Originally built for the British Royal Navy as HMS Powerful, HMCS Bonaventure was a Majestic-class aircraft carrier operated by the Royal Canadian Navy. Laid down on 27 November 1943 as HMS Powerful, she was incomplete at the end of the Second World War and work on her was halted.
Canada acquired the ship in 1952 and she was completed to an altered design and commissioned on 17 January 1957. The new design incorporated the ability to land aircraft of up to 24,000 pounds (11,000 kg); enlarged aircraft lifts to 54 by 34 feet (16 m × 10 m) in order to accommodate larger aircraft, an angled flight deck, steam catapults, and optical landing system.
The aircraft carrier’s initial air group was composed of sixteen McDonnell F2H Banshee jet fighters and eight Grumman CS2F Tracker anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft along with Sikorsky HO4S ASW helicopters.
The Banshees were retired in 1962 but were not replaced. The ship’s role then changed to one of pure ASW and the air wing was modified, dropping the fighters but keeping the eight Trackers, and increasing the number of HO4Ss to fourteen. In 1963, the aircraft carrier began a refit in order to allow her operate the new Sikorsky CHSS-2 Sea King helicopters, which had been ordered to replace the HO4Ss.
Bonaventure was sold an broken up for scrap in 1971.
HMS Magnificent (left) and HMS Powerful (later HMCS Bonaventure) under construction at Harland and Wolff’s Musgrave shipyard, Belfast, Northern Ireland (UK)HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22) under going heeling trialsHMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22)HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22) at sea in 1961 with Grumman CS2F Trackers on deckHMCS BonaventureHMCS Bonaventure 1962 In Full Dress Entering or Leaving PortHMCS Bonaventure with a Sikorsky H0S4 helicopter and Grumman CS2F trackers on deckHMCS Bonaventure harbouring in Stockholm, during a military event, in June 1965HMCS Bonaventure harbouring in Stockholm, during a military event, in June 1965HMCS Bonaventure in RotterdamHMCS Bonaventure with Grumman CS2F Trackers on deckHMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22)HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22)HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22) with Grumman CS2F Trackers on deckHMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22)HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22), in April 1959HMCS Bonaventure (CVL-22)HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22) with Grumman CS2F Trackers on deckHMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22)HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22) with a Grumman CS2F Trackers on deckHMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22) with Grumman CS2F Trackers on deckHMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22) in heavy seasHMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22) with a waves breaking over the bowGrumman CS2F Trackers on HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22) during heavy seas HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22) HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22)HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22) with Grumman CS2F Trackers and Sikorsky CH-124 Sea Kings on deckHMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22) with Grumman CS2F Trackers on deckHMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22) with Grumman CS2F Trackers on deckHMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22)HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22)HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22)HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22) at sea in 1961 with Grumman CS2F Trackers on deckHMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22)HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22) at sea in 1961 with Grumman CS2F Trackers and Sikorsky CH-124 Sea King helicopters on deckHMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22) at sea in 1961 with Grumman CS2F Trackers on deckHMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22) transporting Ferret scout cars with the Recce Squadron, RCD, en-route to Cyprus in 1964HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22), celebrating the RCN’s 50th Anniversary in 1960HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22)HMCS Bonaventure and HMCS Swansea, pictured on 18 May 1959HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22) RASing with HMCS Iroquois.HMCS Skeena 207, HMCS Provider 508, HMCS Bonaventure CVL22 1966HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22)HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22)HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22), with HMCS Iroquois escortingHMCS Restigouche 257, HMCS Bonaventure CVL-22, HMCS Skeena 207HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22)HMCS Bonaventure and HMCS FraserJune 1961 Top to bottom USS The Sullivans 537, USS Jonas Ingram 938, HMCS Bonaventure CVL 22, USS Essex, HMCS AthabaskanHMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22) with Grumman CS2F Trackers on deckHMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22) with Grumman CS2F Trackers on deckHMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22) with Grumman CS2F Trackers on deckHMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22), celebrating 10,000 trapped landingsHMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22)HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22), 1957HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22)HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22), RASing with a USN shipHMCS Bonaventure along with five Destroyers, HMCS Ottawa, HMCS Margaree, HMCS Gatineau, HMCS Fraser, HMCS Provider and HMCS St-Laurent tied-up in the port of New Orleans for a six day visit.HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22)HMCS Bonaventure, 12 December 1969HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22) in 1960HMCS Bonaventure, post 1966-67 refitHMCS Bonaventure view from a Sikorsky H0S4 helicopterGrumman C2SF-1 Tracker landing on HMCS Bonaventure
Aircraft Operations
Douglas A-4 Skyhawk (US Navy)
HMCS Bonaventure flight deck with a visiting USN Douglas A-4 Skyhawk
Grumman CS2F Tracker
A Grumman CS2F Tracker on HMCS Bonaventure during a visit to Hamburg 1966Grumman C2SF-1 Tracker displaying armament, on HMCS BonaventureGrumman CS2F Trackers on HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22) during heavy seas A Grumman CS2F Tracker taking off from HMCS BonaventureGrumman CS2F Tracker landing on HMCS BonaventureGrumman C2SF-1 Tracker landing on HMCS BonaventureGrumman CS2F Trackers on HMCS BonaventureGrumman CS2F TrackerGrumman CS2F Tracker propeller and engineGrumman CS2F tracker preparing to take off from HMCS BonaventureHMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22) with Grumman CS2F Trackers on deckHMCS Bonaventure with a Sikorsky H0S4 helicopter and Grumman CS2F trackers on deckHMCS Bonaventure with Grumman CS2F Trackers on deckHMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22) with Grumman CS2F Trackers on deckHMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22) with Grumman CS2F Trackers on deckHMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22) with a Grumman CS2F Trackers on deckHMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22) with Grumman CS2F Trackers and Sikorsky CH-124 Sea Kings on deckHMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22) with Grumman CS2F Trackers on deckHMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22) with Grumman CS2F Trackers on deckHMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22) at sea in 1961 with Grumman CS2F Trackers and Sikorsky CH-124 Sea King helicopters on deckHMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22) at sea in 1961 with Grumman CS2F Trackers on deckHMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22) at sea in 1961 with Grumman CS2F Trackers on deckHMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22) at sea in 1961 with Grumman CS2F Trackers on deckHMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22) with Grumman CS2F Trackers on deckHMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22) with Grumman CS2F Trackers on deck
McDonnell F2H-3 Banshee
McDonnell F2H-3 Banshee on HMCS BonaventureMcDonnell F2H-3 Banshee positioned on the steam catapult of HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22), in 1957McDonnell F2H-3 Banshee landing on HMCS BonaventureMcDonnell F2H-3 Banshees flying over HMCS BonaventureMcDonnell F2H-3 BansheeMcDonnell F2H-3 Banshee
Sikorsky HO4S-3 Sea Horse
Sikorsky HO4S-3 Sea Horse 55878Sikorsky HO4S-3 Sea HorseSikorsky HO4S-3 Sea Horse helicoptersHMCS Bonaventure with a Sikorsky HOS4 helicopter 228 on deckHMCS Bonaventure with a Sikorsky HOS4 helicopter hovering over the main deckSikorsky HO4S (Serial No. 55875) is held in place as Sea King (Serial No. 4017) from HMCS Annapolis (DDH265) takes off
Sikorsky CH-124 Sea King
Sikorsky CH-124 Sea KingSikorsky CH-124 Sea KingsHMCS Bonaventure’s downed CH-124 Sea King in February 1968. All crew was rescued, and the helicopter was recoveredSikorsky HO4S (Serial No. 55875) is held in place as Sea King (Serial No. 4017) from HMCS Annapolis (DDH265) takes offHMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22) at sea in 1961 with Grumman CS2F Trackers and Sikorsky CH-124 Sea King helicopters on deckHMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22) with Grumman CS2F Trackers and Sikorsky CH-124 Sea Kings on deck
Iwami was a Borodino-class pre-dreadnought battleship captured by Japan after the Battle of Tsushima on 27 May 1905.
Renamed Iwami, she was rebuilt between 1905 and 1907 and she was commissioned into the Imperial Japanese Navy on 2 November 1907. At the start of the Japanese intervention in Siberia during the Russian Civil War, she landed a company of marines in Vladivostok. She was reclassified as a first-class coast defense ship in September 1921 and was used as a training ship. In accordance with the terms of the Washington Naval Treaty, Japan agreed to scrap Iwami. She was disarmed in April 1922 and used as a depot ship until she was struck on 1 September. Iwami was moored to the west of the island of Jōgashima near the mouth of Tokyo Bay and used as a target by aircraft of the Yokosuka Naval Air Group from 5–8 July, finally sinking on 10 July 1924.
Orel after the Battle of TsushimaOrel after the Battle of TsushimaOrel after her capture by the JapaneseOrel after her capture by the JapaneseDamage to Orel after the Battle of Tsushima. View of port side, looking forward from the after bridge, showing damage to superstructure and boatsDamage to Orel after the Battle of Tsushima. Damage near the port center six-inch turret. Looks like a shell exploded immediately upon impact with this bulkheadFore twelve-inch turret of the Orel, shortly after she was captured by the JapaneseDamaged twelve-inch gun of the fore turretDamage to Orel after the Battle of Tsushima. View of port side, looking forward from the after bridge, showing damage to superstructure and boatsDamage to fore port six-inch turret and the deck. A twelve-inch shell exploded on impact at the turret baseOrel after her capture by the JapaneseOrel shortly after her capture by the Japanese in the Battle of Tsushima, 28 May 1905. Damages to the shelter deck and boatsIJNS IwamiIJNS IwamiIJNS IwamiIJNS IwamiIJNS IwamiIJNS Iwami
Launched on 19 July 1902, Orel (sometimes Oryol) was a Borodino-class pre-dreadnought battleship built for the Imperial Russian Navy. Entering service in October 1904, she sailed on 15 October 1904, with the Second Pacific Squadron to break the Japanese blockade of Port Arthur.
The Japanese captured the port while the squadron was in transit and their destination was changed to Vladivostok. During the Battle of Tsushima on 27 May 1905 Orel was not heavily engaged and received only moderate damage. The following morning, the remains of the Russian fleet were discovered by the Japanese battlefleet. The Russian ships were too slow to enable them to close the range and effectively reply. The Russian commander Rear Admiral Nikolai Nebogatov decided to surrender his ships.
Renamed Iwami, she was rebuilt between 1905 and 1907 and was commissioned into the Imperial Japanese Navy on 2 November 1907. At the start of the Japanese intervention in Siberia during the Russian Civil War, she landed a company of marines in Vladivostok. She was reclassified as a first-class coast defense ship in September 1921 and used as a training ship. In accordance with the terms of the Washington Naval Treaty, Japan agreed to scrap Iwami. She was disarmed in April 1922 and used as a depot ship until she was struck on 1 September. Iwami was moored to the west of the island of Jōgashima near the mouth of Tokyo Bay and used as a target by aircraft of the Yokosuka Naval Air Group from 5–8 July, finally sinking on 10 July 1924.
Orel under constructionOrel just after launchOrel just after launchOrel fitting outOrel before commissioningOrel during an Imperial ReviewOrel in 1904OrelOrel At RevelOrel in 1904Orel At AnchorOrel Orel CoalingOrel during a coaling operation
