In order to allow speedy build, they were designed to mercantile rather than navy hull standards, while armour protection and long-range anti aircraft guns were not fitted.

[5][8][9] On 26 July 1946, Triumph, accompanied by the destroyer Rapid, visited the Soviet port of Kronstadt, near Leningrad, taking part in the Navy Day celebrations.

The C-class destroyer Consort and the cruiser Jamaica, who would both have prominent roles during the Korean War, as well as the Australian River-class frigate Shoalhaven, and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanker Wave Conqueror, joined Triumph as she left the base.

[14] On 28 July, an almost tragic event occurred, when a flight of Seafires were deployed to an area to investigate possible enemy air activity.

Further combat air patrol (CAP) and anti-submarine operations continued until she left Korean waters for Kure in Japan, where she spent her eight days there in refit.

On 9 July, Triumph was back on the west coast of Korea, accompanied by the cruiser Kenya, the destroyer Comus and two Canadian warships, Athabaskan and Sioux.

Over the next few days, Seafires destroyed two North Korean gunboats, attacked railway tracks, small coaster vessels and oil tanks.

On 23 August, Triumph, with just nine operational aircraft left, returned to Sasebo, Japan, where she joined two other carriers, Valley Forge and Philippine Sea.

While in harbour the North Koreans launched an unexpected air attack, hitting Comus, causing damage to her hull and killing one sailor in the process.

When she got there, her aircraft performed the now routine CAP missions along with reconnaissance duties and bombardment spotting for the Fiji-class cruiser Jamaica and the destroyer Charity.

After 6 September, Triumph, accompanied by Athabaskan, Warramunga and Bataan, proceeded to the east coast of Korea to replace the carriers of the US 7th Fleet.

On the 9th, bad weather forced operations to limit themselves to just eight sorties, with four Fireflies attacking the airfield at Koryo, causing a large amount of damage.

Thanks to the spotting by the Fireflies, Jamaica launched a devastating bombardment on North Korean positions, destroying a hidden cache of weapons, which resulted in the top of a hill being obliterated, creating a large plume of smoke that reached 8,000 feet.

On 17 September, North Korean aircraft bombed the American warship Rochester, as well as strafing the British cruiser Jamaica, killing one and wounding two.

She spent two days there in dry dock for temporary repairs, before departing for Hong Kong on 25 September, her role in the conflict being replaced by Theseus.

She carried two terms each of 100 RN and Commonwealth cadets on three cruises each year, in the Spring to the West Indies, in the summer to Scandinavia and around the UK, and in the autumn to the Mediterranean.

The success of these trials led to the development of the now-standard design, with additional areas of the flight deck added to the port side of the ship.

[16] This terminated in her captain, Varyl Begg, carrying out a sternboard down the Neva against a beam gale after her hastily laid Soviet sternbuoy had dragged.