The technical details of British warships were recorded in a set of
plans produced by the builders on completion of every ship. Known as the
as fitted general arrangements, these drawings represented the exact
appearance and fitting of the ship as it entered service. Intended to
provide a permanent reference for the Admiralty and the dockyards, these
highly detailed plans were drawn with exquisite skill in multi-colored
inks and washes that represent the acme of the draughtsman's art. HMS
Victorious was a ship with two almost separate incarnations - as built
in 1941 she was one of a new type of armored aircraft carrier which saw
arduous wartime service; post-war the ship underwent a massive
reconstruction lasting nearly eight years that saw her recommission in
1958 as one of the best equipped carriers in the world.