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Catalogue number 70151 H.M.S. Courageous with troops embarked, 1928 The light battlecruiser H.M.S. Courageous was converted to an aircraft carrier in the mid-20s. Commissioned in February 1928, she was part of the Mediterranean Fleet (May 1928 to June 1930) and here she is transporting the South Staffordshire Regiment to Jaffa, 1929. On the forepart of the lower flight deck, we can see gun carriages, galleys with folded-down chimneys, water bowsers, crated stores and an ominous supply of strechers. 13.3cm x 8.1cm Gelatin silver print

Catalogue number 02036 H.M.S. Unicorn, Malta 1953 H.M.S. Unicorn was the world's first purpose-built maintenance carrier, commissioned in 1943 although with a full length flight deck, she could be deployed as a fleet carrier. The lower deck held 48 stored aircraft while the upper deck had a very comprehensive range of workshops including engine repair, airframe, radio, fabric and electrical repair facilities plus stores for all the first-line aircraft. A self-propelled lighter can be seen in the rear part of the upper hanger. Credit: Wright and Logan 13.2cm x 8.4cm Gelatin silver print

Catalogue number 132067 H.M.S. Unicorn, a purpose-built maintenance carrier An extensive network of overhead hoists and transfer rails enabled heavy parts and complete aircraft to be moved around the upper deck. The flight deck was extended over the stern and the upper hangar was open. A self-propelled lighter was held under this deck and could be used to load/unload aircraft on the upper hangar, the lighter was lowered into the sea for moving aircraft between carriers or the shore. In the above photograph, the lighter is stowed in the upper hanger and in this photograph, the lighter is suspended from rails under the flight deck overhang. Note the crated stores, lorries and personnel carriers - during the Korean War, Unicorn ferried aircraft, troops, stores and equipment in support of the Commonwealth forces in Korea. Note also the private cars on the rear flight deck. Unicorn is flying the paying off penant. Credit: Molland 13.2cm x 8.5cm Gelatin silver print

Catalogue number 133152 H.M.S. Pioneer, 1943 As the Royal Navy's participation with the U.S. Navy in the Pacific increased, it became clear that more maintenance carriers would be necessary to accompany the British Pacific Fleet in the war against Japan. Two Colossus class light fleet carriers under construction in the U.K. were converted to aircraft maintenance ships and became H.M.S. Pioneer and H.M.S. Perseus. A structure was built at the after end of the flight deck for an oxygen production plant and to store spare engines. 13.3cm x 8.2cm Gelatin silver print

Catalogue number 41120 H.M.S. Pioneer, maintenance carrier A characteristic feature of Pioneer was the heavy lift sheer leg crane to port of the upper deck. Maintenance carriers were not expected to be in action but anti-aircraft armament was mounted on the upper deck. Here we can see a single 40mm Bofors at the level of the first set of liferafts, two more can be seen aft of the island. The additional superstructure crossing the upper deck from the island is also apparent. Credit: Real Photographs 14.1cm x 9.1cm Gelatin silver print

Catalogue number 02011 H.M.S. Perseus as maintenance carrier, 1946 This photograph is of H.M.S. Perseus, the island was enlarged across the deck to provide offices, stores and even a cinema. Here we can see the different structures on the flight deck including a structure on the fore part of the flight deck. What looks like spare aircraft forward, aircraft in various states of repair mid-ships and towards the stern with several lorries right aft. Credit: Wright and Logan 13.3 cm x 8.4cm Gelatin silver print

Catalogue number 126111 H.M.S. Perseus with flight deck loaded In 1952, the workshops and additional superstructure were removed and Perseus was recommissioned as a ferry carrier. Perseus is seen here in its new role entering the harbour in Malta with a varied flight deck "cargo". Forward are saloon cars - had the Royal Navy moved into the second-hand car business? - a heavy crane then more saloon cars and aircraft abaft the island. Even more cars are on the rear of the flight deck. Note the absence of gun sponsons, these carriers were expected to be at anchor in a forward base far from any action. Credit: Pavia 22.9cm x 14cm Gelatin silver print

Catalogue number 80097 M.V. Pretoria Castle, armed merchant cruiser 1940 H.M.S. Pretoria Castle was initially completed as a passenger liner for the Union Castle Line in 1939 and was taken up by the Admiralty as an armed merchant cruiser then was converted to an escort carrier in 1943. She spent her career as a trials and training carrier and was handed back to the Union Castle Line for conversion back to a liner running on the England-South Africa route. We can see one of the 152mm guns on the starboard foredeck. 9.8cm x 6cm Negative

Catalogue number 02011 H.M.S. Pretoria Castle for trials and training, 1946 Pretoria Castle has the typical escort carrier profile,. Credit: Wright and Logan 13.5cm x 8.5cm Gelatin silver print

Catalogue number 21040 H.M.S. Theseus, 1953 H.M.S. Theseus in its original role, note the Royal Marine band right forward and a Westland Dragonfly helicopter aft as a precurser of things to come. Credit: Wright and Logan 13.3cm x 8.1cm Gelatin silver print

Catalogue number 15025 H.M.S. Theseus entering harbour, Portsmouth 1956 H.M.S. Theseus was a Colossus class carrier that was converted to an emergency commando carrier, with large hangar space for equipment and accommodation and a flight deck for helicopter movements, carriers were well-adapted to the rapid deployment of military forces. In 1956 she transported a parachute regiment to Cyprus and then participated in the Suez operation landing Royal Marine commandos and their equipment by helicopter. 13.9cm x 6.7cm Gelatin silver print

Catalogue number 145047 H.M.A.S. Sydney loaded with vehicles on flight deck H.M.A.S. Sydney was launched in 1944 as H.M.S. Terrible but she was not completed before the end of the war. With a surfeit of aircraft carriers post-1945, the Royal Navy sold the carrier to Australia and as H.M.A.S. Sydney, she was commissioned into the R.A.N. in 1948. After operating as an aircraft carrier during the Korean War, she was converted to a fast troop transport notably transporting troops and equipment during the Vietnam War. On a run to Vietnam, she can be seen here with an upper deck full of what look like American vehicles, figures for transport to Vietnam are: 1966 - 723 troops, 609 tons cargo, 521 vehicles, 12 aircraft; 1967 - 2,622 troops,248 tons cargo,249 vehicles; 1968 - 3,147 troops,207 tons cargo, 173 vehicles; 1969 - 3,015 troops, 369 tons cargo, 196 vehicles, 2 aircraft; 1970 - 1,475 troops, 687 tons cargo, 178 vehicles; 1970 - 3,828 troops, 1,605 tons cargo, 586 vehicles. The later statistics include troops and equipment being withdrawn from Vietnam. (Fugures from Hobbs, British Aircraft Carriers, Seaforth Publishing, 2013). Recto: "HMAS SYDNEY (19,500 tons) is the former HMS TERRIBLE. Completed in 1949, it was converted from an aircraft carrier to a fast military transport in 1962 (Ship's company, 226)." 15.8cm x 9.8cm Printed image

Catalogue number 38003 H.M.A.S. Sydney As a fast troop transport, helicopters replaced aircraft and hangar space was converted to accommodation and storage space. Here we can see a Westland Wessex landing on with military vehicles midships and three large landing craft on davits to starboard. Note the heavy lift cranes to port. Verso: "Blue rubber stamped "Royal Australian Navy" and red rubber stamped "Received Feb 5 1974 U.S. Naval Institute Photographic Library" also hand-written "Troop transport HMAS Sydney". 24.5cm x 18.9cm Gelatin silver print

Catalogue number 49066 H.M.S. Bulwark, one of the three Centaur class converted to commando ship The Centaur class light fleet carriers Bulwark, Albion and Centaur were laid down as carriers but were converted to commando carriers in the late 1950s/early 1960s. In this photograph of H.M.S. Bulwark, Westland Wessex helicopters are on spots 1, 2 and 4, equipment and stores aft of the bridge and four landing craft are on davits port and starboard. 14cm x 8.9cm Gelatin silver print

Catalogue number 145052 H.M.S. Albion converted to commando ship This photograph of H.M.S. Albion shows the two starboard side landing craft for moving equipment too heavy for the Wessex helicopter. 36mm Colour slide

Catalogue number 106074 H.M.S. Albion with helicopters These commando carriers were able to move a single Royal Marine Commando unit with its artillery and engineers (about 1,000 men). At a push, each carrier could taken on a second Royal Marine Commando unit be it under more austere conditions. On the upper deck of Albion are Westland Whirlwind and Wessex helicopters. The starboard landing craft have been swung out. There are what look like fuel tankers right on the stern round down. 14cm x 8.9cm Gelatin silver print

Catalogue number 63027 H.M.S. Triumph at Hong Kong The aircraft carrier H.M.S. Triumph was was completed too late to participate in the war and after some service as a carrier, she was converted between 1960 and 1965 to a fleet heavy repair ship to maintain destroyers and frigates of the Far East Fleet. Fitted out with workshops to do complex repairs of all ship equipment and machinery, she could also act as a troop transport. Additional superstructure was built on the upper deck in line with this new role and the fine lines of the ship became apparent when gun sponsons and other fixtures were removed. Verso:"Triumph visits Hong Kong" in light pencil, rubber stamped "Crown Copyright" Credit: Crown Copyright 20.6cm x 15.5cm Gelatin silver print

Catalogue number 430104 H.M.S. Triumph as a repair ship In this photograph, we can see the hangar built to port of the island to house Westland Wasp and Wessex helicopters from ships under repair. Note the two anti-aircraft guns on the upper deck forward. 13.9cm x 8.5cm Gelatin silver print

Catalogue number 114088 H.M.S. Glory entering harbour, Malta The light fleet carrier H.M.S. Glory was modified in 1954 as a ferry carrier moving aircraft, personnel and equipment back and forth to the Far East. Here, the flight deck of H.M.S. Glory is crowded with aircraft, military and civilian vehicles as well as crated stores as she comes into harbour at Malta. 14cm x 8.9cm Gelatin silver print

Catalogue number 39017 U.S.S. Corregidor ex-Anguilla Bay with mothballed aircraft After a career as an escort carrier during the war, Corregidor was transferred to the Military Sealift Command for transporting troops, aircraft and equipment. On the flight deck are North American FJ-2/-3 Fury jet fighters and the piston-engined Grumman Bearcat. Credit: Sky Foto 23.6cm x 17.2cm Gelatin silver print

Catalogue number 39016 U.S.S. Tripoli as an aircraft transporter . Credit: SkyFotos 24.1cm x 19.5cm Gelatin silver print

Catalogue number 26005 U.S.S. Bataan with flying boat on board Classed as a light aircraft carrier, here she has a Martine P8M Mariner flying boat on the flight deck although there is no question that the Mariner could land or take off from the carrier. Although U.S.S. Bataan was reclassified as an auxiliary aircraft transport AVT-4 in 1959, in this photograph she is still designated CV-29. 8.3cm x 5.7cm Gelatin silver print