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Indian Navy to retire carrier Viraat (Hermes) in 2016

Posted: 18 Feb 2015 17:08
by MikeJames
Indian Navy to retire carrier Viraat in 2016

India's ex-Hermes carrier is to retire in early 2016, following the International Fleet Review in Vishkhapatnam

The Indian Navy will then only operate a single carrier, the former-Russian carrier INS Vikramaditya , until the 40,000-ton indigenous build INS Vikrant arrives in 2018

The Indian Navy will retire INS Viraat , its 56-year old 24,000-tonne ex- Hermes Centaur-class aircraft carrier, in early 2016, official sources said.

The sources added that the carrier's escalating maintenance costs and the depletion of its Sea Harrier air arm - now down to just 10 aircraft - had prompted the navy's decision to de-commission Viraat .

The carrier will come out of service after the International Fleet Review in Vishkhapatnam in February 2016.

Re: Indian Navy to retire carrier Viraat (Hermes) in 2016

Posted: 15 Mar 2015 19:51
by MajorTom65
Mmmmmm....was aware this happening. Not a bad innings for the old girl. Hope they don't turn her into a restaurant. Come on Glen we had better finish our models soon!

Re: Indian Navy to retire carrier Viraat (Hermes) in 2016

Posted: 15 Mar 2015 20:39
by MikeJames
More likely she will end up on the sand at Alang being torn apart for her scrap metal value.

Shame about all that asbestos...

Mike

Re: Indian Navy to retire carrier Viraat (Hermes) in 2016

Posted: 22 May 2015 14:30
by littoralcombat
Hats off to the Indians for keeping her going for so long. I went aboard her in Devonport, Plymouth when we were doing some work prior to them sailing away in her.......she looked to be showing her age then.
Sad to see her go. :(

Re: Indian Navy to retire carrier Viraat (Hermes) in 2016

Posted: 22 May 2015 20:35
by glenhowells
I agree Nige 57 years when she retires. She should do a retirement cruise of the Indian ocean rim would be all over her rash. Not going to happen, I can not remember the last time an Indian man o war was in Fremantle. She was in Freo in 1969 her first and only visit on he way home via Cape town.

Cheers Glen