HMS Unicorn was an aircraft repair ship and light aircraft carrier built for the Royal Navy in the late 1930s. She was completed during World War II and provided air cover over the amphibious landing at Salerno, Italy, in September 1943. The ship was transferred to the Eastern Fleet in the Indian Ocean at the end of the year. Unicorn supported the aircraft carriers of the fleet on their operations until the British Pacific Fleet (BPF) was formed in November 1944. She was transferred to Australia in early 1945 to support the BPF’s operations during Operation Iceberg, the Allied invasion of Okinawa in May. To shorten the time required to replenish the BPF’s carriers, the ship was based in the Admiralty Islands and in the Philippine Islands until the Japanese surrender in August. Unicorn was decommissioned and placed in reserve when she returned to the UK in January 1946.
The ship was recommissioned in 1949 to support the light carrier of the Far East Fleet, as the Eastern Fleet had been redesignated after the end of World War II. She was unloading aircraft and equipment in Singapore in June 1950 when the Korean War began. She spent most of the war ferrying aircraft, troops, stores and equipment in support of Commonwealth operations in Korea. Unicorn supported other carriers during operations in Korea, but she became the only aircraft carrier to conduct a shore bombardment with her guns during wartime when she attacked North Korean observers on the coast during the war. The ship returned to the UK after the end of the war and was again placed in reserve. She was listed for disposal in 1958 and sold for scrap in 1959.
HMS Unicorn at Dalmuir C.1959 for stripping out, the first stage of her journey to be broken for scrap.HMS Unicorn (left) and HMS Ocean alongside at Kure, Japan September 6th 1952Sasebo, Japan, Korean War front to back HMS Unicorn USS Juneau USS Valley Forge USS Leyte USS Hector and USS JasonHMS UnicornHMS Unicorn, HMS Renown, and HMS Illustrious in CeylonHMS Unicorn at Greenock 24 June 1943HMS Unicorn at Greenock 24 June 1943HMS Unicorn at Greenock 24 June 1943HMS Unicorn seen in 1950HMS Unicorn seen in 1949HMS Unicorn seen from the flight deck of Battler while at sea with Task Force 88 for operation Avalanche.HMS Unicorn seen at Manus Island, Admiralty IslandsHMS Unicorn seen at Devonport Dockyard in 1953HMS Unicorn seen at Devonport Dockyard in 1953HMS Unicorn in Colombo, Ceylon (Sri Lanka) during World War IIHMS Unicorn at sea with Seafires and Swordfish embarked for flying training.HMS Unicorn at anchor in Clappenburg Bay with Barracuda aircraft on deckHMS Unicorn and HMS King George V seen at Devonport Dockyard in the late 1940’sHMS Unicorn (left) and HMS Illustrious, probably pictured at Trincomalee, Ceylon, in 1944.HMS Unicorn 1951. Moored in a southern Japanese port (probably Sasebo) after a tour of duty in Korean watersHMS Unicorn and Submarine tender HMS AdamantBeer for Britain’s Soldiers in Korea being loaded in HMS Unicorn at Singapore. Dec 1950HMS Victorious is nearest the camera. On the row to the right are HM ships Formidable, Unicorn, Indefatigable and Indomitable San Pedro Bay Leyte 1945 Task Force 57Vice Admiral Sohn, C in C Republic of Korea Navy, inspecting a Royal Marine Guard of Honour during a visit to HMS Unicorn Nov 1952
Aircraft Operations
HMS Unicorn with RAAF Meteors on deck for passage to IwakuniReserve aircraft stowed in one of HMS Unicorn’s hangars, there are 3 Corsairs and 1 Firefly parked along the hangar wallPreparing a Sea Fury for service on board HMS Unicorn. Jan 1951Preparing a Firefly V for flying on board HMS Unicorn. Jan 1951Grumman Hellcats aboard HMS UnicornCorsair is lowered onto one of HMS Unicorn’s aircraft lighters for ferrying ashoreAir Mechanics servicing planes on board HMS Unicorn ready for flying off to HMS Theseus.A Sea Fury flying off HMS Unicorn. Jan 1951A Sea Fury flying off HMS Unicorn to fly to HMS Theseus. Jan 1951A repaired Barracuda ready to be ferried ashore to RN Air Section China Bay.February 1945 HMS Unicorn at Fremantle, Australia. Chance Vought Corsairs and Grumman Wildcats are seen on the flight deck.
