Launched on 3 August 1901, Imperator Aleksandr III was a Borodino-class pre-dreadnought battleship built for the Imperial Russian Navy. Entering service in November 1903, 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. The ship was sunk during the Battle of Tsushima in May 1905 by Japanese gunfire with the loss of 778 men, her entire crew.
Imperator Aleksandr III in Kronshtadt, August 1904Imperator Aleksandr IIIImperator Aleksandr III in Kronshtadt, August 1904Imperator Aleksandr III at Kronstadt, September 1903
Launched on 8 September 1901, Borodino was the lead ship of her class of five pre-dreadnought battleships built for the Imperial Russian Navy. Entering service in August 1904, she sailed only two months later on 15 October, 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. The ship was sunk during the Battle of Tsushima in May 1905 due to explosions set off by a Japanese shell hitting a magazine. There was only a single survivor from her crew of 855 officers and enlisted men.
Borodino under constructionBorodino just after launch 8 September 1901Borodino in 1904 at KronshtadtThe bridge of BorodinoBorodino in 1904 at KronshtadtBorodino in 1904 at KronshtadtAugust 1904 Borodino in Kronstadt, Russia.
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
