HMAS Melbourne

In 1985, Australia decommissioned its only aircraft carrier (HMAS Melbourne) and sold it for scrap to a Chinese company. It was towed to China where, before scrapping, it was studied extensively by the military to help design China’s first aircraft carrier. The Chinese even asked the Australian government for the blueprints but this request was “politely rejected.” Apparently, the ship was not fully broken down until 2002.