On this day 19 March 1946
Published: 19 Mar 2013
The carrier Eagle was launched by Princess Elizabeth on 19 March 1946 but was not commissioned until 5 October 1951.
A 5.5 degree 'interim' angled flight deck was fitted in 1954-1955 with a mirror landing sight, but she retained her two hydraulic catapults forward as they were adequate for the light naval aircraft then in service. She took part in operations in Suez in 1956.
She had a major refit in 1959 and another in 1966 but the decision to reduce the RN fixed wing carrier fleet led to her being payed off in January 1972.