HMCS MAGNIFICENT (21)
HMCS MAGNIFICENT
The History of HMCS MAGNIFICENT
HMCS Magnificent was a Majestic-class light aircraft carrier that served the Royal Canadian Navy from 1948 to 1957. Ordered by the Royal Navy in 1942 and built by Harland and Wolff in Belfast, she was laid down on 29 July 1943 and launched on 16 November 1944. The unfinished ship was loaned to Canada as a larger and better-suited replacement for HMCS Warrior. Modifications for cold-weather operations delayed her completion. She was commissioned into the RCN on 21 March 1948, arrived in Halifax on 1 June 1948, and was based there for the rest of her Canadian service.
Throughout her nine years with the RCN she conducted training cruises and took part in NATO exercises in the North Atlantic, Caribbean, and Mediterranean. Early deployments included a 1948 cruise to Hudson Strait with the destroyers Nootka and Haida. In 1950 she served as flagship of the Canadian Special Service Squadron on a three-month goodwill tour of seven European countries. She participated in major NATO exercises such as Mainbrace in 1952 and Mariner in 1953, and represented Canada at the 1953 Coronation Fleet Review at Spithead. In 1954 she sailed via the Panama Canal to Esquimalt and back. She also made port visits to places including Oslo, Lisbon, Havana, and New York.
Her air group initially included Hawker Sea Furies and Fairey Fireflies. Grumman Avengers were later added for anti-submarine work, and from 1955 she operated Sikorsky HO4S helicopters. A minor crew incident in March 1949 during Caribbean manoeuvres, in which aircraft handlers briefly refused an order, was handled without serious disciplinary action and formed part of the broader issues examined by the Mainguy Report. She was not committed to the Korean War because of NATO obligations in the Atlantic.
Her most notable deployment came during the Suez Crisis. In late December 1956 she sailed from Halifax carrying 406 Canadian Army personnel, 233 vehicles, stores, and four RCAF Otter aircraft as Canada's contribution to the United Nations Emergency Force. She delivered them at Port Said in January 1957. On the return voyage she embarked 59 RCAF Canadair Sabre jet aircraft in Scotland and brought them to Halifax in February 1957 despite severe storms. This was among her final tasks.
With the arrival of the modernized Canadian-owned carrier HMCS Bonaventure, Magnificent was no longer needed. She sailed from Halifax for the last time on 10 April 1957 and was paid off at Plymouth on 14 June 1957, reverting to the Royal Navy. Placed in reserve, she was stricken in 1961 and broken up at Faslane, Scotland, in 1965.
HMCS MAGNIFICENT Statistical Data
- Pendant: 21
- Type: Light Fleet Carrier
- Class: Majestic
- Displacement: 15,700 tonnes
- Length: 698 ft
- Width: 80 ft
- Draught: 25 ft
- Speed: 24 kts
- Compliment: 1200 Officers and Crew
- Arms: 6 - 40mm (3xII), 18 - 40mm
- Builder: Harland and Wolff Ltd., Belfast, Ireland
- Keel Laid: 29-Jul-43
- Date Launched: 16-Nov-44
- Date Commissioned: 07-Apr-48
- Paid off: 14-Jun-57
Remarks
Ex-HMS MAGNIFICENT. Capacity of 30 aircraft.
Photos
HMCS MAGNIFICENT
HMCS Magnificent from air stbd side June 1954. (National Archives of Canada)
Keywords: HMCS MAGNIFICENT, Royal Canadian Navy Ship, Light Fleet Carrier, Majestic Class