MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Falklands' veteran ex HMS Hermes to decommissioned by Indian Navy
She is the last of the Centaur-class carriers and is the longest-serving aircraft carrier in the world. Aircraft carrier from Portsmouth that fought in the Falklands War is making her final journey before being decommissioned after almost 60 years of active service. HMS Hermes served with distinction in the conflict against Argentina in 1982 before being sold to the Indian Navy and renamed INS Viraat.
Originally named after the winged messenger of the Greek gods, HMS Hermes was one of the workhorses of the Royal Navy for almost 30 years, serving from 1959 to 1984 and was the flagship of the British taskforce sent to the Falkland Islands.
She is the last of the Centaur-class carriers and is the longest-serving aircraft carrier in the world.
For more than a decade she served as India’s only aircraft carrier, operating in the Indian Ocean.
The vessel now has one final mission before being decommissioned which will see her taking part in the International Fleet Review on February 4.
After this she will remain at Visakhapatnam to wait her decommissioning, with an official date still to be set by the Indian Defence Ministry.
Initial plans had suggested that the carrier could be converted into a floating museum, however, this still needs to be agreed by officials
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Read all commentsDidn't Argentina claim to have sunk her, about 5 times?
Jan 28th, 2016 - 08:00 am 0I think at one point the Junta claimed a Pucara attacked her,the pilot was killed and his aircraft destroyed in the first attack on Goose Green!
Jan 28th, 2016 - 08:43 am 0The Times says she is going to be melted down and turned into motor bikes? But they say the name was originally HMS Hercules? Is this another one?
Jan 28th, 2016 - 10:38 am 0They also say that they are building a new one. I hope they are getting foreign contractors in to do the wiring, having been to Delhi and seen what the Duke referred to. :-)
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