Carriers of the Commonwealth (circa 1965).

A short long thread inspired by some posts yesterday. Why? dunno why not.

There are two main classes of Aircraft Carrier you will see here: The Colossus and Majestic Classes. These ships were built to bolster RN carrier numbers towards the end of WW2. A good deal smaller than the fleet carriers, they were only needed to last 3 years in service.

Long story short, in 1945, peace broke out. With 15 of the Light Carriers either completed or nearing completion and no world war to use them in, the RN didn't need and couldn't afford these ships. Which meant for the first time, the Commonwealth navies, the RAN, RCN and...

...the Indian Navy could, for the first time, afford, obtain and operate aircraft carriers. While these ships saw service elsewhere, with the Netherlands, Brazil, France, Argentina and the RN, this thread will basically just be skimming over the ships in Commonwealth service.

1. HMAS Sydney

Australia's first carrier, she served from '48 to 73 despite there not being the funds to equip her as a jet-capable carrier. This was no problem for her initial deployments, notably Korea where she contributed to Operation Strangle and later to the Vietnam War.

2. HMAS Vengeance

Leased to the Royal Australian Navy until HMAS Melbourne had completed her refit, Vengeance only served until 1956. She was earmarked for a deployment off Korea in 1953 with her air group of Sea Furys and Fireflies, however mechanical issues prevented it.

3. HMAS Melbourne

The Ex-Majestic was the carrier the RAN had been waiting for. Entering service in 1956, she had been refitted with an angled deck, intended for fast jet operation. She served until 1982 and the aircraft that flew from her deck deserve a post of their own.

3. (Cont.)

Melbourne operated a varied air wing throughout her service life, starting with Sea Venom interceptors with Gannet ASW aircraft adding to her roles. By the time she was departing service, she was flying American A-4s, S-2s, and Sea Kings see:

4. HMCS Warrior

Concerned with defeating the Japanese in the Pacific, the RCN decided that it would require two fleet carriers to make a proper contribution, but the war ended before Warrior was finished. She operated from '46-'48 but budget constraints returned her to the RN.

5. HMCS Magnificent

Magnificent, the second Canadian carrier leased from the RN. Being constructed later than Warrior - the Royal Canadian Navy ensured she was properly equipped for colder climates unlike her sister. Serving from '48 to '57 she saw a deployment to Suez in '56.

6. HMCS Bonaventure

Bonaventure was Canada's first and only jet carrier serving from '57-71. With her angled deck, new arrestor gear, etc, she operated 16 F2H Banshee fighters, though as the RCN's focus moved to ASW, S-2 Trackers and Sea Kings gradually took over the air group.

7. INS Vikrant

Ex-HMS Hercules, Vikrant was purchased by India in 1957, entering service with the Indian Navy in 1961. Of all the carriers mentioned, Vikrant's service record was the most lively. Initially she operated Hawker Sea Hawk fighters and French Alizé ASW birds.

Vikrant was deployed in support of the Annexation of Portuguese Goa in 1961, though saw no action. Again she saw no action in the 1965 Indo-Pakistan war, as she happened to be undergoing refit at the time. However, when war with Pakistan broke out again in 1971, she was ready.

The Vikrant battlegroup was the primary heavy unit enforcing the Indian blockade of Eastern Pakistan (now Bangladesh). The blockade could be a thread of its own. Vikrant's Sea Hawks struck shore targets, however the Pakistani Navy ordered PNS Ghazi to locate and sink Vikrant.

The exact cause of the loss of PNS Ghazi - a Trench-class diesel submarine - is still hotly debated. But, on the night of her loss - 3rd of December 1971, one of Vikrant's escorts, the destroyer INS Rajput detected and attacked an unidentified transient with depth charges.

By 1983, Vikrant was modernised to a "harrier-carrier" standard with a Ski-Jump fitted to her bow. She operated then an air group consisting of 6 (?) Sea Harrier Mk.51s fighters, 9 Sea King Mk.42s (?) and a number of Chetak Helicopters for SAR. She was decommissioned in 1997.

8. INS Viraat

Former-HMS Hermes, INS Viraat is a league above the rest of the ships in this thread from a design standpoint, being from the later Centaur Class of light carriers. In Indian service she supported up to 16 Harriers, 4 Sea Kings, and even KA-31s. Retired in 2017.

Not exactly a groundbreaking thread but there we are.

People who may be vaguely interested.

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