View source for HMCS Magnificent

{{Short description|Majestic-class light aircraft carrier}}
{{other ships|HMS Magnificent}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=August 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21) underway c1950.jpeg
|Ship caption=HMCS ''Magnificent'' circa 1950.
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country=United Kingdom
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|United Kingdom|naval}}
|Ship name= ''Magnificent''
|Ship namesake=
|Ship ordered=16 October 1942
|Ship awarded=
|Ship builder=[[Harland and Wolff]], [[Belfast]]
|Ship original cost=
|Ship yard number=1228
|Ship way number=
|Ship laid down=29 July 1943
|Ship launched=16 November 1944
|Ship sponsor=
|Ship christened=
|Ship completed=
|Ship fate=Loaned to Canada, 1948
|Ship notes=
|Ship badge=
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=title
|Ship country=Canada
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|Canada|naval-1911}}
|Ship name= ''Magnificent''
|Ship acquired=January 1945
|Ship commissioned=21 March 1948
|Ship recommissioned=
|Ship decommissioned=14 June 1957
|Ship maiden voyage= 
|Ship renamed=
|Ship reclassified=
|Ship refit=
|Ship struck=1961
|Ship reinstated=
|Ship homeport= [[Halifax, Nova Scotia]]
|Ship identification=CVL 21
|Ship motto="We stand on guard"{{sfn|Arbuckle|1987|p=63}}
|Ship nickname= "The Maggie"
|Ship honours=* The Saints 1782
* Dardanelles 1915{{sfn|Arbuckle|1987|p=63}}
|Ship fate=Returned to UK, scrapped in Faslane, July 1965
|Ship notes=
|Ship badge=Purpure, a sun in splendour or on which a maple leaf gules{{sfn|Arbuckle|1987|p=63}}
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship class={{sclass|Majestic|aircraft carrier}}
|Ship displacement={{convert|15700|LT|t|lk=in}}
|Ship length={{convert|698|ft|m|1|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam={{convert|80|ft|m|1|abbr=on}}
|Ship draught={{convert|25|ft|m|1|abbr=on}}
|Ship power=
|Ship propulsion=4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, [[Parsons Marine Steam Turbine Company|Parsons]] geared [[steam turbine]]s, {{convert|40000|shp|lk=on|abbr=on}}
|Ship speed={{convert|24|kn|lk=in}}
|Ship range=
|Ship endurance=
|Ship complement=1,100 (including air group)
|Ship sensors=* [[Type 281 radar]]
* Type 293 radar
* 2 × Type 277 radars
|Ship EW=
|Ship armament=* 24 × [[QF 2-pounder naval gun|2-pounder]] [[Anti-aircraft warfare|AA guns]]
* 19 × [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60|Bofors 40 mm gun]]s
|Ship armour=
|Ship aircraft= 37 - [[Fairey Firefly]] and [[Hawker Sea Fury]]
|Ship aircraft facilities=
|Ship notes=
}}
|}

'''HMCS ''Magnificent''''' (CVL 21) was a {{sclass|Majestic|aircraft carrier|0}} light [[aircraft carrier]] that served the [[Royal Canadian Navy]] from 1948–1957. Initially ordered by the [[Royal Navy]] during [[World War II]], the Royal Canadian Navy acquired the ''Magnificent'' while waiting for another aircraft carrier to be completed to their needs and it entered service in 1948 replacing in service [[HMS Warrior (R31)|HMCS ''Warrior'']] which had been loaned for two years by the RN.

''Magnificent'' was generally referred to as ''Maggie'' in Canadian service. In 1956, Canada received [[HMCS Bonaventure|HMCS ''Bonaventure'']] and  ''Magnificent'' returned to the United Kingdom in 1956, where it remained [[Reserve Fleet (United Kingdom)|in reserve]] until being [[Ship breaking|scrapped]] in 1965.

==Description and construction==
{{see also|1942 Design Light Fleet Carrier}}
The 1942 Design Light Fleet carrier was divided into the original ten ''Colossus''-class ships, followed by the five ''Majestic''-class ships, which had some design changes that accommodated larger and heavier aircraft. The changes reduced the weight of petrol and fuel storage by reducing them to 75,000 gallons, to offset the additional weight from strengthening of the deck{{sfn|Chesneau|1980|p=22}} to operate aircraft as heavy as {{convert|20000|lb|kg}}. Further improvements over the ''Colossus'' class included larger [[Elevator#Aircraft elevators|aircraft elevators]] ({{convert|54|x|34|ft|m|disp=comma}}) and improvements made to internal subdivisions for survivability purposes and accommodations.{{sfn|Hobbs|2013|p=199}}
{{stack|[[File:Majestic class carriers under construction 1944.jpg|thumb|''Magnificent'' (left) under construction]]}}

The ship was {{convert|698|ft|m|1}} long with a [[Beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|80|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} and a [[Draft (ship)|draught]] of {{convert|25|ft|m|1|abbr=on}}.{{sfn|Macpherson|Barrie|2002|p=237}} The carrier [[Displacement (ship)|displaced]] {{convert|15700|LT|t|lk=on}}.{{sfn|Hobbs|2013|p=199}} The ship was powered by steam from four Admiralty [[three-drum boiler]]s. This propelled two [[Parsons Marine Steam Turbine Company|Parsons]] geared [[steam turbine]]s driving two shafts creating {{convert|40000|shp|lk=on}}.{{sfn|Chesneau|1980|p=22}} ''Magnificent'' had a top speed of {{convert|24|kn|lk=in}}.{{sfn|Macpherson|Barrie|2002|p=237}}

The aircraft carrier was armed with 24 [[QF 2-pounder naval gun|2-pounder]] and 19 [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60|Bofors 40 mm]] guns for [[Anti-aircraft warfare|anti-aircraft]] defence.{{sfn|Chesneau|1980|p=22}}  ''Majestic''-class carriers were fitted out with [[Type 281 radar|Type 281]], [[Type 293 radar|Type 293]] and two [[Type 277 radar]] installations. The ship had a complement of 1,100, including the air group.{{sfn|Hobbs|2013|p=199}}

The third ship of the ''Majestic'' class, ''Magnificent'' was ordered 16 October 1942. The order was placed with [[Harland and Wolff]] in [[Belfast]] who were also constructing the ''Colossus''-class ships {{HMS|Glory|R62|2}} and {{HMS|Warrior|R31|2}}.{{sfn|Hobbs|2013|pp=205–206}} ''Magnificent'' was [[Keel laying|laid down]] on 29 July 1943 with the [[yard number]] 1228 and [[Ship naming and launching|launched]] on 16 November 1944.{{sfn|Hobbs|2013|pp=205–206}}

===Aircraft===
[[File:Hawker Sea Fury ExCC.jpg|thumb|left|A Hawker Sea Fury and a Fairey Firefly aboard ''Magnificent'' circa 1947.]]
''Magnificent'' operated both fixed and [[rotary-wing]] [[aircraft]]. In preparation for her joining the Royal Canadian Navy, the two squadrons formerly assigned to ''Warrior'', [[803 Naval Air Squadron|803]] and [[825 Naval Air Squadron|825]] Squadrons, were designated 19th Air Group and embarked [[Hawker Sea Fury|Sea Furies]] and [[Fairey Firefly|Firefly IVs]] respectively. 883 (fighter) and 826 (torpedo bomber/reconnaissance) Squadrons were re-activated and formed the 18th Carrier Air Group. They embarked [[Supermarine Seafire|Seafires]] and older model Fireflies respectively.{{sfn|Milner|2010|p=168}}

In 1950, the Canadian government purchased 75 [[Grumman TBF Avenger]]s from the [[United States Navy]] for use on ''Magnificent''. They were intended to replace the Fireflies in 825 and 826 Squadrons.{{sfn|Milner|2010|p=209}} In May 1951, the squadrons were renumbered with 18 Air Group becoming 30 Air Group with 883 Squadron becoming 871 Squadron and 826 Squadron becoming 881 Squadron. 19 Air Group became 31 (Support) Air Group with its squadrons being renumbered from 803 and 825 becoming 870 and 880 respectively.{{sfn|Hobbs|2013|pp=205–206}}

In 1955, the RCN purchased [[Sikorsky H-19 Chickasaw|Sikorsky H04S]] helicopters and equipped them with dunking sonars. The first squadron, HS-50, embarked aboard ''Magnificent'' in July 1955.{{sfn|Milner|2010|p=212}} In September 1955, the Canadian navy began using United States Navy-style designations for its air units. VF-871 was composed of Sea Furies and VS-881 comprised Avengers. In February 1956, ''Magnificent'' embarked a second helicopter unit, HU-21.{{sfn|Hobbs|2013|pp=205–206}}

==Acquisition==
[[File:HMCS Magnificent MIKAN 4821170.jpg|thumb|HMCS ''Magnificent'' in June 1954]]
In May 1944, the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) intended to expand its fleet in size of ships if it were to take on a larger role in the Pacific theatre.{{sfn|Macpherson|Barrie|2002|p=237}} In October, the RCN offered to exchange the American-built [[escort carrier]]s the RCN was managing, the operational {{HMS|Puncher|D79|2}} and the heavily damaged (did not return to service) {{HMS|Nabob|D77|2}}, with the intention to acquire larger aircraft carriers from the Royal Navy.{{sfn|Milner|2010|p=140}} The six ''Majestic''-class ships were considered surplus to Royal Navy plans, and the three furthest along in construction were offered for loan.{{sfn|Hobbs|2013|p=199}}

In January 1945 the RCN negotiated the loan of two ships, {{HMS|Warrior|R31|2}} (''Colossus'' class) and ''Magnificent'', with the option to purchase at a later date.{{sfn|Macpherson|Barrie|2002|p=237}} The government approved the deal in February 1945.{{sfn|Milner|2010|p=140}} As ''Warrior'' was nearly complete, having been built in a hurry to serve in the Pacific Theater of war and not for operation in cold climates,{{sfn|Milner|2010|p=168}} she was the first of the two transferred to the RCN and commissioned as HMCS ''Warrior'' on 24 January 1946. She officially joined the Canadian Atlantic Fleet on 23 March,{{sfn|Hobbs|2013|p=320}}{{sfn|Milner|2010|p=162}} but required further work to address builder's defects. The ship had problems with her unheated equipment during operations in cold [[North Atlantic]] waters off eastern Canada during 1946, and she was transferred to the Canadian Pacific Fleet, arriving in [[Esquimalt]], British Columbia, in December 1946. While undergoing repairs in January 1947, the RCN was examining the overall impact of reduced defence spending and manning constraints, and came to the conclusion that they could not operate two aircraft carriers. Negotiations began to return ''Warrior'' when ''Magnificent'' became ready, with the RCN deeming ''Warrior'' unfit for service due to her lack of heating. As ''Magnificent'' was still under construction, all preparations were included to make her fully capable of operating in cold climates. The carrier was [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] into the Royal Canadian Navy on 21 March 1948,{{sfn|Macpherson|Barrie|2002|p=237}} and ''Warrior'' was decommissioned two days later as an RCN ship and returned to the RN, which commissioned her into RN service a few months later.{{sfn|Blackman|1953|p=17}}

==Operational history==
[[File:TBM-3 over HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21).jpeg|thumb|right|An Avenger torpedo bomber flies past ''Magnificent'' in 1953]]
Following her arrival in Halifax on 1 June 1948, ''Magnificent'' performed workups. During workups she lost two aircraft.{{sfn|Hobbs|2013|pp=205–206}} She was deployed in September 1948 to the [[Hudson Strait]] in one of her first missions.{{sfn|Milner|2010|p=168}} With the destroyers {{HMCS|Nootka|R96|2}} and {{HMCS|Haida|G63|2}}, the aircraft carrier sailed on a training cruise to the Ungava peninsula in [[Quebec]], halting at [[Kangiqsujuaq|Wakeham Bay, Quebec]]. From there the two destroyers left the aircraft carrier and toured the north, becoming the first RCN warships to penetrate [[Hudson Bay]].<ref>{{cite magazine |title=In Hudson's Wake |magazine=The Crowsnest |publisher=King's Printer |location=Ottawa, Ontario |number=1 |volume=1 |date=November 1948 |pages=4–5}}</ref> In January 1949, ''Magnificent'' sailed to the United Kingdom to embark Firefly Vs that replaced the Firefly IVs of 825 Squadron. Upon the aircraft carrier's return, 825 Squadron was disembarked at [[CFB Shearwater|Dartmouth, Nova Scotia]] and 803, 883 and 826 Squadrons embarked for the training cruise to the Caribbean Sea.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=New Aircraft |magazine=The Crowsnest |publisher=King's Printer |location=Ottawa, Ontario |date=February 1949 |volume=1 |number=4 |pages=2}}</ref>

===1949 'mutiny'===
{{see also|Royal Canadian Navy mutinies 1949}}

On 20 March 1949, while on fleet manoeuvres in the Caribbean, thirty-two aircraft handlers on ''Magnificent'' briefly refused an order to turn to morning cleaning stations to protest various grievances. The captain acted with great sensitivity to defuse the crisis, holding an informal discussion with the disgruntled crew members and carefully using the term "incident" instead of "[[mutiny]]", which could have resulted in severe legal consequences for the handlers.{{sfn|Milner|2010|p=192}}

At almost the same time, similar incidents happened on {{HMCS|Crescent|R16|2}}, at [[Nanjing]], China, and on {{HMCS|Athabaskan|R79|2}} at [[Manzanillo, Colima]], Mexico, both of whose captains acted similarly to that of ''Magnificent''.<ref>{{cite web |first=Richard |last=Gimblett |title=Dissension in the Ranks,'Mutinies' in the Royal Canadian Navy |url=http://www.navalandmilitarymuseum.org/resource_pages/controversies/rcn_mutinies.html |publisher=CFB Esquimalt Naval & Military Museum |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061008183759/http://www.navalandmilitarymuseum.org//resource_pages/controversies/rcn_mutinies.html |archive-date=8 October 2006}}</ref>

===Training and visits===
[[File:HMCS Magnifcent CVL-21.jpg|thumb|left|''Magnificent'' in the mid-1950s]]
Following the incident in the Caribbean, in June 1949, she went aground off [[Port Mouton, Nova Scotia]]. With the help of destroyers, ''Maggie'' was refloated and taken to [[Saint John, New Brunswick|Saint John]] for repairs.{{sfn|Hobbs|2013|pp=205–206}} With the outbreak of the [[Korean War]], ''Magnificent'' was withheld from service in that theatre on the grounds that she was already committed to [[NATO]] duties.{{sfn|Tracy|2012|p=116}}

''Magnificent'' spent most of her time performing port visits and training.{{sfn|Macpherson|Barrie|2002|p=237}}{{sfn|Milner|2010|p=201}} In December 1951, the carrier began a refit lasting until March 1952.{{sfn|Hobbs|2013|pp=205–206}} In September 1952, the carrier took part in the large [[NATO]] [[Exercise Mainbrace]], and again in 1953 as part of the exercise "Mariner".{{sfn|Macpherson|Barrie|2002|p=237}} In 1953 she took part in the [[Fleet Review]] to celebrate the [[Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II]].<ref>Souvenir Programme, ''Coronation Review of the Fleet, Spithead, 15th June 1953'', HMSO, Gale and Polden</ref> 16 aircraft (8 Sea Furies and 8 Avengers) took part in the fly past. In March 1954, ''Maggie'' underwent a refit at [[HMNB Portsmouth|Portsmouth]].{{sfn|Hobbs|2013|pp=205–206}} In 1955, ''Magnificent'' sailed to the Caribbean Sea for training exercises with the US and Royal Navies, escorted by {{HMCS|Micmac|R10|2}} and ''Haida'' and then sailed to Portsmouth before returning to Canada.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=HMCS Magnificent |magazine=The Crowsnest |publisher=Queen's Printer |location=Ottawa, Ontario |date=May 1955 |number=7 |volume=7 |pages=17}}</ref> The aircraft carrier, escorted by ''Micmac'', ''Haida'' and {{HMCS|Huron|G24|2}}, made a second cruise to Europe beginning in September, making several port visits and participating in two NATO naval exercises.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Ships Sail For Mediterranean |magazine=The Crowsnest |publisher=Queen's Printer |location=Ottawa, Ontario |date=November 1955 |volume=8 |number=1 |pages=2}}</ref> In 1956, she operated helicopters from her deck for the first time during a naval exercise.{{sfn|Milner|2010|p=212}} That same year, on 10 October, a TBF Avenger made the last fixed-wing flight from the deck of ''Magnificent''.{{sfn|Hobbs|2013|pp=205–206}}

===Suez Crisis===
On 6 November 1956, the [[Louis St. Laurent|St. Laurent government]] chose to join the [[United Nations Emergency Force]], agreeing to send ground forces to [[Egypt]].{{sfn|Carroll|2010|p=122}} ''Magnificent'' was chosen to transport the men and supplies to Egypt, being withdrawn from a training exercise to do so in November.{{sfn|Carroll|2010|pp=122–123}} In preparation for use as a transport, the ship{{'}}s weapons were stripped,{{sfn|Tracy|2012|p=127}} and her complement reduced to 600.{{sfn|Hobbs|2013|pp=205–206}} The initial plan was to embark the [[The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada|Queen's Own Rifles of Canada]], however that order was rescinded in December. ''Magnificent'' waited in Halifax until the end of the month{{sfn|Carroll|2010|pp=122–123}} when she embarked 406 Canadian troops and their vehicles{{sfn|Macpherson|Barrie|2002|p=237}} along with 4 [[Royal Canadian Air Force]] [[de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter]]s and a single H04S helicopter and sailed for Egypt.{{sfn|Hobbs|2013|pp=205–206}} She arrived in [[Port Said]] in early January 1957. This was to be her last role, carrying a large part of the Canadian [[peacekeeping]] force to Egypt, its vehicles parked on her deck.{{sfn|Carroll|2010|pp=122–123}} She returned to Canada in March.{{sfn|Hobbs|2013|pp=205–206}}

===Decommissioning===
[[File:HMCS Magnificent's bell.jpg|thumb|right|''Magnificent''{{'}}s bell, located at Shearwater Museum]]
''Magnificent'' left Canada in April 1957 and arrived at [[Plymouth]] on 14 June for decommissioning.{{sfn|Macpherson|Barrie|2002|p=237}} She was replaced in RCN service by {{HMCS|Bonaventure|CVL 22|2}}, another Royal Navy ''Majestic''-class carrier (HMS ''Powerful'') that had not been completed at the end of the war. She was returned to the RN in 1957 and placed in reserve until disposed of. ''Magnificent''{{'}}s inability to operate the modern jet aircraft of the time led to her return and replacement.{{sfn|Milner|2010|p=209}} The ship was placed on the disposal list in 1961 and remained there until 1965.{{sfn|Hobbs|2013|pp=205–206}} The ship was broken up at [[Faslane, Scotland]], in July 1965.{{sfn|Macpherson|Barrie|2002|p=237}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hazegray.org/navhist/carriers/canada.htm#cvl21 |title=World Aircraft Carriers List: Canada |website=Hazegrey.org |access-date=3 August 2015}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[List of aircraft carriers]]

== References ==

===Citations===
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
* {{cite book |last=Arbuckle |first=J. Graeme |year=1987 |title=Badges of the Canadian Navy |publisher=Nimbus Publishing |location=Halifax, Nova Scotia |isbn=0-920852-49-1 }}
* {{cite book |editor-last=Blackman |editor-first=Raymond V. B. |year=1953 |title=Jane's Fighting Ships 1953–54 |location=London |publisher=Sampson, Low and Marston |oclc=913556389 }}
* {{cite book |last=Carroll |first=Michael K. |year=2010 |title=Pearson's Peacekeepers: Canada and the United Nations Emergency Force, 1956–67 |publisher=UBC Press |isbn=9-780-7748-5886-1 }}
* {{cite book |editor-last=Chesneau |editor-first=Roger |year=1980 |title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946 |location=Greenwich, UK |publisher=Conway Maritime Press |isbn=0-85177-146-7 }}
* {{cite book |last=Hobbs |first=David |year=2013 |title=British Aircraft Carriers: Design, Development & Service Histories |publisher=Seaforth Publishing |location=Barnsley, UK |isbn=978-1-84832-138-0 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Macpherson |first1=Ken |last2=Barrie |first2=Ron |name-list-style=amp |year=2002 |title=The Ships of Canada's Naval Forces 1910-2002 |location=St Catharines, Ontario |edition=3rd |publisher=Vanwell Publishing |isbn=1-55125-072-1 }}
* {{cite book |last=Milner |first=Marc |year=2010 |title=Canada's Navy: the First Century |edition=2nd |publisher=University of Toronto Press |location=Toronto |isbn=978-0-8020-9604-3 }}
* {{cite book |last=Tracy |first=Nicolas |year=2012 |title=A Two-Edged Sword: The Navy as an Instrument of Canadian Foreign Policy |publisher=McGill-Queen's University Press |isbn=978-0-773-54051-4 }}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}

* [http://www.hazegray.org/navhist/canada/maggie/ The Canadian Navy of Yesterday & Today Photo Gallery: HMCS ''Magnificent'']
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061007040733/http://www.fleetairarmarchive.net/Ships/MAGNIFICENT.html HMCS ''Magnificent'' Light Fleet Carrier]

{{1942 design aircraft carrier}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Magnificent, HMCS}}
[[Category:Aircraft carriers of the Royal Canadian Navy]]
[[Category:Cold War aircraft carriers of Canada]]
[[Category:Majestic-class aircraft carriers of the Royal Canadian Navy]]
[[Category:Ships built in Belfast]]
[[Category:1944 ships]]
[[Category:World War II aircraft carriers of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Naval mutinies]]
[[Category:Ships built by Harland and Wolff]]
[[Category:Majestic-class aircraft carriers]]