| Navy | The Royal Navy |
| Type | Aircraft Carrier |
| Class | Colossus |
| Pennant | 15 |
| Built by | Vickers Armstrong (Tyne): Parsons |
| Ordered | 14 Mar 1942 |
| Laid down | 1 Jun 1942 |
| Launched | 30 Sep 1943 |
| Commissioned | 16 Dec 1944 |
| End service | 6 Aug 1946 |
| History | On 6 August 1946, HMS Colossus was transferred to France for a five year loan and renamed Arromanches. In 1951 Arromanches was purchased outright by France when the loan expired. By this time she had already made two deployments to Indo China, two further deployments followed before the collapse of the French military position in 1954. Later in 19541 Arromanches operated in the Mediterranean where she participated in the Suez operations in 1956 flying Corsairs and Avengers. During 1957-1958 Arromanches underwent a major modification and received a four degree angled flight deck and a mirror landing device. In 1968 she underwent another major refit, this time Arromanches was re-designated a helicopter carrier with multi mission capabilities including ASW roles, fast operational transport and training. In 1974 Arromanches was withdrawn from service. She was scrapped at Toulon in 1978. |
Commands listed for HMS Colossus (15)
Please note that we're still working on this section
and that we only list Commanding Officers for the duration of the Second World War.
| Commander | From | To | |
| 1 | Capt. Graham Henry Stokes, DSC, RN | 26 Jul 1944 | mid 1946 |
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Notable events involving Colossus include:
The page of HMS Colossus was last updated in January 2022.
1 Dec 1944
At 0900A/1, HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) is commissioned for trials at Newcastle on Tyne. (1)
5 Dec 1944
HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) proceeded down river, from her builders yard to North Shields. (1)
14 Dec 1944
HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) conducted trials off the Tyne during which she was escorted by the escort destroyer HMS Wolsey (Lt. F.W. Hayden, RN). (1)
15 Dec 1944
HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) departed North Shields for trails and passage to Rosyth. She was escorted by the escort destroyer HMS Verdun (Lt.Cdr. D. Parsons, RD, RNR). (1)
16 Dec 1944
HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) conducted trials in the Firth of Forth following which she was accepted from the shipyard. (1)
26 Dec 1944
HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) conducted D/G trials in the Firth of Forth following which she departed for Greenock. Around 1500A/26, when off the boom gate she was joined by the destroyers HMS Obedient (Lt.Cdr. H. Unwin, DSC and Bar, RN) and HMS Orwell (Lt.Cdr. J.R. Gower, DSC, RN) as escorts.
The destroyers parted company around 0620A/27.
Around 0915A/27, the frigate HMS Loch Fyne (Lt.Cdr. H.H.D. MacKillican, DSC, RD, RNR) joined as escort.
Around 1635A/27, HMS Loch Fyne parted company.
Around 1915A/27, HMS Colossus anchored off Greenock. (1)
28 Dec 1944
HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) conducted speed trials on the Arran measured mile. (1)
29 Dec 1944
HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) conducted steering trials in the Clyde area. (1)
30 Dec 1944
HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) conducted turning and speed trials in the Clyde area. (1)
31 Dec 1944
HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) conducted D/F calibration trials in the Clyde area. (1)
1 Jan 1945
HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) conducted D/F calibration trials in the Clyde area. (2)
2 Jan 1945
HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) conducted flying training exercises in the Clyde area. (2)
3 Jan 1945
HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) conducted flying training exercises in the Clyde area. (2)
4 Jan 1945
HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) conducted flying training exercises in the Clyde area. (2)
5 Jan 1945
HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) conducted flying training exercises in the Clyde area. (2)
6 Jan 1945
HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) conducted flying training exercises in the Clyde area. (2)
7 Jan 1945
HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) conducted flying training exercises in the Clyde area. (2)
13 Jan 1945
HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) conducted full speed trials and flying training exercises in the Clyde area. (2)
14 Jan 1945
HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) conducted flying training exercises in the Clyde area. (2)
15 Jan 1945
HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) conducted flying training exercises in the Clyde area. (2)
17 Jan 1945
HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) conducted flying training exercises in the Clyde area. (2)
20 Jan 1945
HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) conducted flying training exercises in the Clyde area. (2)
22 Jan 1945
HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) conducted flying training exercises in the Clyde area. (2)
23 Jan 1945
HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) conducted flying training exercises in the Clyde area. (2)
24 Jan 1945
HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) conducted flying training exercises in the Clyde area. (2)
25 Jan 1945
HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) conducted flying training exercises in the Clyde area. (2)
26 Jan 1945
HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) conducted flying training exercises in the Clyde area. (2)
27 Jan 1945
HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) conducted flying training exercises in the Clyde area. (2)
13 Feb 1945
HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) conducted full power trials and flying training exercises in the Clyde area. (3)
16 Feb 1945
HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) conducted compass swing trials and flying training exercises in the Clyde area. (3)
17 Feb 1945
HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) conducted D/F calibration trials off Greenock. (3)
19 Feb 1945
HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) conducted flying operations in the Clyde area. (3)
20 Feb 1945
HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) conducted flying operations between the Clyde and Belfast Lough. She was escorted by the frigates HMS Dart (Cdr. J.T. Jones, RD, RNR) and Cranstoun (A/Lt.Cdr. E.W. Rainey, RN).
They returned to Greenock early on 21 February 1945. (3)
21 Feb 1945
HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) conducted flying operations in the Clyde area. (3)
22 Feb 1945
HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) conducted flying operations in the Clyde area. (3)
23 Feb 1945
During 23/24 February 1945, HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) conducted (night) flying operations in the Clyde area. (3)
26 Feb 1945
HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) conducted flying operations in the Clyde area. (3)
5 Mar 1945
HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) conducted flying operations in the Clyde area. (4)
6 Mar 1945
HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) conducted flying operations in the Clyde area. (4)
7 Mar 1945
HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) conducted flying operations in the Clyde area. (4)
8 Mar 1945
HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) conducted flying operations in the Clyde area. (4)
9 Mar 1945
HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) conducted flying operations in the Clyde area. (4)
10 Mar 1945
HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) proceeded from Greemnock to Glasgow. (4)
12 Mar 1945
Around 1330A/12, the light aircraft carriers HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.J.H. Harcourt, CB, CBE, RN), HMS Vengeance (Capt. D.M.L. Neame, DSO and Bar, RN) and HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) departed the Clyde for Malta. They were escorted by the destroyers HMS Tartar (Capt. B. Jones, DSO and Bar, DSC, RN), HMS Ulysses (Lt.Cdr. B.G.B. Bordes, DSC, RN), HMCS Assiniboine (Cdr.(Retd.) E.L. Armstrong, RCN) and the frigates HMS Cotton (Lt.Cdr. I.W.T. Beloe, RN), HMS Inman (T/A/Lt.Cdr. H.E. Petre, RNR) and HMS Stockham (T/A/Lt.Cdr. B.C. Hamilton, RNR).
Around 0830A/15, HMS Cotton, HMS Inman and HMS Stockham parted company.
Around 1130A/15, the escort destroyer HMS Croome (A/Lt.Cdr. B.C. Ward, DSC, RN) joined company.
Around 1300A/16, the destroyers HMS Malcolm (Cdr. H. Lloyd-Williams, DSO, RNVR), HMS Verity (Lt.Cdr. C.G. Cowley, RN) and HMS Wolverine (A/Lt.Cdr. A.J.M. Miller, DSC, RNVR) joined company.
Around 1330A/17, the light aircraft carriers anchored in Gibraltar Bay.
Around 1500A/17, the light aircraft carriers weighed anchor to continue their passage to Malta. They were now escorted by HMS Ulysses. To the east of Gibraltar RDF exercises were carried out with the destroyer HMS Barfleur (Cdr. M.S. Townsend, DSO, DSC and Bar, OBE, RN).
Around 2215A/17, HMS Tartar rejoined company apparently having been delayed at Gibraltar.
Around 1000A/20, the fleet arrived at Malta. (5)
20 Mar 1945
Around 1200A/20, HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) departed Malta for Alexandria, apparently unescorted. (4)
22 Mar 1945
Around 1400B/22, HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) arrived at Alexandria from Malta.
At Alexandria she is taken in hand for dockyard work. (4)
26 Apr 1945
HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) is docked in AFD 5 at Alexandria. (6)
28 Apr 1945
HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) is undocked. (6)
2 May 1945
During 2/3 May 1945, HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) conducted flying exercises off Alexandria. She was escorted by the Italian destroyer Artigliere. (7)
4 May 1945
HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) conducted flying operations off Alexandria. (7)
7 May 1945
During 7/8 May 1945, HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) conducted flying operations off Alexandria. (7)
14 May 1945
HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) conducted flying operations off Alexandria. (7)
15 May 1945
HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) conducted flying operations off Alexandria. (7)
16 May 1945
HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) conducted flying operations off Alexandria. (7)
17 May 1945
During 17/18 May 1945, HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) conducted flying operations off Alexandria. (7)
22 May 1945
HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) conducted flying operations off Alexandria. (7)
27 May 1945
Around 1800C/27, the light aircraft carriers HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.J.H. Harcourt, CB, CBE, RN), HMS Vengeance (Capt. D.M.L. Neame, DSO and Bar, RN) and HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) departed Alexandria for Suez.
They passed the Suez Canal southbound the following day and arrived at Suez around 1815C/27. (8)
28 May 1945
Around 2215C/28, the light aircraft carriers HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.J.H. Harcourt, CB, CBE, RN), HMS Vengeance (Capt. D.M.L. Neame, DSO and Bar, RN) and HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) departed Suez for Aden. They were escorted by the destroyers HMS Tyrian (Cdr. R.H. Mills, RN) and HMS Tuscan (Lt.Cdr. P.B.N. Lewis, DSC, RN). (8)
1 Jun 1945
Around 1430C/1, HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.J.H. Harcourt, CB, CBE, RN), HMS Vengeance (Capt. D.M.L. Neame, DSO and Bar, RN), HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN), HMS Tyrian (Cdr. R.H. Mills, RN) and HMS Tuscan (Lt.Cdr. P.B.N. Lewis, DSC, RN) arrived at Aden from Suez. (9)
2 Jun 1945
Around 1130C/2, the light aircraft carriers HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.J.H. Harcourt, CB, CBE, RN), HMS Vengeance (Capt. D.M.L. Neame, DSO and Bar, RN), HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) and the destroyers HMS Tyrian (Cdr. R.H. Mills, RN) and HMS Tuscan (Lt.Cdr. P.B.N. Lewis, DSC, RN) departed Aden for Ceylon / Madras.
Around 1800C/2, the battleship HMS Duke of York (Capt. A.D. Nicholl, DSO, RN) joined company.
Around 0700FG/8, HMS Colossus and HMS Vengeance parted company to proceed to Madras and Trincomalee respectively. The other ships entered Colombo harbour later that morning. (9)
9 Jun 1945
Around 0625FG/9, HMS Vengeance (Capt. D.M.L. Neame, DSO and Bar, RN) and HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) parted company off Trincomalee. HMS Vengeance then entered harbour while HMS Colossus continued on towards Madras. (10)
10 Jun 1945
Around 1000FG/10, HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) arrived at Madras.
Around 2000FG/10, she departed Madras for Colombo. (11)
12 Jun 1945
Around 1430FG/12, HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) arrived at Colombo from Madras. Before entering harbour she ran over the D/G range. (11)
14 Jun 1945
Around 1055FG/14, HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) departed Colombo for Trincomalee. (11)
15 Jun 1945
Around 0945FG/15, HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) arrived at Trincomalee from Colombo. (11)
18 Jun 1945
Around 1130C/2, the light aircraft carriers HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.J.H. Harcourt, CB, CBE, RN), HMS Vengeance (Capt. D.M.L. Neame, DSO and Bar, RN) HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) and the destroyer HMS Tyrian (Cdr. R.H. Mills, RN) conducted exercises off Trincomalee. (9)
24 Jun 1945
Around 0930FG/24, HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) departed Trincomalee for Madras. On leaving harbour she first made runs over the D/G range.
Around 1750FG/24, the destroyer HMS Tyrian (Cdr. R.H. Mills, RN) joined company.
Around 1140FG/25, they arrived at Madras. (11)
25 Jun 1945
Around 1830FG/25, HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) and HMS Tyrian (Cdr. R.H. Mills, RN) departed Madras for Colombo and Trincomalee respectively.
Around 1030FG/26, HMS Tyrian was detached to Trincomalee. (11)
27 Jun 1945
Around 0900FG/27, HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) arrived at Colombo from Madras. (11)
3 Jul 1945
Around 1530FG/3, HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) departed Colombo for Madras. On leaving harbour some aircraft were flown on during which the Italian destroyer Carbiniere conducted plane guard duties.
The destroyer parted company around 1905FG/3. (12)
5 Jul 1945
Around 1030FG/5, HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) arrived at Madras from Colombo.
She departed for Trincomalee around 2100FG/5. (12)
6 Jul 1945
Around 1305FG/6, HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) arrived Trincomalee from Madras. (12)
7 Jul 1945
Around 0630FG/7, the battleship HMS Anson (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) departed Trincomalee for Fremantle. She first conducted underway refuelling exercises off Trincomalee.
Around 0730FG/7 the light carriers HMS Vengeance (Capt. D.M.L. Neame, DSO and Bar, RN), HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) and the destroyers HMS Tyrian (Cdr. R.H. Mills, RN) and HMS Tuscan (Lt.Cdr. P.B.N. Lewis, DSC, RN) also departed Trincomalee for Fremantle and joined HMS Anson.
They were joined around 1900FG/7 by the light carrier HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.J.H. Harcourt, CB, CBE, RN) which had departed Colombo around 0800FG/7.
HMS Anson joined the other ships around 0630FG/8.
En-route to Fremantle both destroyers refuelled from HMS Anson.
They arrived at Fremantle around 0800H, 16 July 1945. (13)
16 Jul 1945
Around 1745H/16, the battleship HMS Anson (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN), light carriers HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.J.H. Harcourt, CB, CBE, RN), HMS Vengeance (Capt. D.M.L. Neame, DSO and Bar, RN), Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) and the destroyers HMS Tyrian (Cdr. R.H. Mills, RN) and HMS Tuscan (Lt.Cdr. P.B.N. Lewis, DSC, RN) departed Fremantle for Sydney.
Around 2100H/16, HMS Anson was detached to fuel at Albany where she arrived around 1430H/17.
Around 1200H/18, HMS Anson departed Albany for Sydney.
All ships arrived at Sydney in the morning of 22 July except for HMS Tuscan which arrived in the afternoon and HMS Vengeance and HMS Colossus which entered Jervis Bay in the morning of 22 July.
HMS Vengeance and HMS Colossus proceeded from Jervis Bay to Sydney on 23 July. (13)
13 Aug 1945
HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) proceeded from Sydney to Jervis Bay. En-route flying operations were carried out during which HMS Tuscan (Lt.Cdr. P.B.N. Lewis, DSC, RN) conducted plane guard duties.
On arriving off Jervis Bay, HMS Tuscan parted company. (14)
14 Aug 1945
HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) proceeded from Jervis Bay to Sydney. (14)
15 Aug 1945
The aircraft carrier HMS Indomitable (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral C.H.J. Harcourt, CB, CBE, RN), light carriers HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN), HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN), HMS Vengeance (Capt. D.M.L. Neame, DSO and Bar, RN), light cruisers HMS Bermuda (Capt. J.S. Bethell, CBE, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral C. Moody, CB, RN), HMS Swiftsure (Capt. P.V. McLaughlin, RN) and the destroyers HMS Kempenfelt (Capt. E.G. McGregor, DSO, RN), HMS Whirlwind (Cdr. W.A.F. Hawkins, DSO, DSC, OBE, RN), HMS Ursa (Cdr. D.B. Wyburd, DSC, RN), HMS Tumult (Lt.Cdr. A.S. Pomeroy DSC, RN), HMS Tuscan (Lt.Cdr. P.B.N. Lewis, DSC, RN) and HMS Tyrian (Cdr. R.H. Mills, RN) departed Sydney for Manus where they arrived on 19 / 20 August 1945.
The following vessels arrived at Manus on 19 August 1945; HMS Indomitable, HMS Venerable, HMS Swiftsure, HMS Kempenfelt, HMS Whirlwind and HMS Ursa. The remaining vessels arrived on 20 August 1945. (15)
20 Aug 1945
Around 1800K/20, Task Unit 111.3, made up of the light cruiser carrier HMS Bermuda (Capt. J.S. Bethell, CBE, RN, flying the flag of R.M Servaes, CBE, RN), HMS Argonaut (Capt. W.P. McCarthy, RN), light aircraft carrier HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) and the destroyers HMS Tyrian (Cdr. R.H. Mills, RN), HMS Tumult (Lt.Cdr. A.S. Pomeroy DSC, RN) and HMS Tuscan (Lt.Cdr. P.B.N. Lewis, DSC, RN) departed Manus for Leyte.
Around 2100K/20, HMS Tyrian and HMS Tuscan parted company to return to Manus. (16)
23 Aug 1945
Around 1930I/23, Task Unit 111.3, made up of the light cruiser carrier HMS Bermuda (Capt. J.S. Bethell, CBE, RN, flying the flag of R.M Servaes, CBE, RN), HMS Argonaut (Capt. W.P. McCarthy, RN), light aircraft carrier HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) and the destroyer HMS Tumult (Lt.Cdr. A.S. Pomeroy DSC, RN) arrived at Leyte.
[They were later to be deployed in the Formosa / Shanghai area.] (16)
Sources
- ADM 53/119165
- ADM 53/121135
- ADM 53/121136
- ADM 53/121137
- ADM 53/121137 + ADM 53/122446 + ADM 53/122458
- ADM 53/121138
- ADM 53/121139
- ADM 53/121139 + ADM 53/122448 + ADM 53/122460
- ADM 53/121140 + ADM 53/122449 + ADM 53/122461
- ADM 53/121140 + ADM 53/122461
- ADM 53/121140
- ADM 53/121141
- ADM 53/120838 + ADM 53/121141 + ADM 53/122450 + ADM 53/122461
- ADM 53/121142
- ADM 53/120982 + ADM 53/121564 + ADM 53/122451 + ADM 53/122463 + ADM 187/51
- ADM 53/120872 + ADM 53/120982 + ADM 53/121142
ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.