HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21) was a Majestic-class light aircraft carrier that served the Royal Canadian Navy from 1948 to 1957. Originally ordered by the Royal Navy during World War II, she was a product of the 1942 design modifications that enhanced the original Colossus-class ships. The Majestic class featured design improvements, including a strengthened deck capable of handling heavier aircraft up to 20,000 pounds, larger aircraft elevators measuring 54 by 34 feet, and internal subdivisions aimed at survivability and crew accommodations. Constructed by Harland and Wolff in Belfast, Magnificent was laid down on July 29, 1943, with yard number 1228, and launched on November 16, 1944. She measured 698 feet (213 meters) in length, had a beam of 80 feet (24.4 meters), and a draught of 25 feet (7.6 meters). Displacing approximately 15,700 long tons (16,000 tons), she was powered by four Admiralty three-drum boilers driving Parsons geared steam turbines, generating 40,000 shaft horsepower, and reaching a top speed of 24 knots. Her armament included 24 2-pounder guns and 19 Bofors 40 mm anti-aircraft guns. The ship was equipped with radar systems such as Type 281, Type 293, and two Type 277 installations. Her complement was around 1,100 personnel, including her air group. Magnificent operated both fixed-wing aircraft—Sea Furies, Firefly IVs, and later Firefly Vs—and rotary-wing aircraft, including Sikorsky H04S helicopters. In service, Magnificent participated in various training exercises, port visits, and NATO operations, notably the NATO Exercise Mainbrace in 1952 and the Fleet Review for Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953. She also saw a significant role in 1956, transporting Canadian troops and supplies to Egypt as part of the United Nations Emergency Force during the Suez Crisis. Her last flight operations occurred in 1956, with her aircraft making the final fixed-wing flight from her deck. Decommissioned in 1957, Magnificent was returned to the Royal Navy and placed in reserve until her scrapping in 1965 at Faslane, Scotland. Her service marked a key period in post-war Canadian naval aviation, though her inability to operate jet aircraft led to her replacement by HMCS Bonaventure.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.