Laid down at Vickers Armstrong shipyards (England) in June 1942, launched in December 1944 and incorporated into the Royal Navy as the Colossus, this light battle aircraft carrier, prototype of a series of nine aircraft carriers, was leased to France in 1946 for a period of five years. Renamed Arromanches, the French Navy finally acquired in 1951.
Displacement: 14,000 tons Washington 17000 tonnes at full load
Dimensions: length 211.25 m, width 24.50 m at the waterline;
Draught under load: 7.15 m
Speed: 25 knots
Propulsion: 4 boilers kind Admiralty 3 to 28 kg body stamped 360 overheating
Machines: Turbines Parsons gear, two propellers;
Power: 40,000 hp
Fuel: 3200 tonnes
Crew: 42 officers, 777 petty officers and sailors, not including aero personal, which is about 200 men.
Armament: 43 guns of 40 mm AA (6 pom poms quadruple Vickers(QF 2-pounder) and 19 Bofors mounts on singles);

Aviation: 24 aircraft and one helicopter rescue.

Photo : Old postcard H Emery - Toulon.