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HMAS ''Melbourne'' (R21) was a ''Majestic''-class light aircraft carrier of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Operating from 1955 until 1982, she was the third and final conventional aircraft carrier to serve in the RAN. ''Melbourne'' was the only British Commonwealth naval vessel to sink two friendly warships in peacetime collisions.〔 The ship was laid down for the Royal Navy as the lead ship of the ''Majestic'' class in April 1943, and was launched as HMS ''Majestic'' (R77) in February 1945. At the end of World War II, work on the ship was suspended until she was purchased by the RAN in 1947. At the time of purchase, it was decided to incorporate new aircraft carrier technologies into the design, making ''Melbourne'' the third ship to be constructed with an angled flight deck. Delays in construction and integrating the enhancements meant that the carrier was not commissioned until 1955. ''Melbourne'' never fired a shot in anger during her career, having only peripheral, non-combat roles in relation to the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation and the Vietnam War. However, she was involved in two major collisions with allied vessels. On the evening of 10 February 1964, ''Melbourne'' collided with and sank when the ''Daring''-class destroyer altered course across her bow. Eighty-two of ''Voyager''s personnel were killed, and two Royal Commissions were held to investigate the incident. The second collision occurred in the early morning of 3 June 1969, when ''Melbourne'' collided with and sank the ''Allen M. Sumner''-class destroyer in similar circumstances. Seventy-four United States Navy (USN) personnel died, and a joint USN–RAN Board of Inquiry was held. These incidents, along with several minor collisions, shipboard accidents, and aircraft losses, led to the reputation that ''Melbourne'' was jinxed.〔 ''Melbourne'' was paid off from RAN service in 1982. A proposal to convert her for use as a floating casino failed, and a 1984 sale was cancelled, before she was sold for scrap in 1985 and towed to China for breaking. The scrapping was delayed so ''Melbourne'' could be studied by the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) as part of a secret project to develop a Chinese aircraft carrier and used to train PLAN aviators in carrier flight operations.〔 ==Construction and acquisition== ''Melbourne'' was constructed by Vickers-Armstrongs at their Naval Construction Yard in Barrow-in-Furness, England.〔Hobbs, ''HMAS Melbourne (II) – 25 Years On'', p. 5〕 The ship was laid down as HMS ''Majestic'' on 15 April 1943, and was launched on 28 February 1945 by Lady Anderson, the wife of Sir John Anderson, the British Chancellor of the Exchequer.〔 Following the end of World War II, the Admiralty ordered the suspension of many British shipbuilding projects, including the fitting out of ''Majestic'' and her five sister ships.〔 Construction resumed in 1946, and major modifications to the design were incorporated.〔 A review by the Australian Government's Defence Committee held after recommended that the post-war forces of the RAN be structured around a Task Force incorporating multiple aircraft carriers.〔Donohue, ''From Empire Defence to the Long Haul'', p. 33〕 Initial plans were for three carriers, with two active and a third in reserve, although funding cuts led to the purchase of only two carriers in June 1947: ''Majestic'' and sister ship HMS ''Terrible'', for the combined cost of AU£2.75 million, plus stores, fuel, and ammunition.〔〔Donohue, ''From Empire Defence to the Long Haul'', pp. 38, 45–7〕 As ''Terrible'' was the closer of the two ships to completion, she was finished without modification, and was commissioned into the RAN on 16 December 1948 as .〔 Work progressed on ''Majestic'' at a slower rate, as she was upgraded with the latest technology and equipment.〔 The ''Colossus''-class carrier was loaned to the RAN from 13 November 1952 until 12 August 1955 to cover ''Majestic''s absence.〔Donohue, ''From Empire Defence to the Long Haul'', p. 94〕 Labour difficulties, late delivery of equipment, additional requirements for Australian operations, and the prioritisation of merchant shipping over naval construction delayed the completion of ''Majestic''.〔Donohue, ''From Empire Defence to the Long Haul'', p. 149〕〔Stevens et al., ''The Royal Australian Navy'', p. 165〕 Incorporation of the new systems and enhancements caused the cost of the RAN carrier acquisition program to increase to AU£8.3 million.〔 Construction and fitting out did not finish until October 1955.〔 As the carrier neared completion, a commissioning crew was formed in Australia and first used to return ''Vengeance'' to the United Kingdom.〔''HMAS (ex-HMS) Vengeance'', Sea Power Centre〕 The completed carrier was commissioned into the RAN as HMAS ''Majestic'' on 26 October 1955.〔Cassells, ''The Capital Ships'', p. 84〕 Two days later, the ship was renamed ''Melbourne'' by Lady White, the wife of Sir Thomas White, the Australian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, and recommissioned.〔Hall, ''HMAS Melbourne'', pp. 72–3〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「HMAS Melbourne (R21)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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