HMAS Melbourne (R21) was a Majestic-class light aircraft carrier operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) from 1955 until 1982, and 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.
HMAS Melbourne in 1967
Aerial photograph of Melbourne, showing the angled flight deck.
A de Havilland Sea Venom, with arrestor gear still connected, has just landed on Melbourne
Melbourne refuelling HMAS Quickmatch while conducting flying operations
1942 Design Light Fleet Carrier
The 1942 Design Light Fleet Carrier, commonly referred to as the British Light Fleet Carrier, was a light aircraft carrier design created by the Royal Navy during the Second World War, and used by eight naval forces between 1944 and 2001. They were designed and constructed by civilian shipyards to serve as an intermediate step between the expensive, full-size fleet aircraft carriers and the less expensive but limited-capability escort carriers.
HMS Glory in 1946
Magnificent (left) and Powerful under construction at Harland and Wolff in 1944
Some of Sydney's Bofors guns firing during gunnery practice in 1951
HMS Glory during her 1951 deployment to the Korean War
