British Aircraft Carrier HMS Colossus

HMS Colossus was a light fleet carrier of the British Royal Navy. Commissioned on 16 December 1944, she sailed for the Far East on 12 March 1945. She carried 24 Vought Corsair IV fighters from 1846 Naval Air Squadron, and 18 Fairey Barracuda II torpedo bombers from 827 NAS. She arrived at Colombo, Ceylon, on 13 June 1945, sailing on to Sydney, Australia, where she arrived the following month. Here, her 20 mm Oerlikon guns were replaced by 40 mm Bofors guns. In August she became the flagship of Rear Admiral Cecil Harcourt, commanding the 11th Aircraft Carrier Squadron (Colossus, Venerable, Vengeance, and Glory). This force was sent to re-occupy Hong Kong. Colossus also headed a task force to occupy Shanghai, together with the cruisers Bermuda and Argonaut and five destroyers. In December 1945, Colossus transported released Dutch prisoners of war to Colombo. From 17 January to 26 March 1946, Colossus was refitted and repaired at Cape Town in the Selborne drydock at Simonstown.

In 1946, she was loaned to the French Navy, and renamed Arromanches; she was bought by the French in 1951.

Photos of HMS Colossus

Aircraft Operations

Fairey Barracuda

Vought F4U Corsair

Supermarine Seafire