HMS Magnificent
Ship Number
1228
Vessel Type
Majestic Class Aircraft Carrier
Built
Belfast
Slip Number
Musgrave Yard - 10
Launch Date
November 16, 1944
Launched By
Lady Hyacinth Needham
Delivered
May 21, 1948
Owner
Admiralty
Weight
14000 grt
BP Length
630 feet
Breadth
80 feet
No. of Screws
Speed (approx)
24 knots
Propulsion
4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared steam turbines, 40,000 shp (30,000 kW)
Official No.
Registered
Fate
Scrapped
HMS Magnificent

Laid down 29 July 1943, suspended after WWII and laid up for possible future use. Work resumed upon loan to Canada in 1948.
 
Commissioned in Canadian service as HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21) 17 April 1948 prior to completion; completed 21 May 1948.
 
Major refit December 1951 to April 1952.
 
Reclassified as a ferry carrier (RML 21) in 1954 but continued regular operations.
 
Last regular flight operations completed 10 October 1956, then outfitted as an emergency troopship for deployment to Suez.
 
Decommissioned and returned to RN 14 June 1957; replaced by HMCS Bonaventure.
 
Given designation R36 upon return and immediately placed in reserve.
 
Stricken for disposal 1961, sold July 1965 and scrapped at Faslane.