Aircraft Carriers III
- Thread starter Jeff Head
- Start date
The Indian Navy carrier, INS Viraat, R22, was originally the HMS Hermes, R12, built by the UK as a Centaur class carrier.
She was laid down in 1944, but with the end of World War II, was not launched until 1953...and ultimately not commissioned in the Royal Navy until 1959 as the HMS Hermes, R12.
As such she served with distinction in the Royal Navy until 1984. She was actually scheduled to be decommissioned in 1982, but then Argentina invaded and took the Falkland Islands. Hermes was then made the flagship of the British force sent to the south Atlantic to retake the Falklands. She served with distinction in that role...and was ultimately decommissioned in 1984.
India bought her and she was commissioned into the Indian Navy as INS Viraat, R22, on May 12, 1987.
So she has been serving in the Indian Navy now for 28 years. She served the Royal Navy from 1959 until 1984, a total of 25 years. Her total service time is now 53 years, though she herself is now 56 years old. she will add another year to that total.
By comparison, the longest serving US aircraft carrier was the USS Enterprise, CVN-65, which was commissioned on November 25, 1961 and decommissioned on December 1, 2012. She served just over 51 years.
Viraat is now scheduled to become a museum ship for India. That is good news. She will make a wonderful museum ship, like the .
Of those five US museum carriers, the longest serving were the:
USS Lexington, CV-16: 48 years
USS Midway, CV-41: 47 years
The super carrier, USS Kitty Hawk, CV-63, served for 48 years. The nuclear carrier Nimitz, CVN-68, has been serving since 1972, a total now of 43 years.
Viraat has served longer than any of them, and, as stated, will add another year to that total before she is retired.
She was laid down in 1944, but with the end of World War II, was not launched until 1953...and ultimately not commissioned in the Royal Navy until 1959 as the HMS Hermes, R12.
As such she served with distinction in the Royal Navy until 1984. She was actually scheduled to be decommissioned in 1982, but then Argentina invaded and took the Falkland Islands. Hermes was then made the flagship of the British force sent to the south Atlantic to retake the Falklands. She served with distinction in that role...and was ultimately decommissioned in 1984.
India bought her and she was commissioned into the Indian Navy as INS Viraat, R22, on May 12, 1987.
So she has been serving in the Indian Navy now for 28 years. She served the Royal Navy from 1959 until 1984, a total of 25 years. Her total service time is now 53 years, though she herself is now 56 years old. she will add another year to that total.
By comparison, the longest serving US aircraft carrier was the USS Enterprise, CVN-65, which was commissioned on November 25, 1961 and decommissioned on December 1, 2012. She served just over 51 years.
Viraat is now scheduled to become a museum ship for India. That is good news. She will make a wonderful museum ship, like the .
Of those five US museum carriers, the longest serving were the:
USS Lexington, CV-16: 48 years
USS Midway, CV-41: 47 years
The super carrier, USS Kitty Hawk, CV-63, served for 48 years. The nuclear carrier Nimitz, CVN-68, has been serving since 1972, a total now of 43 years.
Viraat has served longer than any of them, and, as stated, will add another year to that total before she is retired.
GREAT picture of the Spanish Navy's Juan Carlos, L61. Their nomenclature calls it a Strategic Projection Ship...but it would normally be called an LHD...err, with a ski-jump.
This picture is a great PR pic showing her with eight Matador Harrier IIs on deck.
This picture is a great PR pic showing her with eight Matador Harrier IIs on deck.
navyreco
Senior Member
Remember that LoR supposedly sent by Indian MoD last week with 1 week delay...
Turned out to be Indian media BS (one again)...
I was at a press conference with DCNS CEO yesterday and I asked him about it:
During the press conference, Navy Recognition asked Hervé Guillou about the Letter of Request supposedly submitted last week by the Indian Ministry of Defense for IAC-2 (indigenous aircraft carrier number 2). DCNS CEO started his answer with humor: "The mail must be slow, we are still waiting for it". Hervé Guillou then explained "It is clear that India has an aircraft carrier need and globaly a need for about 200 new vessels of all types until 2030. But regarding the aircraft carrier, the program is not as advanced as reported in the Indian press. We are discussing with the Indian Navy and it is clear that DCNS is at the forefront of the few companies able to be a supplier in this field. We are very interested in this matter, but it has not started yet".
Finally, asked about the local partners, Herbé Guillou explained that DCNS has already worked closely for other projects with Reliance (Pipavav) and Mazagon Dock Limited.
at least;
the entire audience laughed with his initial response.
Turned out to be Indian media BS (one again)...
I was at a press conference with DCNS CEO yesterday and I asked him about it:
During the press conference, Navy Recognition asked Hervé Guillou about the Letter of Request supposedly submitted last week by the Indian Ministry of Defense for IAC-2 (indigenous aircraft carrier number 2). DCNS CEO started his answer with humor: "The mail must be slow, we are still waiting for it". Hervé Guillou then explained "It is clear that India has an aircraft carrier need and globaly a need for about 200 new vessels of all types until 2030. But regarding the aircraft carrier, the program is not as advanced as reported in the Indian press. We are discussing with the Indian Navy and it is clear that DCNS is at the forefront of the few companies able to be a supplier in this field. We are very interested in this matter, but it has not started yet".
Finally, asked about the local partners, Herbé Guillou explained that DCNS has already worked closely for other projects with Reliance (Pipavav) and Mazagon Dock Limited.
at least;
the entire audience laughed with his initial response.
BTW, nice fan art pic of the Rafael.What Sqn American guys
The "Jolly Rodgers" are the US Navy Strike Fighter Squadron VFA-103. They currently fly F/A-18F Super Hornets and are based at Naval Air Station Oceana. They are part of Carrier Air Wing Seven (CVW-7) and are currently attached to the USS Harry Truman, CVN-75.
I built a of those bad boys. Here's som,e pics of her:
And here's the real deal:
GREAT history, Popeye. Thanks!
Yes, the Jolly Rodgers have a long and distinguished of voer 72 years...as well as a confusing history.
I do note that they flew both the Vought F4U and the Vought F-8C.
The Tomcats had the longest history at 18 years at the time, but now the Super Hornets are pushing 20 years and have the longest Jolly Rodgers serving record of all.