The first of the class, "Audacious" was laid down at Harland & Wolff's Belfast shipyard on 24 October 1942. Construction was slowed by the need to concentrate resources on more urgent requirements, such as the construction of landing craft, and none of the ships of the class had been launched when end of the Second World War brought large cuts in the shipbuilding programme for the Royal Navy. The third ship of the class, "Eagle", which was only 26% complete, was cancelled in December 1945, with "Audacious" being renamed "Eagle" on 21 January 1946. The newly renamed "Eagle" was launched by Princess Elizabeth on 19 March 1946, but construction of the two carriers was slowed for three years while the Royal Navy's requirements for aircraft carriers was reviewed, it being eventually decided to complete "Eagle" to a similar standard to that planned in 1945, while "Ark Royal" would be completed to an improved design. "Eagle" was finally completed on 1 October 1951.