Illustrious class aircraft carrier (1958)

The Illustrious (NR-01) at sea.

The Illustrious-class, often known as the Illustrious II-class to distinguish them from the earlier class of the same name, were two nuclear-powered supercarriers of the Royal Navy, HMS Illustrious and HMS Ark Royal, the first ships in the world to use nuclear power. The Admiralty originally planned to build six Illustrious-class carriers but the remaining four ships were never lad down due to cost overruns during the construction of Illustrious and Ark Royal. They are 1,125 feet (342.9 meters) in length and can carry around 100 fixed wing aircraft and helicopters.

Unit Run

• HMS Illustrious (NR-01)
• HMS Ark Royal (NR-02)
• HMS Unnamed - cancelled
• HMS Unnamed - cancelled
• HMS Unnamed - cancelled
• HMS Unnamed - cancelled