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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[]

Royal Navy[]

  • 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)

Royal Indian Navy[]

  • HMIS Vikramaditya (NR I03)

Royal Canadian Navy[]

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 -
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