HNLMS Karel Doorman (R81) - Air Wing

Air Wing

First deploying as an attack carrier with 24 WW-II era propeller driven Fairey Firefly strike fighters and Hawker Sea Fury fighter/anti-ship aircraft, for sea rescue a Supermarine Sea Otter flying boat was carried, it was replaced by a Sikorsky S-51 helicopter.

From 1955-58, she operated with an ASW/Strike profile with up to 14 TBF Avenger ASW/torpedo bombers, 10 Hawker Sea Hawk fighters (a first generation naval jet fighter considered by the larger naval powers to be undersized and nearly obsolete at the time of delivery to the Dutch) and 2 S-58 ASW helicopters.

In 1960, the Royal Netherlands Navy received 17 Canadian built S-2 Trackers ASW aircraft formerly used by the Royal Canadian Navy. Changing roles to a dedicated NATO Antisubmarine warfare carrier, a wing of 8 Grumman S-2 Trackers and 6 S-58 ASW helicopters served aboard until the 1968 shipboard fire and removal from Dutch service.

From 1959, Dutch Sea Hawks were equipped with Sidewinder missiles that significantly enhanced and extended their air to air combat capabilities. While never engaged in combat, the aircraft were present as a carrier based deterrent during the 1962 New Guinea Indonesia crisis. They served aboard between 1957 to 1964 until the Doorman's overhaul, after which the attack role was eliminated and 22 aircraft were transferred to land based reserve storage - they were all retired from service by the end of the 1960s after the sale of the Karel Doorman to Argentina.