laid down 3 Dec 1942, launched 30 Dec 1943, commissioned 17 Jan 1945. RN designation
changed to R63 circa 1945 for service in the Pacific; served in the
Pacific immediately after WWII; returned to previous designation postwar.
Decommissioned to reserve 30 March 1947. Sold to the Netherlands 1 April
1948; recommissioned 28 May 1948 as Karel Doorman (R81). Operated
strike and fighter aircraft; carried 34 40 mm AA guns.
Reconstructed 1955-58 at Wilton
Fijenoord with angled flight deck, new elevators, new island, new armament
of 12 40 mm AA, new catapult, all new aviation facilities and electronics
fitted; operated as combined ASW/strike carrier. Operated in ASW role
only after the mid-1960's.
Damaged by boiler fire 26 April 1968 and deemed not worth repairing;
placed in reserve pending disposal. Sold to Argentina 15 October 1968;
refitted at Wilton Fijenoord with boilers and turbines from
incomplete sister Leviathan.
Commissioned as Veinticinco De
Mayo 12 March 1969 but did not complete overhaul until 22 August
1969. Assigned designation V2 was not carried. Replaced
Independencia.
Was in poor condition by the early 1980's; inoperable after 1985. Laid
up for possible modernization until 1997. Towed away for scrapping at
Alang, India, 1/1999.
[Back To Top]
The World Aircraft Carrier Lists
Compiled and Maintained by Andrew Toppan (actoppan@hazegray.org)
Copyright © 1995-2000 by Andrew Toppan
Reproduction, reuse or distribution without permission is prohibited
