The Audacious class was originally designed as an expansion of the Implacable class with double storied hangars. However, it was realised that the hangar height would not be sufficient for the new aircraft that were expected to enter service, so the design was considerably enlarged.
Four ships were laid down between 1942 and 1943 during World War II as part of the British naval buildup - Africa, Irresistable, Audacious and Eagle. At the end of hostilities Africa and Eagle were cancelled. Work on the remaining two was suspended. They would be renamed and built to differing designs in the 1950s.
As the builds of Audacious (renamed Eagle) and Irresistable (renamed Ark Royal) progressed they differed so much that they effectively became the lead (and sole) ships of each of their own classes. They formed the backbone of the postwar carrier fleet, and were much modified.
| Audacious class aircraft carrier | |
|---|---|
| Operators: |  Royal Navy |
| Preceded by: | Implacable class |
| Succeeded by: | Centaur class |
| Planned: | 4 |
| Completed: | 2 |
| Cancelled: | 2 |
| Retired: | 2 |
| Preserved: | 0 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Aircraft carrier |
| Length: | 804 ft (245 m) |
| Beam: | Ark Royal 112 ft (34 m) (as built) Eagle 135 ft (41 m) |
| Draught: | 33 ft (10 m) |
| Propulsion: | 8 Admiralty 3-drum boilers in 4 boiler rooms 4 sets of Parsons geared turbines, 4 shafts Power: 152,000 shp (113,000 kW) |
| Speed: | Eagle 32 knots (37 mph/59 km/h) Ark Royal 31.5 kt (58 km/h) |
| Range: | Eagle 7,000 nmi (13,000 km) at 18 knots (21 mph; 33 km/h) Ark Royal 11,265 km (7,000 mi) at 14 knots 5000 nmi at 24 knots |
| Armament: | Eagle (As built:) |
| Armour: | Eagle Waterline belt: 4 in (100 mm) Armoured flight deck: 1–4 in (25–100 mm) Hangar side: 1 in (25 mm) Hangar deck: 1 in (25 mm) |
| Aircraft carried: | Eagle (As built:) 60 Post-1964: 45 Ark Royal (As built:) 50 38 after 1967-1970 refit |
