The King George VI-class (often abbreviated KGVI) supercarriers are a class of seventeen nuclear-powered aircraft carriers in service with the British and Canadian navies. The lead ship of the class is named for George VI, the first monarch to rule the federated British Empire and the leader of Britain and the Dominions through the beginning of the Second World War. With an overall length of 332.84 m (1092 ft) and full-load displacements of over 100,000 tonnes, they are the largest capital ships in the world. Instead of the gas turbines or diesel-electric systems used for propulsion on many modern warships, the carriers use two R4 pressurized water reactors which drive four propeller shafts and can produce a maximum speed of over 30 knots (56 km/h) and maximum power of around 260,000 shp (190 MW). As a result of the use of nuclear power, the ships are capable of operating for over 20 years without refueling and are predicted to have a service life of over 50 years. They are categorized as nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and are numbered with pennant numbers NR 03 to NR 16 in the Royal Navy and NR C04 and NR C05 in the Royal Canadian Navy.
The angled flight decks of the carriers use a CATOBAR arrangement to operate aircraft, with steam catapults and arrestor wires for launch and recovery. As well as speeding up flight deck operations, this allows for a much wider variety of aircraft than with the STOVL arrangement used on smaller carriers. An embarked carrier air wing consisting of up to around 90 aircraft is normally deployed on board. After the retirement of the Supermarine Rapier, the air wings' strike fighters will be primarily Supermarine Sea Typhoons. In addition to their aircraft, the vessels carry short-range defensive weaponry for anti-aircraft and anti-submarine warfare and missile defense.
Specifications[]
- Type: Nuclear powered supercarrier
- Service Period: 1975-Present
- Length: 1,092 feet (332.84 meters)
- Beam: 252 feet (76.81 meters)
- Draft: 37 feet (11.28 meters)
- Displacement: 102,300 long tons/114,576 short tons
- Crew: 5,281
- Propulsion: 2 x Nuclear reactors, 4 x shafts
- Range: Unlimited
- Speed: 31.7 knots (58.71 km/h)
- Sensor Suite:
- Type 985 Air Search Radar
- Type 988 Air Search Radar
- Type 1022 D-band Air Search RDF
- Type 996 E/F-band Surface Search RDF
- Type 1006 I-band Navigation RDF
- Type 909 G/H-band Fire Control RDF
- Type 941 Landing Aid RDF
- Type 943 Air Traffic Control RDF
- Type 946 Air Traffic Control RDF
- Type 2016 Hull mounted Active/Passive Search and Attack Sonar
- Countermeasures:
- Rheinmetall Multi-Ammunition Softkill System
- Sea Gnat decoy
- Surface Ship Torpedo Defense System
- Armament:
- 4 x 8-cannister Sea Flash AAM Launchers
- 4 x Signaal 30mm Goalkeeper CIWS
- Aircraft Carried: 80-100 fixed wing aircraft and helicopters
- Aviation Facilities: 4 x steam catapults, 3 x deck edge aircraft lifts, 12 degree angled flight deck
Ships in Class[]
[]
- HMS King George VI (NR-03)
- HMS Prince of Wales (NR-04)
- HMS Eagle (NR-05)
- HMS Irresistible (NR-06)
- HMS Courageous (NR-07)
- HMS Indomitable (NR-08)
- HMS Glorious (NR-09)
- HMS Furious (NR-10)
- HMS Formidable (NR-11)
- HMS Audacious (NR-12)
- HMS Implacable (NR-13)
- HMS Queen Elizabeth (NR-14)
- HMS Indefatigable (NR-15)
- HMS Resolution (NR-16)
[]
- HMIS Vikramaditya (NR I03)
[]
List of King George VI-class aircraft carriers
Ship | Hull No. | Subclass | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Refuelling and Overhaul |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
HMS King George VI | NR-03 | King George VI sub-class | 22 June 1968 | 13 May 1972 | 3 May 1975 | 1998–2001 |
HMS Prince of Wales | NR-04 | King George VI sub-class | 15 August 1970 | 11 October 1975 | 18 October 1977 | 2001–2005 |
HMS Eagle | NR-05 | King George VI sub-class | 11 October 1975 | 15 March 1980 | 13 March 1982 | 2005–2009 |
HMS Irresistible | NR-06 | King George VI sub-class | 11 November 1977 | 19 November 1981 | 19 April 1983 | 2007-2009 |
HMS Courageous | NR-07 | Courageous Sub-Class | 31 October 1981 | 27 October 1984 | 25 October 1986 | 2009–2013 |
HMS Indomitable | NR-08 | Courageous Sub-Class | 3 November 1984 | 13 February 1988 | 11 November 1989 | 2013–2017 |
HMS Glorious | NR-09 | Courageous Sub-Class | 25 August 1986 | 21 July 1990 | 4 July 1992 | 2017– |
HMS Furious | NR-10 | Courageous Sub-Class | 13 March 1991 | 11 November 1993 | 9 December 1995 | 2021– |
HMS Formidable | NR-11 | Courageous Sub-Class | 29 November 1993 | 7 September 1996 | 25 July 1998 | — |
HMS Audacious | NR-12 | Courageous Sub-Class | 12 February 1998 | 4 March 2001 | 12 July 2003 | — |
HMS Implacable | NR-13 | Implacable Sub-Class | 6 September 2003 | 9 October 2006 | 10 January 2009 | — |
HMS Queen Elizabeth | NR-14 | Implacable Sub-Class | 8 September 2003 | 11 October 2006 | 11 January 2010 | - |
HMS Indefatigable | NR-15 | Implacable Sub-Class | 10 September 2003 | 15 October 2006 | 19 January 2010 | - |
HMS Resolution | NR-16 | Implacable Sub-Class | 12 September 2003 | 17 October 2006 | 31 January 2010 | - |
Royal Canadian Navy | ||||||
HMCS Magnificent | NR C04 | Magnificent Sub-Class | December 1977 | November 1981 | March 1984 | 2005-2009 |
HMCS Courageux | NR C05 | Magnificent Sub-Class | February 1985 | December 1989 | May 1992 | 2007-2011 |
Royal Indian Navy | ||||||
HMIS Vikramaditya | NR I03 | Vikramaditya Sub-Class | February 2000 | September 2003 | October 2006 | - |