HMS Unicorn (I72) was a modified Audacious-class aircraft carrier of the Royal Navy. Originally laid down as a light fleet carrier during World War II, the vessel was redesigned during construction to serve as an aircraft maintenance and repair ship, intended to support front-line carriers by repairing, servicing, and delivering aircraft rather than operating its own air wing in combat.
Launched in November 1941 and commissioned in March 1943, HMS Unicorn was built by Harland and Wolff in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Although equipped with a flight deck and hangar facilities, her primary role was logistical and support-oriented. She served in various theaters during World War II, including operations in the Indian Ocean and support for Allied landings in Europe.
After the war, HMS Unicorn was placed in reserve but was later recommissioned during the Korean War (1950–1953) to provide aircraft transport and maintenance support. Her service during this conflict included ferrying aircraft and acting as a repair depot for carrier-based aircraft operating in the region.
Following her return from Korean operations, HMS Unicorn was decommissioned and eventually sold for scrap in 1960. The vessel never saw combat in a traditional carrier role but played a significant support function in both World War II and the Korean War.
HMS Unicorn was not preserved. No part of the ship remains afloat or on public display as of the latest available records.