British Aircraft Carrier HMS Triumph

HMS Triumph was a Colossus Class aircraft carrier built for the British Royal Navy. Laid down during World War II on 27 January 1943 and launched on 2 October 1944, she was not commissioned until 9 May 1946.

The outbreak of the Korean War saw Triumph as the only British aircraft carrier in the far east. After provisioning at the Royal Australian Naval Base in Kure, Japan, she steamed for the west coast of Korea. For the next three months her aircraft undertook ground attack and combat air patrol duties.

On her return to the UK, Triumph became a cadet training ship, undertaking three cruises a year. In 1952, she undertook the first trials with a simulated angles deck. All existing markings were removed and an angled deck marked out. The success of the trials led to the implementation of the angled deck into future aircraft carrier designs.

Between 1956 and 1965, Triumph was converted to a heavy repair ship. She continued in this role until being placed in reserve in 1975. She was struck from the naval registry in 1981 and sold for scrap that December.