The Royal Australian Navy's last aircraft carrier, the Majestic class HMAS Melbourne (R21). Originally planned for the Royal Navy as the HMS Majestic, the ship was never commissioned into the Royal Navy and construction was suspended until she was bought for the Royal Australian Navy in 1947, entering service in the RAN in 1955.
From 1955 to her decommissioning in 1982, she carried several generations of RAN Fleet Air Arm aircraft, including de Havilland Sea Venoms, Fairey Gannets, S-2 Trackers, A-4 Skyhawks, Bristol Sycamores, and Westland Wessex and Sea Kings.
The Melbourne was involved in two collisions with friendly ships during her career. In 1964 she collided with the HMAS Voyager, killing 82 of the Voyager's crew. In 1969 she hit the USS Frank E. Evans and 74 US Navy sailors were killed.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMAS_Melbourne_%28R21%29
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The HMAS Melbourne
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20 August 2011
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The Royal Australian Navy's last aircraft carrier, the Majestic class HMAS Melbourne (R21). Originally planned for the Royal Navy as the HMS Majestic, the ship was never commissioned into the Royal Navy and construction was suspended until she was bought for the Royal Australian Navy in 1947,...