View source for HMS Centaur (R06)

{{short description|1953 Centaur-class light fleet carrier of the Royal Navy}}
{{Other ships|HMS Centaur}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
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|Ship caption=HMS Centaur on the river Elbe near Hamburg in the 1960s
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|Ship country=United Kingdom
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|Ship name= HMS ''Centaur''
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|Ship builder=[[Harland and Wolff]]
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|Ship laid down=30 May 1944
|Ship launched=22 April 1947
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|Ship commissioned=1 September 1953
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|Ship decommissioned=1965
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|Ship identification=[[Pennant number]]: R06
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|Ship fate=Scrapped in 1972-73
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{{Infobox ship characteristics
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|Ship class={{sclass|Centaur|aircraft carrier}}
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|Ship displacement=22,000 tons standard, 27,000 full load
|Ship length={{convert|737.75|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam={{convert|123|ft|m|abbr=on}}
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|Ship draught={{convert|27.8|ft|m|abbr=on}}
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|Ship power={{convert|76000|shp|kW|abbr=on}}
|Ship propulsion=4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, Parsons geared turbines
|Ship speed={{convert|28|kn|km/h|abbr=on}}
|Ship range={{convert|7000|nmi|km|abbr=on}} at {{convert|18|kn|km/h|abbr=on}}
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|Ship complement=1,390 (including air group)
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|Ship sensors= Radars, Types 960/965(AW) 982(2 sets) 983 978 293.
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|Ship armament=*2 sextuple [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60|Bofors 40 mm]] anti-aircraft guns
*8 twin Bofors 40 mm
*4 single Bofors 40 mm
*4 single 3-pounder [[saluting gun]]s
|Ship armour= {{convert|1|-|2|in|mm|abbr=on}} on flight deck
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|Ship aircraft=42 (decreased to 26 with jet fighters). 1958-60 Sea Hawk & Sea Venom, 1961-63 Sea Vixen FAW1 & Supermarine Scimitar, 1963-65 12 Sea Vixen
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'''HMS ''Centaur''''' was the first of the four {{sclass|Centaur|aircraft carrier|0}} [[Light aircraft carrier|light fleet carriers]] of the [[Royal Navy]]. She was the only ship of her class to be completed with the original design configuration of a straight axial flight deck, rather than the newly invented [[angled flight deck]]s of her three later sister ships. She was laid down in 1944 in [[Belfast]], with the contract being awarded to [[Harland and Wolff]], but not launched until 22 April 1947 due to delays relating to the end of the war. She was commissioned on 1 September 1953, almost nine years from when she was laid down in 1944.

''Centaur'' saw service throughout the 1950s and early 1960s. Due to budgetary issues ''Centaur'' was not converted to a commando carrier like two of her [[sister ship]]s. ''Centaur'' was withdrawn from service in August 1965 and sold for scrapping in 1972.

==Completion==

''Centaur'' was completed with an axial flight deck, marked by a broken white line running down the middle of the entire length of the flight deck. She began her contractor's sea trials in March 1953<ref>McCart, p15</ref> and commissioned on 17 September 1953. Her aviation facilities as completed included 2 x BH5 {{convert|30000|lb|kg|abbr=on}} hydraulic catapults at the bow, six {{convert|30000|lb|kg|abbr=on}} arrestor wires, two {{convert|35000|lb|kg|abbr=on}} capacity aircraft lifts, measuring {{convert|54|x|44|ft|m|abbr=on}} forward and aft. Her single hangar measured {{convert|329|by|62|by|17.5|ft|m|abbr=on}}, and she had stowage for {{convert|349000|Impgal|L|abbr=on}} of AVCAT and [[Avgas]] aviation fuel.<ref>A.C.Walton</ref>

Following the completion of her sea and machinery trials in October 1953 she was taken in hand at Portsmouth Dockyard, to be fitted with an interim 5.5-degree angled deck, which was already being added to her as yet uncompleted sister ships, {{HMS|Albion|R07|2}} and {{HMS|Bulwark|R08|2}}. This required cutting down the port sheerstrake, re-siting the walkways and removing three twin Bofors guns and their directors.<ref>McCart, p16</ref><ref>Friedman, p267</ref> Upon completion of this work in April 1954 she was finally able to join the fleet as the first angled-deck carrier in the Royal Navy and undertook her initial flying trials in the English Channel from May to July 1954.

==Operational history==

===First commission===
[[File:HMS Centaur 1955.jpg|thumb|left|''Centaur'' in 1955]]
[[File:HMS Centaur Leaving Portsmouth.jpg|thumb|HMS Centaur leaving Portsmouth on July 19th 1954 heading to the Mediterranean.]]
[[File:HMS centaur in med.jpg|thumb|HMS Centaur in the Mediterranean sea September 10, 1954]]
[[File:Troops embarking at trieste.jpg|thumb|British troops embarking on Centaur in Trieste.]]
[[File:Sea hawk landing.jpg|thumb|Sea Hawk landing on Centaur]]

''Centaur''{{'}}s initial air group of 25 aircraft, as embarked in July 1954, consisted of nine [[Hawker Sea Hawk|Hawker Sea Hawk FGA6]] of [[806 Squadron FAA|806 Squadron]], nine [[Hawker Sea Fury|Hawker Sea Fury FB11]] of [[810 Naval Air Squadron|810 Squadron]], six [[Grumman Avenger|Grumman Avenger AS]] anti-submarine aircraft of [[820 Naval Air Squadron|820 Squadron]] and one [[Westland Dragonfly HR.1|Westland Dragonfly HR5]] of the ship's flight.<ref>A.C.Walton</ref> ''Centaur'' was initially intended to join the Mediterranean Fleet for a period of four months, before heading [[east of Suez]] to relieve {{HMS|Warrior|R31|2}} as the duty carrier in the Far East. As events transpired however, she was to remain in the Mediterranean until June 1955. Her activities during this period included exercises in company with her sister ship ''Albion'' and NATO allies, embarking British troops during the withdrawal from [[Trieste]] in October 1954, escorting the [[royal yacht]] {{ship|HMY|Britannia||2}} during a Royal Tour and numerous visits to friendly ports.<ref>McCart, p26</ref> Whilst at Malta in February 1955 the Sea Furys of 810 Squadron were disembarked and the squadron later flew back to the UK to be disbanded; they were replaced by nine Sea Hawks of [[803 Squadron FAA|803 Squadron]] which were transferred from ''Albion'' in March 1955. The Avenger AS4s of 820 Squadron were similarly replaced by six [[Grumman Avenger|Avenger AS5]]s of [[814 Naval Air Squadron|814 Squadron]].<ref>Sturtivant, p216</ref>

From June 1955 until January 1956 ''Centaur'' was based in home waters and undertook a range of visits and exercises with other carriers of the fleet. After two months spent in Portsmouth from November 1955 she left for the Far East on 10 January 1956, in company with ''Albion''. Further changes to her air-group saw the Avengers of 814 Squadron replaced by the re-formed 820 Squadron, with six [[Fairey Gannet|Fairey Gannet AS4]]s.<ref>Askins, p122</ref> After passing through the Suez Canal she visited Aden in February to undertake flying exercises with RAF [[De Havilland Venom|Venom]]s based at [[RAF Khormaksar]]. This was followed by a visit to India, where the two carriers provided flying demonstrations for the Indian government, who were at that time interested in acquiring an aircraft carrier for the Indian Navy. This eventually resulted in the purchase, the following year, of the incomplete {{sclass|Majestic|aircraft carrier|1}} {{HMS|Hercules|R49|2}}, completed in 1961 to an updated design as {{INS|Vikrant|1961|6}}.<ref>Janes 1958-59 p84</ref> Further exercises were carried out in the Indian Ocean, before heading east to visit Hong Kong and Singapore. She [[Line-crossing ceremony|crossed the line]] for the first time on 26 April ''en route'' back from Singapore to Devonport via Suez and Malta, arriving on 15 May 1956.<ref>McCart, p49</ref>

===Modernisation===

In the mid-1950s Government Defence Policy was to maintain a fleet of four active aircraft carriers to meet both [[NATO]] and Imperial commitments. In practice this meant a total fleet of five to six ships, allowing for refits, modernisation and training.<ref>Friedman p305</ref> The rapid advances in naval aviation technology during this period, such as the [[angled deck]], [[steam catapults]] and mirror landing sight, coupled with the planned introduction of the new, heavier second-generation jet fighters such as the [[Supermarine Scimitar]] and [[De Havilland Sea Vixen]], rendered the existing carrier fleet obsolescent.<ref>Hobbs BAC, p239</ref><ref>Friedman, p311</ref> Only {{HMS|Ark Royal|R09|2}} (completed in 1955), the rebuilt {{HMS|Victorious|R38|2}}, and under-construction {{HMS|Hermes|R12|2}}, due to join the fleet in 1958 and 1959 respectively, had the capability to operate the new aircraft. Thus it was decided to rebuild {{HMS|Eagle|R05|2}} from 1959 to 1964 to the same standard as ''Victorious'' and ''Hermes'', followed by a similar upgrade to ''Ark Royal''. This left a potential period of five years between 1959 and 1964 when a maximum of three carriers would be available. The Admiralty therefore searched for an interim solution to bridge this feared gap.<ref>Friedman, p312</ref>

The design limitations of the three ''Centaur''-class carriers completed in 1953-4 meant that a rebuild to the standard adopted for the other carriers would be difficult, if not impossible. A particular problem was the lack of hangar deck strength, which when the ships were ordered in 1943, was specified to handle {{convert|30000|lb|kg|abbr=on}} aircraft.<ref>Friedman p 257</ref> A fully loaded Sea Vixen FAW1 could weigh up to {{convert|35000|lb|kg|abbr=on}} and the Scimitar up to {{convert|34200|lb|kg|abbr=on}}.<ref>Thetford, p113, p345</ref> This would mean that in operation these aircraft would have to be armed and fuelled on the flight deck. Nonetheless, no other hulls were available, and given the potential "gap", a quick solution was needed. It was therefore decided that one ''Centaur''-class would be given a limited modernisation, to give her the minimum capability to operate these aircraft. ''Centaur'' herself was selected for this purpose in May 1956.<ref>Friedman p312</ref>

Between June 1956 and August 1958 ''Centaur'' underwent her partial modernisation at Devonport Dockyard. This involved the installation of two {{convert|139|ft|m|adj=on}} BS4 {{convert|40000|lb|kg|abbr=on}} steam catapults forward, the removal of the Bofors guns on the flight deck, improved air operations facilities and the addition of a Type 963 blind-landing radome at the rear of the island.<ref>Friedman p312</ref><ref>McCart, p51</ref><ref>Hobbs, BAC, p241</ref> Some work was also done on a further slight extension on the port side, to enable a six-degree angled flight deck to be used.<ref>A.C.Walton</ref> Her arrestor cables were not upgraded at this stage, however. This was rectified in her 1960–1961 refit, when five {{convert|35000|lb|kg|abbr=on}} arrestor wires were fitted.<ref>A.C.Walton</ref><ref>Hobbs, BAC, p241</ref>

===Second commission===

''Centaur'' recommissioned at Devonport on 3 September 1958, under the command of Captain [[Horace Law]].<ref>McCart, p51</ref> Following the completion of post-refit ship trials in the Channel and South-West Approaches in November, she embarked her air group in preparation for her flying trials, which included visits from both Sea Vixens and Scimitars as well as two [[Fairey Gannet AEW.3|Gannet AEW3]]s. In January 1959 she embarked her full air-group, consisting of fourteen Hawker Sea Hawk FGA6s of [[801 Naval Air Squadron|801 Squadron]], eight [[De Havilland Sea Venom|Sea Venom FAW22]]s of [[891 Naval Air Squadron|891 Squadron]], eight [[Westland Whirlwind (helicopter)|Westland Whirlwind HS7]]s of [[845 Naval Air Squadron|845 Squadron]] and four [[Douglas Skyraider AEW1]]s of  D Flight [[849 Squadron NAS|849 Squadron]].<ref>A.C. Walton</ref><ref>McCart, p54</ref>

From January to March she operated with the Mediterranean Fleet based in Malta, before proceeding to the North Atlantic to take part in Exercise Dawn Breeze IV, in company with ''Eagle'' and the recently rebuilt and re-commissioned ''Victorious''. During March the Whirlwind helicopters of 845 Squadron were landed due to technical problems with their engines and she re-embarked Dragonflies to carry out search and rescue duties.<ref>McCart, p55</ref><ref>Sturtivant, p314</ref> Six Gannet AS4s of 810 NAS were also embarked from June 1959, to provide anti-submarine capability.<ref>Sturtivant, p200.</ref>

In April 1959 ''Centaur'' was used during the making of the film ''[[Sink the Bismarck!]]'' to depict flight operations from both Royal Navy aircraft carriers ''Victorious'' and {{HMS|Ark Royal|91|2}}; (her post-war [[pennant number]] R06 is clear in both scenes). Three surviving [[Fairey Swordfish]] biplanes were restored and flown from her decks, and scenes were also shot on the bridge of the carrier and in the aircrew briefing room. One of the Swordfish was piloted by the test pilot [[Peter Twiss]].<ref>McCart, p55</ref>

After her brief spell in the limelight, ''Centaur'' spent a few weeks in home waters, carrying out flying operations, and paid visits to [[Copenhagen]], Denmark and [[Brest, France]], before departing for the Mediterranean via [[Lisbon]] and [[Gibraltar]]. Whilst at Gibraltar, further changes to her air-group were made as the Skyraiders of 849D Squadron were disembarked, whilst the Gannets of 810 Squadron rejoined the ship.<ref>Sturtivant, p340</ref><ref>McCart, p56</ref> Following a transit through the [[Suez Canal]] in late June she operated in the Indian Ocean with visits to Kuwait, [[Aden]] and [[Trincomalee]], Ceylon (now [[Sri Lanka]]), where she was visited by the prime minister, [[Solomon Bandaranaike]], shortly before his assassination in September 1959.<ref>McCart, p58</ref> After a month-long maintenance period in Singapore, she operated in Pacific waters for the next three and a half months, including joint exercises with {{USS|Lexington|CV-16|6}} off the Philippines and a visit to Australia, before returning to Singapore. Further operations in the Indian Ocean, including a visit to East Africa, followed before she left to return home, being replaced as the east of Suez carrier by ''Albion''. She arrived back at Devonport on 26 April, having steamed {{convert|80916|nmi|km}} and carried out 7,805 catapult launches, for the loss of one Sea Hawk, two Sea Venoms and a Dragonfly helicopter of the ship's flight.<ref>McCart, p63</ref>

===Third commission===
[[File:201-CeylonToAden-D70-R06-TransferWithTheBeast.jpg|thumb|right|''Centaur'' in 1961, en route from Aden to Ceylon. Photographed from [[HMS Solebay (D70)|HMS ''Solebay'']]]]
''Centaur'' was refitted at [[HMNB Portsmouth|Portsmouth]] from September 1960 until March 1961, during which the upgraded arrestor wires were fitted<ref>A.C.Walton</ref> and additional air-conditioning units installed. Following sea-trials off Portland in March, she embarked her new air group during April, consisting of between six and eight Scimitar F1 of [[807 Naval Air Squadron|807 Squadron]], between six and nine Sea Vixen FAW1 of [[893 Naval Air Squadron|893 Squadron]], four [[Fairey Gannet AEW3]] of 849 Squadron, A Flight, and eight Whirlwind HAS7 of 824 Squadron.<ref>A.C.Walton</ref><ref>McCart, p68</ref>

During April she sailed for the Mediterranean to continue flying exercises with her new air-group and met ''Hermes'' for the first time at Gibraltar. Although she was originally scheduled to cross the North Atlantic for a visit to the US and Canada, events in the Middle East were to lead to a rapid change of plans.<ref>McCart p64</ref>

In June 1961 President [[Abd al-Karim Qasim]] of [[Iraq]] announced that [[Kuwait]] would be annexed by Iraq; the [[Emir of Kuwait]] requested assistance from the [[United Kingdom]] and [[Saudi Arabia]]. The [[United Kingdom|UK]] activated [[Operation Vantage]] and immediately sent ''Victorious'' and accompanying vessels. {{HMS|Bulwark|R08|2}} landed a company of [[42 Commando|42 Commando, Royal Marines]] at Kuwait airport. ''Centaur'' arrived from Malta in July to relieve ''Victorious'' on patrol in the Gulf. Iraq recognised Kuwaiti sovereignty in 1963, after Kassim had been killed in a coup.<ref>{{cite web
 |last        = White
 |first       = Christopher J
 |author2     = Robinson, Peter
 |title       = Gulf War Part 1: Operation Vantage
 |work        = Historical RFA
 |date        = 2008–2010
 |url         = http://www.historicalrfa.org/rfa-conflicts
 |access-date  = 18 January 2010
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20100418064345/http://www.historicalrfa.org/rfa-conflicts
 |archive-date = 18 April 2010
 |df          = dmy-all
}}</ref>

With a reduction in tension following the decisive action of the Royal Navy to deter the would-be aggressor, ''Centaur'' was ordered to return to station off Aden, and subsequently returned home to Devonport in September, for a six-week maintenance period. During October she re-embarked her air-group and headed back through the Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean, to once again relieve ''Victorious'' as the duty carrier East of Suez in December. This duty saw visits to [[Mombasa]] (Kenya), Aden, Singapore and Hong Kong. In early December she was engaged in flood relief work in Kenya, where the Tana River had burst its banks. Her Whirlwinds helped to ferry essential supplies to the cut-off areas and temporary camps.<ref>McCart p68</ref> There was also a brief return to the Gulf in December 1961 when President Kassim of Iraq resumed threats against Kuwait, before backing down again. ''Centaur'' was relieved as the duty carrier by ''Ark Royal'' at the end of March and began her journey home.<ref>McCart p68</ref>

During May 1962 her air group was disembarked as she entered a short maintenance period in Portsmouth Dockyard. 807 squadron was disbanded at this time, following a decision to phase out the Scimitar in favour of the [[Blackburn Buccaneer]]. ''Centaur'' lacked the capacity to operate the Buccaneer; however, the removal of the Scimitar Squadron did enable her to operate an enlarged squadron of twelve Sea Vixens instead.<ref>McCart, p68, p69</ref><ref>A.C.Walton</ref><ref>Hobbs, BAC, p239</ref>

On 18 June 1962 a new commanding officer, Captain Philip G Sharp, took over the ship, before she sailed to take part in exercises in the North Sea, following which she departed for Gibraltar.<ref>McCart, p69,70</ref> The rest of the summer was spent in the Mediterranean, including a three-week refit in Gibraltar, before she returned to home waters in October. On 19 November, whilst exercising in the Irish Sea, there was a sudden loss of pressure in "A" [[boiler room (ship)|Boiler Room]], which in turn led to a loss of power on the port engine and tripped lighting and radar circuits. This was caused by the burst of a main steam-pipe in the boiler room and superheated steam at {{convert|700|F|C|abbr=on}} and at a pressure of up to {{convert|500|psi|kPa|abbr=on}} escaping and killing, instantly, the five crew members on duty at the time in the boiler room. Engineering staff isolated the affected boiler, and later that morning a rescue team wearing asbestos suits were able to recover the bodies of their ship-mates. Later that day their coffins, wrapped in Union Jacks, were flown off to [[RAF Valley]], and a memorial service was held. Centaur returned to Portsmouth on 27 November for repairs that lasted until 22 January.<ref>McCart, p71,73</ref>

After working up with her air-group in the Channel, during which a Sea Vixen of 893 Squadron was lost with her crew,  ''Centaur'' took part in further emergency relief work, this time at home, carrying supplies for isolated communities in Wales and Northern Ireland, cut off by the severe blizzards of the [[Winter of 1963]]. On 13 February 1963 she was ordered to proceed east of Suez to provide cover for {{HMS|Hermes|R12|2}}, which had been detailed to provide support for forces loyal to the [[Sultan of Brunei]], following the [[Brunei Revolt|Indonesian backed revol]]t, thus starting what became known as the [[Malaysia-Indonesia Confrontation|Indonesian confrontation]]. She passed through the Suez Canal on 1 March and spent the next two months in the Indian Ocean, during a period of high tension following the February coup in Iraq, which had resulted in the removal of President Kassim. Centaur was finally ordered to return home, arriving in Portsmouth on 22 May.<ref>McCart p73</ref>

There had been speculation during this period that ''Centaur'' would be converted to a [[Commando carrier|Commando Carrier]], similar to her sister-ships, as the [[Second Macmillan ministry|MacMillan government]] had originally only planned to keep her in service until ''Eagle'' rejoined the fleet in 1963/64. However, the decision to keep 2 carriers available for service east of Suez meant that she would serve longer than originally intended in the fixed-wing role.<ref>McCart, p74, p99</ref>

===Fourth commission===

''Centaur'' was refitted in Portsmouth Dockyard between June and November 1963, during which she was fitted with a large Mirror Landing Sight on a sponson on the port-side of the flight deck and a [[Type 965 radar|Type 965 air search radar]] was installed on a lattice foremast (taken from the Air Direction Destroyer ''[[HMS Battleaxe (D118)|Battleaxe]]'', which had been earmarked for disposal, after being badly damaged in a collision the previous year) at the front of her island. More air-conditioning units were also installed and further improvements were made to her Operations Room. Whilst alongside in Portsmouth in October she sustained slight damage to her bow, when the submarine HMS Porpoise collided with her after being caught by the ebb tide.<ref>McCart, p74, p76</ref>

She re-commissioned on 15 November 1963. Her final, twenty-two strong, air-group was embarked shortly afterwards, consisting of twelve Sea Vixen FAW1 of [[892 Naval Air Squadron|892 Squadron]], four Gannet AEW3 of 849 Squadron, A Flight, and the ships flight of one Whirlwind. She also occasionally embarked small detachments of Scimitars seconded from other squadrons.<ref>McCart, p107</ref><ref>A.C.Walton</ref> She was destined to be sent to the Far East, however before departing she undertook an emergency mission from 23 to 24 December, to assist the Greek cruise liner ''[[TSMS Lakonia]]'', which had caught fire near Madeira. Centaur's helicopter helped to recover the victims of the tragedy, which claimed the lives of 128 passengers and crew; their bodies were disembarked on the ships [[Lighter aboard ship|lighter]] at Gibraltar on Christmas Day 1963 .<ref>McCart, pp76-84</ref>

After a quick passage through the Mediterranean and the Suez Canal, she arrived off Aden in January to continue her work-up, during which time she embarked the six Wessex helicopters of 815 Squadron from RAF Khormaksar to complete her air-group. She was also engaged in providing air support for Operations Damon and Nutcracker, an attempt to put down a rebellion in the [[Radfan]] region of Aden.<ref>McCart p87</ref>

In January 1964 a mutiny occurred in [[Tanganyika (1961–1964)|Tanganyika]]. The [[1st Tanganyika Rifles]], who were based near the capital [[Dar-es-Salaam]], had mutinied against their British officers, as well as seizing the British [[High Commissioner (Commonwealth)|High Commissioner]] and taking over the airport. [[United Kingdom|Britain]] decided, after urgent appeals for help from President [[Julius Nyerere]], to deploy ''Centaur'' accompanied by [[815 Naval Air Squadron]] along with [[45 Commando]] of the Royal Marines. When ''Centaur'' arrived at Dar-es-Salaam, a company of [[Royal Marines]] was landed by helicopter on a football field next to the barracks of the mutineers. The company assaulted the barracks with full force in a chaotic but swift attack. After a call for the mutinous soldiers to surrender failed, the company demolished the front of the guardroom with a shot from an anti-tank rocket launcher, which resulted in a large number of distressed soldiers pouring out into the open. Later, four Sea Vixens from ''Centaur'' provided cover for more Royal Marines, who were landed on an air strip. The operation was a success and the rest of the mutineers surrendered, with the main culprits being arrested. Many Tanganyikans were jubilant when the country was restored to a stable and peaceful condition. The [[Royal Marines Band Service|Royal Marine Band]] displayed the British forces appreciation of the friendly welcome they had received from the Tanganyikans while restoring the country to stability, by taking part in a heavy schedule of parades through the streets of [[Tanganyika (1961–1964)|Tanganyika]]. ''Centaur'' left on 29 January, nine days after originally sailing for what was then a country in crisis.

''Centaur'' completed her work-up during February in the South China Sea. and spent the next three months in the region, which included a high-profile visit to Singapore to deter threatened Indonesian aggression against Singapore and the newly formed Malaysian Federation. During May ''Centaur'' was ordered to return to the Indian Ocean to provide further support in Aden, where the Radfan rebellion was escalating into a major conflict. Her Wessex helicopters were used to replace RAF [[Bristol Belvedere|Belvedere's]] suffering from engine failures.<ref>McCart p95</ref>

During the summer her Sea Vixens undertook air strikes against the rebel forces in Radfan, helping to bring the campaign to a successful conclusion. Whilst exercising off [[Penang]] on 11 July, one of her Sea Vixen's and its crew were lost. A Gannet sent to search for the missing fighter was also lost although its crew were rescued. From 26 July she participated in exercise FOTEX 64 with other units of the fleet in the South China Seas, later joining with the [[HMAS Melbourne (R21)|Royal Australian Navy aircraft carrier, HMAS Melbourne]] in Exercise Stopwatch during August. During September she became directly involved in what became known as the [[Indonesian Confrontation]], when Indonesian troops were parachuted near the town of [[Labis]], and sea-landings were made on the west coast of the Malayan peninsula. The invaders were quickly captured, however ''Centaur'' took station to prevent any further incursions in that area. She remained in the far-east until 25 November when she began the journey home for Christmas.<ref>McCart p97</ref>

During a refit that lasted until March 1965 it was announced that ''Centaur'' would be withdrawn from service later that year, the first of the Royal Navy's modern carrier fleet to be withdrawn. A deployment to the Mediterranean during April, May and June included a number of high-profile port visits and exercises with the fleet, as well as close encounters with the Soviet Black Sea Fleet. She returned to the UK during July and undertook a series of farewell visits to various ports and participated in a Royal Review of the Home Fleet in the Clyde during August. She returned to Portsmouth on 24 August 1965 and was open for visits by the public during Navy Days, before paying off for the last time on 27 September 1965.<ref>McCart, p107</ref><ref>Hobbs, BAC, p244</ref>

===Final years===

Pressures on the Defence Budget meant that there was no money available to further modernise ''Centaur'' nor convert her to a Commando Carrier; such funds and resources as might have been available, were already committed to converting the [[Tiger-class cruiser|Tiger Class Cruisers]] to become rudimentary Helicopter Carriers.<ref>Hobbs, BCS, p479</ref> Her use to the Navy was not quite over however, as she was consigned to the role of an accommodation ship for the crew of ''Victorious'' while the latter ship undertook a refit. In 1966, ''Centaur'' was towed to Devonport and was again used as an accommodation ship, this time for the aircraft carrier {{HMS|Eagle|R05|2}}, while that ship was also refitted. In 1967 she was used as a tender for the RN Barracks, [[HMS Drake]] at Devonport, and was towed back to Portsmouth later that year, to act as an accommodation ship for ''Hermes'' during the latter ships' refit.  In 1970, she was towed to [[HMNB Devonport|Devonport]], where after another spell as an accommodation ship, and with her condition now deteriorating significantly, she was put on the disposal list. She was sold on 11 August 1972 to Queenborough Shipbreaking Company, and shortly afterwards she was towed to [[Cairnryan]] and broken up.<ref>Hobbs, BAC, p244</ref>

==See also==
* [[Fleet Air Arm]]

==References==
{{Reflist|20em}}

==Publications==
* {{cite book|title=From the Cockpit No. 7: Fairey Gannet |first=Simon |last=Askins |publisher=Ad Hoc Publications |date=2008}}
* {{Cite Colledge2006}}
* {{cite book |title=British Carrier Aviation: The Evolution of the Ships and Their Aircraft |author-link=Norman Friedman |first=Norman |last=Friedman |publisher=Naval Institute Press |date=1988}}
* {{cite book |title=British Aircraft Carriers: Design, Development and Service Histories |first=David |last=Hobbs |publisher=Seaforth Publishing |date=2013}} ("Hobbs BAC")
* {{cite book |title=The British Carrier Strike Fleet after 1945 |first=David |last=Hobbs |publisher=Seaforth Publishing |date=2015}} ("Hobbs BCS")
* {{cite book |title=[[Janes Fighting Ships|Janes Fighting Ships 1958-59]]}}
* {{cite book |title=HMS Centaur, 1943-1972 |first=Neil |last=McCart |publisher=Fan Publications |date=1997}}
* {{cite book |title=The Squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm |first=Ray |last=Sturtivant |first2=Theo |last2=Battle |publisher=Air-Britain Publications |date=1984}}
* {{cite book |title=British Naval Aircraft Since 1912 |first=Owen |last=Thetford |publisher=Putnam |date=1982}}
* {{cite web |title=Royal Navy Aircraft Carriers, Part 3 |first=A.C. |last=Walton |url=http://www.btinternet.com/~a.c.walton/navy/rn-cv3.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011224729/http://www.btinternet.com/~a.c.walton/navy/rn-cv3.html |archive-date=11 October 2012 |df=dmy-all }}

==External links==
* [http://www.maritimequest.com/warship_directory/great_britain/pages/aircraft_carriers/hms_centaur_r06.htm Maritimequest HMS Centaur photo gallery]
* [http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/hms_centaur.htm More photos]
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20100619102856/http://fleetairarmarchive.net/Ships/Centaur.html FAA Archive article on HMS ''Centaur'']}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20131214012706/http://www.bulwarkassoc.co.uk/eastleigh/gallery/gallery.htm HMS Bulwark Albion Centaur Photo Gallery]

{{Centaur class aircraft carrier}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Centaur (R06)}}
[[Category:Centaur-class aircraft carriers]]
[[Category:Ships built in Belfast]]
[[Category:1947 ships]]
[[Category:World War II aircraft carriers of the United Kingdom]]<!-- construction begun during WWII -->
[[Category:Cold War aircraft carriers of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Ships built by Harland and Wolff]]