HMCS Magnificent was a Majestic-class aircraft carrier operated by the Royal Canadian Navy from 1948 to 1957.
Towards the end of the Second World War, Canada anticipated the need for additional and larger aircraft carriers to operated in the Pacific against Japan. At this time it crewed two British Royal Navy escort carriers (HMS Nabob which was heavily damaged and HMS Puncher). Negotiations led to Britain offering the Colossus-class carrier, HMS Warrior (HMCS Warrior in Canadian service) and The Majestic-class HMS Magnificent (HMCS Magnificent in Canadian service).
Warrior entered service in 1946, but was considered unsuitable for Canadian conditions, as she had been built to operate in the tropics and lacked heating. In 1948 she was replaced by Magnificent. The carrier was commissioned into the Royal Canadian Navy on 21 March 1948.
Following the Suez Crisis, the Canadian Government agreed to send a peacekeeping for to Egypt. HMCS Magnificent transported 406 Canadian troops and their vehicles along with 4 Royal Canadian Air Force de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otters and a single H04S helicopter. For this trip, she had her guns removed and complement reduced to 600. She unloaded her cargo in Port Said in January 1957.
The increased in size, weight and speed of jet aircraft made Magnificent unsuitable for their operation. On 14 June 1957, she was decommissioned and replaced in RCN service by HMCS Bonaventure, another Royal Navy Majestic-class carrier (HMS Powerful) that had not been completed at the end of the war. The ship was broken up at Faslane, Scotland, in July 1965.
HMS Magnificent (left) and HMS Powerful under construction at Harland and Wolff’s Musgrave shipyard, Belfast, Northern Ireland (UK)HMCS Magnificent at Boston 1951 April 23rdMagnificent in 1950HMCS MagnificentHMCS Magnificent (CVL 21) in the mid-1950s with 15 Grumman Avenger AS.3 of No. 881 NAS and two Hawker Sea Fury FB.11 fighters of No 871 NASGrumman Avengers on the deck of HMCS MagnificentHCMS Magnificent, HCMS Nootka and HCMS Ocean off the coast of Korea, 1952HMCS Magnificent refueling at seaHMCS MagnificentHMCS MagnificentHMCS MagnificentGrumman Avenger AS.3 Sep 1953 on HMCS MagnificentHMCS Magnificent in Genoa April 1950HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21), 20 March 1950Royal Canadian Navy sailors playing hockey on the flight deck of HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21)HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21)In October 1951, HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21) transported 35 RCAF Canadair CL-13 Sabre Mk. 2 aircraft to EuropeHMCS Magnificent (CVL 21), at anchor off San Raphael, French Riviera, 1951HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21), entering Grand Harbour, Malta, 1951HMCS Magnificent seen from the flight deck of HMS Theseus as Theseus leads the Carrier Support Force out of Rosyth for Exercise Mainbrace 1952HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21), in 1952. Viewed from a Grumman Avenger, while others are parked on her deckHMCS Magnificent (CVL 21), in Halifax May 1953HMCS MagnificentHMCS Magnificent (CVL 21), in Halifax May 1953HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21), leaving Halifax May 1953HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21), in Halifax June 1954 HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21), visiting Rotterdam, 24 Oct 1955HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21) with Fairey Fireflies and Hawker Sea Furies on deckHMCS Magnificent (CVL 21)HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21)
Transporting Canadian Air Force Sabres
In October 1951, HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21) transported 35 RCAF Canadair CL-13 Sabre Mk. 2 aircraft to EuropeIn October 1951, HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21) transported 35 RCAF Canadair CL-13 Sabre Mk. 2 aircraft to EuropeIn October 1951, HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21) transported 35 RCAF Canadair CL-13 Sabre Mk. 2 aircraft to EuropeIn October 1951, HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21) transported 35 RCAF Canadair CL-13 Sabre Mk. 2 aircraft to EuropeIn October 1951, HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21) transported 35 RCAF Canadair CL-13 Sabre Mk. 2 aircraft to EuropeHMCS Magnificent (CVL 21), carrying 46 RCAF Canadair CL-13 Sabres cocooned on deck. The Sabres were being repatriated from Germany, 1957
Transporting Canadian Army Equipment
HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21), unloading Canadian Army vehicles in Port Said for UNEF January 1957
Aircraft Operations
Douglas A-1 Skyraider (US Navy)
U.S. Navy Douglas AD-1B Skyraider from Attack Squadron 75 (VA-75) and Grumman Avengers on HMCS Magnificent Sep 1953
Fairey Firefly
Fairey Firefly being launched from HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21), Fairey Firefly FR. Mk IV, TW753, 825 Sqn swerved off the flight deck on HMCS MagnificentHMCS Magnificent (CVL 21), Fairey Firefly accident, 1951Grumman Avenger AS.3, Hawker Sea Fury and Fairey Firefly aircraft on the deck of HMCS Magnificent Sep 1953Hawker Sea Fury and a Fairey Firefly aboard HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21)
Grumman Avenger
Grumman TBM-3W Avenger aircraft on the flight deck of HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21), circa 1953Grumman A.S.4 Avenger flying over HMCS MagnificentU.S. Navy Douglas AD-4B Skyraider from Attack Squadron 75 (VA-75) and Grumman Avengers on HMCS Magnificent Sep 1953Grumman Avenger AS.3, Hawker Sea Fury and Fairey Firefly aircraft on the deck of HMCS Magnificent Sep 1953Grumman Avenger AS.3 on the deck of HMCS Magnificent Sep 1953Grumman Avenger AS.3 Sep 1953 on HMCS MagnificentHMCS Magnificent (CVL 21) in the mid-1950s with 15 Grumman Avenger AS.3 of No. 881 NAS and two Hawker Sea Fury FB.11 fighters of No 871 NASGrumman Avengers on the deck of HMCS MagnificentHMCS Magnificent (CVL 21), visiting Rotterdam, with RCN Grumman TBM-3 Avengers on deck, 1950HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21), in 1952. Viewed from a Grumman Avenger, while others are parked on her deckHMCS Magnificent (CVL 21), with Grumman Avengers on deck 1952
Hawker Sea Fury
Hawker Sea Fury taking off from HMCS MagnificentSea Fury catches the #2 wire on HMS MagnificentHawker Sea Fury crashed into the crash barrier on HMCS MagnificentHawker Sea Fury and a Fairey Firefly aboard HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21)Grumman Avenger AS.3, Hawker Sea Fury and Fairey Firefly aircraft on the deck of HMCS Magnificent Sep 1953Hawker Sea Fury flying over HMCS MagnificentHMCS Magnificent (CVL 21) in the mid-1950s with 15 Grumman Avenger AS.3 of No. 881 NAS and two Hawker Sea Fury FB.11 fighters of No 871 NAS
HDMS Olfert Fischer (1903) was a Danish coastal defense ship. The second of her class of three ships (including Herluf Trolle and Peder Skram), she was launched on 9 May 1903 and commissioned on 31 May 1905.
She had an uneventful career, as Denmark remained neutral throughout World War One. Herluf Trolle and her sisters patrolled Denmark’s coast, enforcing her neutrality. Post war, with reduced naval budgets, she was often laid up or used as a training ship. In 1936, it was decided to scrap her, but after she had been used to evaluate aerial bombing. With most of her useful equipment removed and additional armour added to protect a skeleton crew, army and navy bombers dropped a total of 386 small, practice bombs on her from 5 to 17 October October 1936. Only twelve of the 12 kg (26 lb) bombs hit Olfert Fischer.
Olfert Fischer was broken up for scrap from 1937 to 1938. Her main guns were added to the coastal defenses of Holmen Naval Base, where they remained until 1948.
Olfert Fischer(1903)Olfert FischerOlfert FischerMailboat Gefion steams past the frigates Jylland and Sjælland as barracks ships, behind Jylland is the newly launched Olfert Fischer, c. May, 1903Olfert Fischer refitted and equipped as a target ship
Completed on 14 May 1914, Giulio Cesare was a Conte di Cavour-class dreadnought battleships built for the Regia Marina (Royal Italian Navy). She saw little service during the First World War, spending most of her time in port, ready to sortie if the Austro-Hungarian battlefleet sought a decisive engagement.
During the inter-war period, she was heavily rebuilt. Her main 305mm guns were re-bored to 320mm, her machinery upgraded and additional armour added. The result was an increase from 23,000 tonnes to 29,000 tonnes. Despite this, the new machinery increased her speed from 21.5 knots to 27 knots.
Early in the Second World War, Giulio Cesare took part in the Battle of Calabria (also known as the Battle of Punta Stilo) during which she was struck by a shell from HMS Warspite. This damaged her funnel and reduced her speed, forcing the Italians to break off the engagement.
She was present at Taranto on the night of 11 November 1940, when the Royal Navy launched an air attack. During the attack, her sister ship Conte di Cavour was sunk, Duilo badly damaged and run-aground and Littorio severely damaged. Giulio Cesare however remained undamaged.
For the remainder of her active duty, she escorted convoys to Africa. From January 1942 she was reduced to a training ship. After the Italian surrender she was interned at Malta, where she stayed until 17 June 1944.
Post war, she was allocated to Russia as part of war reparations and renamed Novorossiysk. On the night of 28/29 October 1955 an explosion ripped a 4-by-14-meter (13 by 46 ft) hole in the forecastle forward of ‘A’ turret. The flooding could not be controlled, and she capsized with the loss of 617 men, including 61 men sent from other ships to assist. The most likely cause of the explosion was determined to be a World War Two German mine.
Fitting of the 305 mm Modello 1909 guns in a triple turret of Giulio Cesare, Genoa, 1913Giulio Cesare under construction 11 November 1910Giulio Cesare under construction on a slipway in Genoa, 1911Giulio Cesare being launched 15 October 1911Giulio Cesare being launchedA turbine being fitted onto Giulio Cesare, Genova Sestri-Ponente shipyard (Ansaldo), ca. 1912One of the 305 mm main guns being fitted on Giulio Cesare, Genoa, 1914
Giulio Cesare Before Reconstruction
Giulio Cesare during the first period of sea trials, 14 September 1913Giulio Cesare running speed trials, 1914Andrea Doria (foreground) and Giulio Cesare (background) in Taranto Harbor during 1917 Giulio Cesare at Taranto 3rd June 1917Giulio Cesare, Andrea Doria and Duilio (left to right) moving out from Taranto, between 1916 and 1918Giulio Cesare, around 1924-5Giulio Cesare in 1926Taranto in June 1932; from left, light cruiser Taranto, Andrea Doria, Giulio Cesare and DuilioGiulio Cesare in La Spezia shortly before reconstruction, 1933Giulio Cesare, with its crew manning the railsGiulio Cesare shown during exercises before her 1933-37 rebuildGiulio CesareGiulio CesareGiulio CesareItalian seamen posing under a triple 305 mm (12 inch) turret of Giulio Cesare, 1926The aft 450 mm submerged torpedo tube of Giulio CesareControls of one of the rudders of Giulio Cesare
Giulio Cesare After Reconstruction
Giulio Cesare during her modernization in the port of Genoa in 1935The aft 320 mm turrets of Giulio Cesare, at the end of her reconstructionGiulio Cesare, sometime between 1937 and 1940Giulio Cesare undergoing gunnery practice with its main armament while at night, between 1937 and 1938Giulio Cesare during live fire exercises, between late 1937 and early 1938Giulio Cesare circa 1938Giulio Cesare, likely late 1930’sConte di Cavour and Giulio Cesare in Naples 1938Conte di Cavour and Giulio Cesare with an unidentified cruiserGiulio CesareGiulio Cesare at Malta, June, 1938Giulio Cesare leaving Malta in 1938Giulio Cesare at MaltaGiulio Cesare passing the Ponte Girevole in Taranto, 1937-1938Giulio Cesare 5 May 1938 at the Naval review off Naples torpedo boats Spica and Aldebaran in the backgroundGiulio Cesare, but after completion of her October 1933 to October 1937 reconstruction, but before WWIIGiulio Cesare (left) and Conte di Cavour (right), between 1937 and 1940Giulio Cesare during Operation M 43 (escorting a convoy bound for Tripoli), between 3 and 5 January 1942Giulio Cesare underwayVittorio Veneto (left), Littorio (upper center) and Giulio Cesare (lower center) in Taranto, in the days before Operation JudgementGiulio CesareGiulio CesareGiulio Cesare after her reconstruction
Giulio Cesare at the Battle of Calabria
View from Conte Di Cavour as Giulio Cesare opens fire during the Battle of Calabria, 9 July 1940Giulio Cesare after a hit from the HMS Warspite during the Battle of Calabria, 9 July 1940Damage control party aboard Giulio Cesare, after it was struck by a shell from HMS Warspite, 9 July 1940
Giulio CesareAs Novorossiysk
Novorosiysk (ex-Giulio Cesare) in 1950 at SevastopolNovorossiysk (Ex-Giulio Cesare) in the USSR NavyNovorossiysk (Ex-Giulio Cesare) in the USSR NavyNovorosiysk (ex-Giulio Cesare)
