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SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2

by Lt Cdr Geoffrey B Mason RN (Rtd) (c) 2003

HMS TRIUMPH - Colossus-class Light Fleet Aircraft Carrier

Edited by Gordon Smith, Naval-History.Net

HMS Triumph as Heavy Repair Ship (Navy Photos, click to enlarge) 

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COLOSSUS Class Light Fleet Aircraft Carrier ordered from R & W Hawthorn, Leslie and Co. Ltd in 1942.  The ship was laid down on 27th January 1943 and launched on 2nd October 1944 as the 11th RN ship to carry this name. It was introduced in 1561 for a 42 gun ship sold in 1618 and  last  used for a submarine lost in 1942. Owing to the fit of additional equipment she was not completed until 9th April 1946 and therefore never deployed on war service.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

ARMADA  1588  - DOVER 1632 - PORTLAND 1653  - GABBARD  1653 - SCHEVENINGEN  1653 - LOWESTOFT 1665 - FOUR DAYS BATTLE  1666 - ORFORDNESS 1666 - SOLEBAY  1672 - SCHOONVELD 1673 - TEXEL  1673 - CORNWALLIS' RETREAT  1795 - CAMPERDOWN  1797 - CALDER's  ACTION 1805 - BASQUE  ROADS  1809 - TSING-TAO 1914 - DARDANELLES  1915  - MALTA CONVOYS  1941 - MEDITERRANEAN 1941 - KOREA 1950

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge  :  On a  field White,  a  wreath of  laurel  Green.

 

M o t t o

'We shall triumph'

 

 

HMS TRIUMPH was used in three different roles during her service as outlined below.

Aircraft Carrier Design - This was basically as built and described in General Information on COLOSSUS Class.

 

Cadet Training  Conversion  - Changes made were to provide facilities for cadets including classrooms  and accommodation.  There were no changes to armament or machinery.

 

Heavy Repair Ship  Conversion.- Major alterations were made and all facilities for operating fixed wing  aircraft were removed. The principal requirement was the provision of extensive workshops using the hangars and flight deck as well as additional storerooms within ship structure. Four cranes were fitted. In order to carry out helicopter repair a hangar was provided on the upper deck. The Bridge structure was altered by the provision of an additional deck level. Some additional accommodation was provided for use by crews of ships under maintenance. Propulsion machinery was unaffected. Four 40mn guns were fitted.

The original intention was to provide repair equipment for all types of  repair but since the ship was to be deployed for maintenance of escorts the heavy repair machinery was preserved. Two ships under maintenance could be berthed alongside either beam and provided with steam and electrical supplies.

 

Conversion costs were over £10m and the ship carried out an essential function during service at  Singapore, especially during the period of KONFRONTASI Operations in 1965-6 and after the closure of the dockyard in 1971. For summary of Post War Service see below.

 

 

S u m m a r y    o f     S e r v i c e

 

(for more ship information, go to Naval History Homepage and type name in Site Search

 

 

1 9 4 6    to    1 9 4 8

 

                                On completion of storing embarked Squadrons and carried out exercises in Home waters

                                in preparation for deployment.

                                Joined Mediterranean Fleet as Flagship of Flag Officer (Air).                     

 

1 9 4 9

 

                                Transferred from Mediterranean, to Far East to increase the RN presence in the area after

                                Chinese Communist forces successes made a change of Government inevitable.

 

1 9 5 0

 

                                China Station deployment in continuation and joined UN Task Group after outbreak of war

                                in Korea.

                                Aircraft carried out. photo-reconnaissance flights.

 

1 9 5 1

 

                                UN deployment in continuation.

                                On relief by HM Light Fleet Aircraft Carrier THESEUS returned to UK.

 

1 9 5 2

 

                                Deployed with Home Fleet.

                                Carried out helicopter trials with SYCAMORE aircraft and investigations into use of Angled Deck.

                                Sabotage investigation on board.

                                Nominated for conversion for use as Cadet. Training Ship.

 

1 9 5 3

 

                                Converted for Cadet Training.

                                During deployment in Mediterranean took part in rescue work after fire in the troopship ss EMPIRE

                                WINDRUSH off Algiers whilst on passage from Singapore.

 

1 9 5 5

 

                                Visited Leningrad with HM Cruiser APOLLO.

 

1 9 5 6

 

                                Relieved in Training Squadron by HM Destroyer CARRON and HM Frigates VIGILANT and VENUS.

                                Reduced to Reserve status pending conversion for use as Heavy Repair Ship.

                                Precautionary moves after Suez operations included possible use as troopship but not implemented.

 

1 9 5 7    t o    1 9 61

 

                                Start of conversion delayed by higher priority work and financial constraints.

 

1 9 6 2    t o    1 9 6 4

 

                                Under conversion at Portsmouth.

 

1 9 6 5

 

                                Commissioned at Portsmouth for service with Far East Fleet.

                                Early departure for support of KONFRONTASI operations involved additional expense to cover travel

                                of personnel from Singapore by air to UK for foreign service leave not possible before sailing.

 

1 9 6 6     t o   1 9 71

 

                                Deployed at Singapore for support duties.

                                Carried out repair work on Liberian tanker during passage in South China Sea.

                                Assisted in relief work in Pakistan after flooding (Operation BURLAP).

 

1 9 7 2

 

                                Withdrawn from service at Singapore and returned to Chatham to pay off into Reserve.

 

 1 9 7 3    t o    1 9 7 9

                                In Reserve.

 

1 9 8 0

 

                                Placed on Disposal List and sold for breaking-up.

 
 

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revised 14/10/10
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