WORLD OF WARSHIPS HMAS MELBOURNE R 21 LIGHT AIRCRAFT CARRIER

Wallpaper Description:

HMAS Melbourne (R21) was a Majestic-class light aircraft carrier of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Operating from 1955 until 1982, she was the third and final conventional aircraft carrier to serve in the RAN. Melbourne was the only Commonwealth naval vessel to sink two friendly warships in peacetime collisions.


The ship was laid down for the Royal Navy as the lead ship of the Majestic class in April 1943, and was launched as HMS Majestic (R77) in February 1945. At the end of World War II, work on the ship was suspended until she was purchased by the RAN in 1947. At the time of purchase, it was decided to incorporate new aircraft carrier technologies into the design, making Melbourne the third ship to be constructed with an angled flight deck. Delays in construction and integrating the enhancements meant that the carrier was not commissioned until 1955.

Sensors and
processing systems:
Radar:
1955–1968:
3 × Type 277Q height-finding set
1 × Type 293Q surface search set
1 × Type 978 navigational set
1969–1982:
1 × Type 293Q surface search set
1 × Type 978 navigational set
1 × LW-02 air search set
1 × SPN-35 landing aid radar
Armament:
1955–1959:
25 × 40 mm Bofors anti-aircraft guns (6 twin mountings, 13 single mountings)
1959–1968:
21 × Bofors (6 twin, 9 single)
1969–1980:
12 × Bofors (4 twin, 4 single)
1980–1982:
4 × Bofors (4 single)

HMAS Melbourne's air group allowed up to 30 aircraft during its service life, DH Sea Venom FAW 53 and Gannet ASW aircraft; later with Tracker S2 and A 4G Sky Hawks; finally with Sea King ASW and Sky Hawk (2 squadrons)