The outbreak of war led to a further carrier design for six ships. All six were ordered in 1940 and 1941. The first four were completed to the original specifications while the last pair received radical amendments that added 18 months to their build times. (See Grand Admiral Weddell - in about 2-3 day when I draw it). This design was not as big as the preceding Lennon class but had some updates over that class that had been learnt through early carrier operations and losses.



These four carriers created a new Task Force of their own. The aircraft aboard were all the latest of their types. Hornet, Whirlwind III, and Albatross. 18 months later these had been replaced with the Wasp and Cormorant, jet powered  aircraft. Landing accidents increased as the veteran pilots tried to come to grips with the new jet aircraft. Trials with these jets had already had the affect of delaying the final two ships of the class and their rebuilding to take the information from the trials and implement them. The four ships of the Albanon class were rebuilt after the war to a similar standard as the Grand Admiral Weddell type.

 

Displacement	34,500 tons standard, 41,000 tons full load
Length	809 ft
Breadth	116 ft hull (142 ft over sponsons)
Draught	31 ft
Machinery	4 shaft, steam turbines, 160,000shp
Speed	31 knots
Range	12000 miles at 14 knots
Armour	3" side, 5.5" deck
Armament	As completed 16 x 4" (8x2) 76 x 40mm (2x2, 18x4)
Aircraft	82
Complement	2450/2500
Notes	General Albanon - Pilot Major Badygin - Colonel Jinman - Captain Ovtsyn -

There were a few minor cosmetic differences between the II and the III series aircraft.
The tailplane was clipped, the wing tips were squared off, but the major difference was
in the uprated Merlin engine adding 30mph to the top speed. Wing root hard points for
drop tanks increased the range even more. The armament was increased in line with
the other aircraft, the four 20mm cannons being replaced with 30mm cannons.