HMS Bulwark was built by Harland & Wolff, being laid down 10 May 1945 and launched 22 June 1948. She was completed 4 November 1954.
Bulwark and her sister ship Albion took part in the Suez attacks on Egypt in 1956, but were then converted to helicopter carriers in 1959-60 and 1961-62, respectively. Carrying 700-900 Royal Marines and embarking 16 Westland Wessex helicopters, they served off Aden and during the crisis with Indonesia in 1966. Albion was scrapped in 1972 and Bulwark placed in reserve in 1976. However, she was recommissioned in 1979 as an anti-submarine helicopter carrier, releasing HMS Hermes from an amphibious warfare role. Bulwark paid off at Portsmouth on 27 March 1981. She was de-stored and prepared for disposal April 1981, once Invincible was operational.
Plans were made for reactivation during 1982 due to the Falklands war but were later abandoned, when surveyed to be in too poor a state of repair to be recommissioned. Scrapped at Cairn Ryan from 17 April 1984.
Carrier name HMS Bulwark
Class Centaur
Type Light Fleet Aircraft Carrier
Ships in Class Albion, Centaur, Hermes, Bulwark, Elephant, Monmouth, Arrogant & Polyphemus
Launched Built by Harland & Wolff. Laid down 10 May 1945. Launched 22 June 1948. Completed 4 November 1954.
Tonnage Displacement: 20,260 tons standard ; 26,200 tons full load
Engines Propulsion: 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines, 76,000 shp
Speed in Knots Speed: 28 knots
Armament Armament: 2 sextuple Bofors 40 mm AA ; 8 twin Bofors 40 mm ; 4 single Bofors 40 mm ; 4 single 3 pdr saluting guns
Crew Complement Complement: 1390 (including air group)
Range Range: 5,040 nmiles at 20 knots ; 3,500 tons fuel oil
Length (ft/inches) Dimensions: 737.75 oa x 120.5 x 27.8 feet
Beam (ft/inches)
Draught (ft/inches)
Flight Deck length (ft/inches)
Flight Deck width (ft/inches)
Armour Armour: 1 to 2 inch flight deck
Number of aircraft carried Aircraft: up to 42
Fate of carrier De-stored April 1981. Plans for reactivation 1982 Falklands war but abandoned. Scrapped from April 1984.
Notes Eight ships of the Centaur class were ordered during the second world war as enlarged follow-ons to the Majestics, with more powerful machinery allowing fleet speeds. Four ships (Hermes, Monmouth, Arrogant & Polyphemus) were cancelled in October 1945, the first two of which had been laid down and were broken up on the slipway. To maintain the famous carrier name, one of the ships to be completed, Elephant, was renamed Hermes. Of the four ships completed only the first, Centaur, was completed to the original design with an axial flight deck although a small extension was soon added to allow an angled landing area.
Source:http://www.fleetairarmarchive.net/Ships/Bulwark.html