The final Furneaux class is complete and the design for a new
class of five smaller carriers is ready to be put into
production. The basic layout of the Frobisher class is copied
with ten years of improvement added in. Many changes to the
structure of the originals had been made so that, rather than
being able to be included as members of the Frobisher class,
this group was a class of its own.
The Antarctican Navy was very pleased with these ships as they
would carry the ASW and CAP aircraft for the fleet
(Anti-submarine Warfare and Combat Air Patrol). Allowing the
Attack Carriers to concentrate on finding and sinking the enemy.
The first ship completed in 1937, the next in 1938, two in 1939,
the last in 1940. The remaining ships had altered markedly by
early 1943, with a complete new aircraft complement and a new
light AA armament centred around the new twin and quad 40mm gun
system with radar predictors.
.PNG)
| Displacement | 19,750 tons standard, 25,500 tons full load | |
| Length | 708 ft | |
| Breadth | 90 ft (104 feet over sponsons) | |
| Draught | 27 ft | |
| Machinery | 4 shaft, steam turbines, 120,000shp | |
| Speed | 32 knots | |
| Range | 14,000 miles at 12 knots | |
| Armour | 3" side, 3" deck | |
| Armament | As completed 16 x 4" (8x2) 16 x 2pd AA (4x4) 18 x 20mm (18x1) |
1942 16 x 4" (8x2) 44 x 40mm (4x4, 14x2) |
| Aircraft | 44 | 44 depending on size and type |
| Complement | 1300 | |
| Notes | General Hudson Colonel Regan Captain Hovgard Captain Rymill Major Arctowski |
|
AAC Hornet showing the 4x20mm cannons in the nose.
