COLOSSUS HMS aircraft carrier

[aukepalmhof]

The Island of Man Philatelic Bureau gives by the stamp:
The 30p stamp depicts the Fairey Barracuda MkII torpedo dive-bomber of 827 Naval Air Squadron from the aircraft carrier HMS COLOSSUS. Their roundels are those of the British Pacific Fleet. From June 1944, the operational training of air crew for these aircraft took place at Royal Naval Air Station Ronaldsway (HMS Urley), which after the war, became the main airport for the Isle of Man.

Built as a light aircraft carrier under yard No 55 by Vickers Armstrongs, High Walker, New Castle for the Royal Navy.
1942 Ordered.
11 June 1942 laid down.
30 September 1943 launched as the HMS COLOSSUS one of the Colossus class of 10 aircraft carriers.
Displacement 13.190 ton standard, 18.040 tons full load. Dim. 211.84 x 24.38 x 7.16m. (draught).
Powered by Parsons geared steam turbines, 40.000 shp, twin screws, speed 25 knots.
Range 12.000 miles by a speed of 12 knots.
Armament 24 – 2pdr AA guns and 32 – 20mm guns.
Aircraft 48.
Crew around 1300 including aircrew.
16 December 1944 commissioned.

Early 1945 first worked up with ships of the Home Fleet.
May 1945 Nominated for service in the British Pacific Fleet with her sisters HMS GLORY, VENGEANCE and VENERABLE in the 11th Aircraft Squadron.
July in the Mediterranean on her passage to Australia.
15th August joined the fleet in Sydney, took not part in any World II battle, and after the war came again under Royal Navy control and joined Task Force 111 with HMS BERMUDA, ARGONAUT,TYRIAN, TUMULT and the Australian QUIBERON as Task Force 111.3.
In September she sailed with this Task Force to assist in reparation of POW and allied nationals.
3rd September sailed from Leyte and arrived the 6th in Kirun, Formosa, then used as a transport for POW from Korea to Manila. She made a few voyages as a transport in the Far East till 4 October.
Then used as a troop transport from Colombo till the end of 1945.

January 1946 received orders to proceed to Simonstown, South Africa for a refit. When the refit was completed she steamed to the U.K., arrived Portsmouth in June.
July 1945 decommissioned and put in reserve.
06 August 1946 transferred to the French Navy and renamed ARROMANCHES.
She was sent to the Indo China conflict in 1948 for three months before returning to France in January 1949.
Between 1950-1951 underwent a refit and thereafter bought by the French Navy
August 1952 she returned to the Indo China conflict.
When returning to Europe during a refit 1957-58 an angled flight deck was fitted.
1968 Converted to an ASW carrier where after she operated with 24 helicopters.
22 January 1974 decommissioned. Stricken 05 September 1974.
05 May 1976 put on the sale list.
1978 Broken up in Toulon. France.

In her 27 years in service under French flag she steamed 600.000 miles and had 30.000 aircraft operations on her deck.

Isle of Man 2009 30p sg?, scott?
Guinea 2012 15000FG sg?, scott?
Algeria 1949 18 plus 22fr, sg?, scottB56 (The ARROMANCHES is depict.)

Source: Wikipedia. The Encyclopedia of Warships http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono ... lossus.htm.