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A light aircraft carrier, or light fleet carrier, is an aircraft carrier smaller than the standard carriers of a navy. The precise definition of the type varies by country; light carriers typically have a complement of aircraft only one-half to two-thirds the size of a full-sized fleet carrier. A light carrier was similar in concept to an escort carrier in most respects; however, light carriers were intended for higher speeds to be deployed alongside fleet carriers, while escort carriers were typically relatively slow and usually defended equally slow convoys, as well as providing air support during amphibious operations.

History

In World War II, the United States Navy produced a number of light carriers by converting cruiser hulls. These Independence-class aircraft carriers, converted from Cleveland-class light cruisers, were unsatisfactory ships for aviation with their narrow, short decks and slender, high-sheer hulls; in virtually all respects the escort carriers were superior aviation vessels. These issues were superseded^{[clarification needed]}^[how?] by Independence-class ships' virtue of being available at a time when available carrier decks had been reduced to Enterprise and Saratoga in the Pacific and Ranger in the Atlantic. In addition, they had enough speed to take part in fleet actions with the larger carriers while escort carriers did not. Late in the war, a follow on to the Independence class, the Saipan class, was designed. Two vessels in this class—Saipan and Wright—were completed after the war's end. After very brief lives as carriers, the Saipans were converted to command and communication ships.

By the start of World War II, the Royal Navy's HMS Hermes, the first purpose-built aircraft carrier (launched 1919, sunk 1942) was being considered as equivalent to a light aircraft carrier, due to her small size, small aircraft complement and lack of armour. The British 1942 Design Light Fleet Carrier, originally designated the Colossus class, was a scaled-down version of their Illustrious-class fleet carrier. The design could be built in a yard with little or no experience of warship construction. Although built to merchant standards, the design incorporated better watertight subdivision. Expected to have a lifetime of about three years, the last of the design was taken out of service in 2001. The first ten were built as the Colossus class, though two of these were modified whilst under construction into aircraft maintenance carriers. An additional five carriers, none of which were completed in time for service in World War II, were built with revisions upgrading the design to handle larger and heavier aircraft, receiving the designation Majestic class. In the post-war period, the Royal Navy operated a force of the ten Colossus carriers, while the five Majestic carriers were sold, during construction, to Australia, Canada and India.^[1] The Majestics were followed, after the war, by the four light carriers of the Centaur class.

In the 1970s the Royal Navy introduced a new type of light carrier, designed to operate the V/STOL Hawker Siddeley Harrier. Originally classed as "through-deck cruisers", the three-ship Invincible class served into the early 21st century; HMS Invincible was key to the British victory in the Falklands War.

List of light carriers

Active

Italy

Cavour

Spain

Juan Carlos I

Thailand

HTMS Chakri Naruebet

Japan

Retired

Argentina

ARA Independencia (Colossus class)
ARA Veinticinco de Mayo (Colossus class)

Australia

HMAS Sydney (Majestic class)
HMAS Vengeance (Colossus class)
HMAS Melbourne (Majestic class)

Brazil

Minas Gerais (Colossus class)

Canada

HMCS Warrior (Colossus class)
HMCS Magnificent (Majestic class)
HMCS Bonaventure (Majestic class)

France

Lafayette class (ex-Independence class):
- Bois Belleau
- La Fayette
Arromanches (Colossus class)

India

INS Vikrant (Majestic class)
INS Viraat (Centaur class)

Italy

Giuseppe Garibaldi

Japan

Hōshō
Ryūjō
Zuihō class^[2]^[3]
- Zuihō
- Shōhō
Ryūhō^[4]^[5]
Chitose class^[6]^[7]
- Chitose
- Chiyoda

Netherlands

HNLMS Karel Doorman (Colossus class)

Spain

Dédalo (Independence class)
Príncipe de Asturias

United Kingdom

HMS Hermes
HMS Unicorn
1942 Design Light Fleet Carrier
- Colossus class
  - HMS Colossus
  - HMS Glory
  - HMS Ocean
  - HMS Venerable
  - HMS Vengeance
  - HMS Pioneer (maintenance carrier)
  - HMS Warrior
  - HMS Theseus
  - HMS Triumph
  - HMS Perseus (maintenance carrier)
- Majestic class (none saw service in the Royal Navy)
  - Majestic (entered service as HMAS Melbourne)
  - Terrible (entered service as HMAS Sydney)
  - Magnificent (entered service as HMCS Magnificent)
  - Hercules (entered service as INS Vikrant)
  - Powerful (entered service as HMCS Bonaventure)
Centaur class
Invincible class

United States

Notes

^ Chesneau (1998), pp. 129–134
^ Watts (1967), p. 49
^ Brown (1977), pp. 21–22
^ Watts (1967), pp. 54 & 56
^ Brown (1977), pp. 26–27
^ Watts (1967), p. 56
^ Brown (1977), pp. 27–28

References

Brown, David (1977). Aircraft Carriers. Arco Publishing. ISBN 0-668-04164-1.
Chesneau, Roger (1998). Aircraft Carriers of the World, 1914 to the Present. An Illustrated Encyclopedia (Rev Ed). London: Brockhampton Press. p. 288. ISBN 1-86019-875-9.
Watts, Anthony J. (1967). Japanese Warships of World War II. Doubleday & Company.

[ches129-134-1] Chesneau (1998), pp. 129–134

[Watts1967p.49-2] Watts (1967), p. 49

[Brown1977pp.21-22-3] Brown (1977), pp. 21–22

[4] Watts (1967), pp. 54 & 56

[5] Brown (1977), pp. 26–27

[Watts1967p.56-6] Watts (1967), p. 56

[Brown1977pp.27-28-7] Brown (1977), pp. 27–28

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{short description|Aircraft carrier that is smaller than the standard carriers of a navy}}
-[[File:Italian aircraft carrier Cavour.jpg|thumb|300px|[[Italian aircraft carrier Cavour|''Cavour'']], sole ship of her class and [[flagship]] of the [[Italian Navy]]]]
+[[File:INS Viraat front view.jpg|thumb|[[Indian Navy]]'s [[INS Viraat|INS ''Viraat'']]. All modern light aircraft carriers are equipped with ski jump ramps.]]
+A '''light aircraft carrier''', or '''light fleet carrier''', is an [[aircraft carrier]] smaller than the standard carriers of a [[navy]]. The precise definition of the type varies by country; light carriers typically have a complement of aircraft only one-half to two-thirds the size of a full-sized [[fleet carrier]]. A light carrier was similar in concept to an [[escort carrier]] in most respects; however, light carriers were intended for higher speeds to be deployed alongside fleet carriers, while escort carriers were typically relatively slow and usually defended equally slow convoys, as well as providing air support during amphibious operations.
-[[File:HMS Centaur 1965.jpg|thumb|The British Navy's [[HMS Centaur (R06)|HMS Centaur]] in 1965]]
-A '''light aircraft carrier''', or '''light fleet carrier''', is an [[aircraft carrier]] that is smaller than the standard carriers of a [[navy]]. The precise definition of the type varies by country; light carriers typically have a complement of aircraft only one-half to two-thirds the size of a full-sized [[fleet carrier]]. A light carrier was similar in concept to an [[escort carrier]] in most respects, however light carriers were intended for higher speeds to be deployed alongside fleet carriers, while escort carriers usually defended equally slow convoys and provided air support during amphibious operations.
 ==History==
+[[File:HMS Invincible During T200 Celebrations MOD 45144681 (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[Royal Navy]]'s [[HMS Invincible (R05)|HMS ''Invincible'']] is the first light aircraft carrier equipped with a [[Ski-jump (aviation)|ski jump]] ramp.]]
-In [[World War II]] (WWII), the [[United States Navy]] produced a number of light carriers by converting [[cruiser]] hulls. These {{sclass|Independence|aircraft carrier|1}}s, converted from {{sclass|Cleveland|cruiser|0}} [[light cruiser]]s, were unsatisfactory ships for aviation with their narrow, short decks and slender, high-[[Sheer (ship)|sheer]] hulls; in virtually all respects the [[escort carrier]]s were superior aviation vessels. These issues were superseded by ''Independence''-class ships' virtue of being available at a time when available carrier decks had been reduced to {{USS|Enterprise|CV-6|2}} and {{USS|Saratoga|CV-3|2}} in the Pacific and {{USS|Ranger|CV-4|2}} in the Atlantic. In addition, they had enough speed to take part in fleet actions with the larger carriers while [[escort carriers]] did not. Late in the war, a follow on to the ''Independence'' class, the {{sclass|Saipan|aircraft carrier|4}}, was designed. Two vessels in this class—{{USS|Saipan|CVL-48|2}} and {{USS|Wright|CVL-49|2}}—were completed after the war's end. After very brief lives as carriers, the ''Saipan''s were converted to command and communication ships.
+In [[World War II]], the [[United States Navy]] produced a number of light carriers by converting [[cruiser]] hulls. These {{sclass|Independence|aircraft carrier|1}}s, converted from {{sclass|Cleveland|cruiser|0}} [[light cruiser]]s, were unsatisfactory ships for aviation with their narrow, short decks and slender, high-[[Sheer (ship)|sheer]] hulls; in virtually all respects the [[escort carrier]]s were superior aviation vessels. These issues were superseded{{clarify|date=May 2024}}{{Fix|text=how?}} by ''Independence''-class ships' virtue of being available at a time when available carrier decks had been reduced to {{USS|Enterprise|CV-6|2}} and {{USS|Saratoga|CV-3|2}} in the Pacific and {{USS|Ranger|CV-4|2}} in the Atlantic. In addition, they had enough speed to take part in fleet actions with the larger carriers while escort carriers did not. Late in the war, a follow on to the ''Independence'' class, the {{sclass|Saipan|aircraft carrier|4}}, was designed. Two vessels in this class—{{USS|Saipan|CVL-48|2}} and {{USS|Wright|CVL-49|2}}—were completed after the war's end. After very brief lives as carriers, the ''Saipan''s were converted to command and communication ships.
-By the start of WWII, the [[Royal Navy]]'s {{HMS|Hermes|95|6}}, the first purpose-built aircraft carrier (launched 1919, sunk 1942) was being considered as equivalent to a light aircraft carrier, due to her small size, small aircraft complement and lack of armour. The [[United Kingdom|British]] [[1942 Design Light Fleet Carrier|1942 design light fleet carrier]], originally designated the ''Colossus'' class, was a scaled-down version of their {{sclass|Illustrious|aircraft carrier|0}} fleet carrier. The design could be built in a yard with little or no experience of warship construction. Although built to merchant standards, the design incorporated better [[watertight subdivision]]. Expected to have a lifetime of about three years, the last of the design was taken out of service in 2001. The first ten were built as the ''Colossus'' class, though two of these were modified whilst under construction into aircraft maintenance carriers. An additional five carriers, none of which were completed in time for service in WWII, were built with revisions upgrading the design to handle larger and heavier aircraft, receiving the designation ''Majestic'' class.  In the post-war period, the [[Royal Navy]] operated a force of the ten ''Colossus'' carriers, while the five ''Majestic'' carriers were sold, during construction, to Australia, Canada and India.<ref name="ches129-134">Chesneau (1998), pp. 129–134</ref> The ''Majestics'' were followed, after the war, by the four light carriers of the ''Centaur'' class.
+By the start of World War II, the [[Royal Navy]]'s {{HMS|Hermes|95|6}}, the first purpose-built aircraft carrier (launched 1919, sunk 1942) was being considered as equivalent to a light aircraft carrier, due to her small size, small aircraft complement and lack of armour. The [[United Kingdom|British]] [[1942 Design Light Fleet Carrier]], originally designated the ''Colossus'' class, was a scaled-down version of their {{sclass|Illustrious|aircraft carrier|0}} fleet carrier. The design could be built in a yard with little or no experience of warship construction. Although built to merchant standards, the design incorporated better [[watertight subdivision]]. Expected to have a lifetime of about three years, the last of the design was taken out of service in 2001. The first ten were built as the ''Colossus'' class, though two of these were modified whilst under construction into aircraft maintenance carriers. An additional five carriers, none of which were completed in time for service in World War II, were built with revisions upgrading the design to handle larger and heavier aircraft, receiving the designation ''Majestic'' class.  In the post-war period, the [[Royal Navy]] operated a force of the ten ''Colossus'' carriers, while the five ''Majestic'' carriers were sold, during construction, to Australia, Canada and India.<ref name="ches129-134">Chesneau (1998), pp. 129–134</ref> The ''Majestics'' were followed, after the war, by the four light carriers of the ''Centaur'' class.
-In the 1970s the RN introduced a new type of light carrier, designed to operate the [[V/STOL]] [[Hawker Siddeley Harrier]]. Originally classed as "through-deck cruisers," the three-ship [[Invincible-class aircraft carrier|Invincible class]] served into the early 21st century; HMS ''Invincible'' was key to the British victory in the [[Falklands War]].
+In the 1970s the Royal Navy introduced a new type of light carrier, designed to operate the [[V/STOL]] [[Hawker Siddeley Harrier]]. Originally classed as "through-deck cruisers", the three-ship [[Invincible-class aircraft carrier|Invincible class]] served into the early 21st century; HMS ''Invincible'' was key to the British victory in the [[Falklands War]].
-==List of light carriers==
+== List of light carriers ==
+[[File:Nave cavour Salerno.jpg|thumb|[[Italian aircraft carrier Cavour|Light carrier ''Cavour'']] of the Italian Navy]]
+[[File:Spanish amphibious assault ship Juan Carlos I (L-61) underway in the Adriatic Sea, 22 February 2023 (230222-N-MW880-1248) (cropped).JPG|thumb|{{ship|Spanish amphibious assault ship-aircraft carrier|Juan Carlos I||2}} of the Spanish Navy]]
+[[File:Chakri Naruebet 2001.JPEG|thumb|[[HTMS Chakri Naruebet|Light carrier ''Chakri Naruebet'']] of the Thailand Navy]]
+=== Active ===
+; Italy
+* {{Ship|Italian aircraft carrier|Cavour||2}}
+; Spain
+* {{ship|Spanish amphibious assault ship-aircraft carrier|Juan Carlos I||2}}
+; Thailand
+* {{HTMS|Chakri Naruebet}}
+; Japan
+* [[JS Kaga]]
+* [[JS Izumo]]
+=== Retired ===
 ; Argentina
 * {{ship|ARA|Independencia|V-1|6}} (''Colossus'' class)
-* {{ship|ARA|Veinticinco de Mayo|V-2|2}} (''Colossus'' class)
+* {{ship|ARA|Veinticinco de Mayo|V-2|6}} (''Colossus'' class)
 ; Australia
 * {{HMAS|Sydney|R17|6}} (''Majestic'' class)
 * [[HMS Vengeance (R71)|HMAS ''Vengeance'']] (''Colossus'' class)
 * {{HMAS|Melbourne|R21|6}} (''Majestic'' class)
+; Brazil
+* {{ship|Brazilian aircraft carrier|Minas Gerais||2}} (''Colossus'' class)
 ; Canada
 * {{HMCS|Warrior|R31|6}} (''Colossus'' class)
 * {{HMCS|Magnificent|CVL 21|6}} (''Majestic'' class)
 * {{HMCS|Bonaventure|CVL 22|6}} (''Majestic'' class)
-; Brazil
-* {{ship|Brazilian aircraft carrier|Minas Gerais||2}} (''Colossus'' class)
 ; France
 * ''Lafayette'' class (ex-''Independence'' class):
@@ Line 32: / Line 53: @@
 ** {{ship|French aircraft carrier|La Fayette|R96|2}}
 *  {{ship|French aircraft carrier|Arromanches||2}} (''Colossus'' class)
-; Japan
+; India
+* {{INS|Vikrant|1961|6}} (''Majestic'' class)
+* {{INS|Viraat}} (''Centaur'' class)
+; Italy
+* {{Ship|Italian aircraft carrier|Giuseppe Garibaldi||2}}
+;Japan
 * {{Ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Hōshō||2}}
 * {{Ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Ryūjō||2}}
@@ Line 42: / Line 68: @@
 ** {{Ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Chitose||2}}
 ** {{Ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Chiyoda||2}}
-; India
-* {{INS|Vikrant|1961|6}} (''Majestic'' class)
-* {{INS|Viraat}} (''Centaur'' class)
-; Italy
-* {{Ship|Italian aircraft carrier|Cavour||2}}
-* {{Ship|Italian aircraft carrier|Giuseppe Garibaldi||2}}
 ; Netherlands
 * {{HNLMS|Karel Doorman|R81|6}} (''Colossus'' class)
@@ Line 53: / Line 73: @@
 * {{ship|Spanish aircraft carrier|Dédalo||2}} (''Independence'' class)
 * {{ship|Spanish aircraft carrier|Príncipe de Asturias||2}}
-; Thailand
-* {{HTMS|Chakri Naruebet}}
-; Turkey
-* [[TCG Anadolu]]
 ; United Kingdom
 * {{HMS|Hermes|95|6}}
@@ Line 104: / Line 120: @@
 ==See also==
 * [[Anti-submarine warfare carrier]]
-* [[Escort carrier]]
+* [[Escort carrier#Post-World War II|Escort carrier of post-World War II]]
 * [[Helicopter carrier]]
 * [[Amphibious assault ship]]
+* [[Landing helicopter assault]]
-* [[List of aircraft carriers of the Second World War]]
+* [[Landing helicopter dock]]
+* [[Landing platform helicopter]]
+* [[List of aircraft carriers by configuration#Navies with STOVL carriers|List of STOVL carriers]]
+* [[List of aircraft carriers of World War II]]
 * [[List of escort aircraft carriers of the Second World War]]
@@ Line 116: / Line 136: @@
 * {{cite book| title=Aircraft Carriers |author=Brown, David |publisher=Arco Publishing |year=1977 |isbn=0-668-04164-1}}
 * {{cite book | last = Chesneau | first = Roger | year = 1998 | title = Aircraft Carriers of the World, 1914 to the Present. An Illustrated Encyclopedia (Rev Ed) | location = London | publisher = Brockhampton Press | pages = 288 | isbn = 1-86019-875-9}}
-* {{cite book| title=Japanese Warships of World War II |author=Watts, Anthony J. |publisher=Doubleday & Company |year=1967|url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Japanese_Warships_of_World_War_II/_zpQAQAAIAAJ}}
+* {{cite book| title=Japanese Warships of World War II |author=Watts, Anthony J. |publisher=Doubleday & Company |year=1967|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_zpQAQAAIAAJ}}
 {{Warship types of the 19th & 20th centuries}}
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Light Aircraft Carrier}}
 [[Category:Light aircraft carrier classes]]

v t e Naval ships and warships in 19th and 20th centuries
Naval ship classes in service submarine auxiliary Operational zones Brown-water navy Green-water navy Blue-water navy Gun placement Broadside Central battery Casemate Turrets
Aircraft carriers	Aircraft cruiser Amphibious assault ship Anti-submarine warfare carrier Balloon carrier Battlecarrier CAM ship Escort carrier Fighter catapult ship Fleet carrier Flight deck cruiser Helicopter carrier Light aircraft carrier Merchant aircraft carrier Seaplane tender Supercarrier
Battleships	Coastal defence ship Dreadnought Fast battleship Pre-dreadnought battleship Super-dreadnought (Standard-type battleship) Treaty battleship
Cruisers	Armored cruiser Battlecruiser Guided missile cruiser Heavy cruiser Pocket battleship Light cruiser Merchant raider Protected cruiser Scout cruiser Strike cruiser Torpedo cruiser Unprotected cruiser
Escort	Aviso Convoy rescue ship Destroyer Destroyer escort Destroyer leader Escort destroyer Escorteur Frigate Guided-missile destroyer Kaibōkan Radar picket Sloop
Transport	Amphibious transport dock Amphibious warfare ship Attack transport Dock landing ship Landing craft Landing craft carrier Landing Craft Support Landing Ship Heavy Landing ship, infantry Landing Ship Logistics Landing Ship Medium Landing Ship, Tank Landing Ship Vehicle Troopship
Patrol craft	Armed boarding steamer Armed yacht Coastal motor boat Corvette Gunboat Harbour defence motor launch Motor launch Naval drifter Naval trawler Ocean boarding vessel Patrol boat Q-ship Steam gun boat Submarine chaser Torpedo boat
Fast attack craft	E-boat MAS MGB Missile boat MTB MTM MTSM PT boat Shin'yō
Mine warfare	Danlayer Destroyer minesweeper Mine countermeasures vessel Mine planter Minehunter Minelayer Minesweeper
Command and support	Amenities ship Ammunition ship Auxiliary repair dock Auxiliary ship Collier Combat stores ship Command ship Crane vessel Depot ship Destroyer tender Dispatch boat Fast combat support ship Flotilla leader General stores issue ship Hospital ship Joint support ship Naval tugboat Net laying ship Repair ship Replenishment oiler Submarine tender
Submarines	Attack submarine Ballistic missile submarine Coastal submarine Cruise missile submarine Cruiser submarine Deep-submergence vehicle DSRV Fleet submarine Human torpedo Midget submarine Submarine aircraft carrier U-boat Wet sub
Miscellaneous	Armed merchantman Arsenal ship Barracks ship Breastwork monitor Capital ship Drone carrier Flagship Floating battery Guard ship Littoral combat ship Monitor Mother ship River monitor Training ship
Related	Ship types Sailing vessels