Tri-ang Minic produced identical models of HMS Bulwark, HMS Centaur and HMS Albion. The model of HMS Centaur is distinguished by the model number and name marked on the underside and the deck code 'C'.

The actual HMS Centaur was the only ship of the class completed to the original design with a straight axial flight deck. It underwent a modernisation between May 1956 and September 1958 when a 6 degree angled flight deck was added and the catapults were upgraded to steam to allow operation of jet aircraft.

A later planned conversion into a third "Commando Carrier" was cancelled and the ship was decommissioned in 1965.

Builder:

Harland & Wolff Ltd, Belfast

Laid Down:

30^th May 1944

Launched:

22^nd April 1947

Commissioned:

1^st September 1953

Displacement:

27,000 tons Full Load

Length (OA):

737 ft 9 in ( 224.8 m )

Beam:

90 ft ( 27.4 m )

Draft:

27 ft ( 8.2 m )

Armament:

1 Sextuplet, 5 Twin and 4 Single 40 mm Bofors anti-aircraft guns

Protection (Armour):

1" - 2" over decks, magazines and machinery spaces - minimal other armour

Propulsion:

4 Admiralty 3 drum boilers, 2 Parsons single reduction geared turbines, 2 shafts, 78,000 shp

Maximum Speed:

28 knots

Complement:

1390 including the Air Group

Flight Deck Dimensions:

733 ft 9 in ( 224.8 m ) by 123 ft ( 37.5 m )

Aircraft:

42 fixed wing aircraft WWII era, reduced to 17 fixed wing aircraft after 1961 refit

Disposal:

6^th September 1972 scrapped at Cairnryan

Further details of the actual ship can be obtained from the following links -

The Haze Gray & Underway Web Site

http://www.hazegray.org/navhist/carriers/uk_light.htm#r06