Don’t worry! This is nothing political, military or New!
The first part of this story relates to the greatest attraction the East Coast has to offer, to any diver.
Just North of Generic diovan hct availability Arugam Bay Is there a generic for lamictal the British aircraft carrier HMS Hermes lies in fairly shallow waters. Sunk by Japanese Aircraft at the end of WW2. The carrier was on its way from Trincomalle harbour to Male, Maldives.
A full dive report has already been published on this site; use the search function if you are interested in details.
The Hermes was once a fine ship.
Very much like some good Hotels and Restaurants on the East Coast once were.
Whatever sealed the fate of HMS Hermes 65 years ago has a certain resemblance to the slow death of the entire Hotel industry. Their boats started to sink when a big wave hit them, in 2004. Plenty of help was promised, from all sides – but nothing substantial ever came along to rescue them.
A combination of civil unrest in other parts of the Nation, incompetence by visiting NGO’s and a total lack of finances have resulted in closure of most establishments which managed to stay afloat.
One leading hotelier describes the situation as such:
Ever since 2004 we feel like sitting in a boat, full of holes.
We kept ourselves busy plugging them by whatever means we have – but scooping out the water to stay afloat has been a hard job, left on our own devices.
….to be continued
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We turned on the wireless connection on both and checked that they could connect to the
internet and worked at a decent pace. They support USB, HDMI, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, network adapter, 3G and many more than the standard net books on the market.
Customers seeing those two price points might hesitate to buy
Microsoft’s option.
Quite Right, Folks!
R 22 Viraat is the ONLY aircraft carrier of the Indian Navy.
This is because INS VIKRANT was decommissioned in 1997.
This was Indian’s first carrier ever, and was in service for 37 years.
See Indian Navy Time Line, below, if you are interested:
05 September 1612: First squadron of British fighting ships arrives in Surat. Formation of the Indian Marine, also known as the Honourable East India Company’s Marine. Indian Marine defeats Portuguese in sea battle.
1614: Indian Marine emerges victorious in second sea battle against the Portuguese.
1635: Four pinnaces built at Surat, Gujrat. First record of ship building activity.
27 March 1668: Bombay transferred to East India Company at a fee-favour rent of £10 per annum.
1686: Indian Marine Headquarters shifted to Bombay. Service christened Bombay Marine.
1700: Maratha Admiral Kanhoji Angre comes to power, and establishes formidable fleet.
1717 – 1724: Dutch and British fleets fail to capture Gheria (Vijaydurg), the stronghold of Admiral Angre, despite repeated attacks.
1735: Dockyard established at Bombay by Lowjee Wadia.
1758 – 1760: Bombay Marine, under Admiral Pocock defeats the French fleet, leaving the British undisputed masters of the sea around India.
1817: HMS Trincomalee built at Bombay DY. Today it is the world’s oldest wooden sail ship still afloat in Portsmouth as TS Foudroyant.
1830: Bombay Marine designated Indian Navy. Over the next fifteen years, the Company’s ships converted from sail to steam.
1856: The Persian War. Naval part of expedition conducted by Indian Navy.
1858: On transfer to Crown, Indian Navy re-designated Her Majesty’s Indian Navy.
30 April 1863: Reduced to non-combatant status and re-organized into Bombay and Bengal Marine. Marine Survey Department started and manned by naval personnel.
1877: Service restored to combatant status and named Her Majesty’s Indian Marine.
1892: In recognition of its contributions, Service renamed Royal Indian Marine (RIM).
1910: An officer of the RIM, Lt. H.R. Bowers accompanies Captain Scott to the South Pole.
1914 – 1918: World War I. RIM represented in every Indian expeditionary force throughout the war.
06 January 1928: The first Indian to be commissioned in the Royal Indian Marines (RIM) – Engineer Sub. Lt. D.N. Mukerji.
1934: Service renamed Royal Indian Navy. Naval HQ established at Bombay under FOC RIN (Flag Officer Commanding Royal Indian Navy).
1939-45: World War II. RIN ships active in all theatres. HMIS Bengal sinks a Japanese raider.
1946: Large scale demobilization. Naval mutiny.
15 August 1947: India attains Independence. Landing of troops at Junagadh.
1948: The RIN acquires the HMIS Delhi, formerly HMS Achilles, a cruiser. First major goodwill cruise, to East Africa, Seychelles and Mauritius.
26 January 1950: Proclamation of the Republic. Service becomes Indian Navy (IN) and loses its coveted status of being the senior most service to the Indian Army.
June 1950: Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru sails to Indonesia on INS Delhi.
27 May 1951: Colours presented to the Indian Navy by President Dr. Rajendra Prasad.
11 May 1953: First Naval Air Station, INS Garuda, inaugurated at Cochin. No.550 Squadron (consisting of Sealand and Firefly aircraft) commissioned.
10 October 1953: The first review of the Indian Fleet by President Dr. Rajendra Prasad. 25 warships, 7 yard crafts and one merchant ship participated.
02 October 1956: First Indian Naval officer elevated to Flag Rank.
28 August 1957: The IN acquires INS Mysore, formerly HMS Nigeria, a WW2 British Fiji Class cruiser.
1957: Parliament passes Navy Act in December 1957.
22 April 1958: Vice Admiral R.D. Katari becomes first Indian Chief of Naval Staff.
1960: No.300 White Tigers Squadron (consisting of Sea Hawk aircraft) commissioned.
16 February 1961: The IN acquires its first aircraft carrier – INS Vikrant R11 (formerly HMS Hercules).
March 1961: No.310 Cobras Squadron (consisting of Alize aircraft) commissioned.
December 1961: Operation Vijay – Liberation of Goa. The Indian Navy plays an active part.
20 April 1964: Defence Minister Y.B. Chavan reviews the Fleet. 31 warships, 12 yard crafts and 9 merchant ships participated.
1965: The Indian Navy ensign is planted on highest peak in the world, as Lt. Cdr. M.S. Kohli leads first successful Indian expedition to Mount Everest.
10 February 1966: President S. Radhakrishnan reviews the Fleet. INS Vikrant takes part in the review for the first time.
08 December 1967: The Indian Navy’s silent service (submarine arm) is born with the arrival of INS Kalvari – a Foxtrot Class submarine.
15 March 1969: No.321 Angels Squadron (consisting of Alouette helicopters) commissioned.
28 December 1969: President V.V. Giri reviews the Fleet. 31 warships and 5 merchant ships participated. The submarine arm takes part in the review.
1971: The Indian Navy enters the missile era with arrival of the first Osa-I Class missile boats from Russia.
04 December 1971: The Indian Navy covers itself with glory during Indo-Pak war. In commemoration, December 4th is celebrated as ‘Navy Day’ every year, since that was when IN Osa-I Class missile boats successfully attacked Pakistan’s naval port in Karachi.
23 June 1972: First modern warship to be built in India, INS Nilgiri F33, commissioned.
1976: No.312 Albatross Squadron (consisting of Super Constellation aircraft) commissioned.
11 January 1976: President F.A. Ahmed reviews the Fleet. 48 warships and 5 merchant ships participated. The Nilgiri Class frigates take part in the review.
1977: INS Udaygiri F35 participates in Queen Elizabeth’s Silver Jubilee Coronation Review.
01 October 1977: No.315 Winged Stallions Squadron (consisting of IL-38 aircraft) commissioned.
1978: INS Delhi is decommissioned after 30 years in Indian Naval service.
30 September 1980: INS Rajput D51 is commissioned. She is the first guided missile destroyer in the IN.
1981: The Indian Navy ensign flies in Antarctica.
1981: No.333 Eagles Squadron (consisting of Ka-25 helicopters) commissioned.
1982: INS Mysore is decommissioned after 25 years in Indian Naval service.
12 February 1984: President Giani Zail Singh reviews the Fleet. Rajput Class destroyers, Godavari Class frigates and Sea Harrier aircraft take part in the review.
26 November 1984: Southern Naval Command presented Colours by President, Giani Zail Singh.
1986: INS Godavari F20 represents India at the International Naval Review in New York.
05 April 1987: Eastern Naval Command receives Colours from President Giani Zail Singh.
12 May 1987: The IN acquires its second aircraft carrier – INS Viraat R22 (formerly HMS Hermes).
1987: Indian Navy participates in IPKF Operations in Sri Lanka.
05 February 1988: A nuclear powered submarine, INS Chakra, obtained on lease for three years for training purposes from Russia, arrives in Vizag.
1988: At request of the Maldivian Government, the Indian Navy contains an incident of terrorism in Indian Ocean. Indian Naval vessels and aircraft locate & apprehend rebel vessel.
15 February 1989: President R. Venkataraman reviews the Fleet. 86 Indian Naval warships including aircraft carriers, INS Vikrant and INS Viraat, a nuclear submarine, INS Chakra, were in the review lines. A fly past was also conducted by 39 aircraft.
31 January 1997: INS Vikrant, India’s first aircraft carrier is decommissioned after 36 years and 11 months in Indian Naval service.
15 November 1997: Pride of the Indian Navy, INS Delhi D61, is commissioned. INS Delhi becomes India’s 75th indigenous vessel and is the first in the line of three Delhi Class destroyers.
02 June 1999 – The second of the Delhi Class destroyers, INS Mysore D60, is commissioned. INS Mysore becomes India’s 81st indigenous vessel.
04 July 2000 – INS Mysore represents India at the International Naval Review in New York. INS Mysore was among the foreign naval vessels reviewed by U.S. President William Jefferson Clinton.
22 January 2001 – The third of the Delhi Class destroyers, INS Mumbai D62, is commissioned.
15-19 February 2001 – President K.R. Narayanan reviews the naval flotilla at the International Fleet Review in Mumbai. Called ‘Bridges of Friendship’ over 45 Indian Naval warships, and another 25 foreign naval warships, participated. INS Viraat, the Delhi and Rajput Class destroyers, the Godavari and Bramhaputra Class frigates, the Shishumar and Sindhugosh Class submarines were among the 45 Indian Naval warships which took part in the event. A fly past was also conducted by 60 aircraft from the Indian Navy’s Air Arm.
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source:
http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NAVY/Timeline.html
Here are a few more details:
The (new) HMS Hermes is called R 22 Viraat by the Indian Navy now.
It is their only aircraft carrier, it seems.
But certainly she is Indians pride & Joy.
It has been shown off many times.
Like the 10 year anniversary in service.
Further:
R 22 Viraat has actually already seen active service!
In Sri Lanka that was – what a co-incidence!
R 22 Viraat was used by the IPF (Indian Peace Keeping Force) in the North off Jaffna, when India tried (in vain) to broker some sort of (military) settlement in the long ongoing ethnic conflict.
Maybe the island Nation will have a chance to welcome this fine ship again soon – one day?
See a full article:
R 22 Viraat Class
HMS Centaur Class (UK)
Aircraft Carrier
In 1985, the second hand, 1953 vintage, British aircraft carrier HMS HERMES, became available for acquisition. It had already been operating Sea Harriers. After Government approved its acquisition and refit, it was commissioned as INS VIRAAT on 12 May 1987. After Vikrant, the second aircraft carrier INS Viraat was commissioned in the Indian Navy with great hopes.
The ship is all set to meet future challenges in the Indian Ocean zone with her operational prowess matching her name. Viraat is fitted with a ‘ski jump’ enabling the Sea Harrier VSTOL jump jets to take off from the flight deck with greater payload. The carrier would also have Sea King helicopters embarked for providing anti-submarine cover. The standard displacement of INS Viraat is 28, 500 tons and she is propelled by steam turbines with 76,000 shaft horsepower.
This ship was originally as a Royal Navy light fleet carrier named the HMS Hermes. It is currently India’s only aircraft carrier. While in the Royal Navy the ship served in a variety of functions including service as a light fleet carrier, an ASW carrier and as a commando carrier. The ship was converted to a VSTOL carrier in 1980 and still has a ski-jump at the bow.
The Indian carrier Viraat has a somewhat convoluted design and service history. Originally HMS Hermes, she was laid down in 1944 as one of the Royal Navy’s ‘Centaur’ class of light fleet carriers. Incomplete at the end of World War II, the vessel remained on the stocks for a decade. New developments in carrier design meant that the vessel which entered service in the late 1950s was equipped with an angled flight deck. In 1971 the Hermes was recommissioned as a commando carrier, and then in the late 1970s as an interim V/STOL carrier. After serving as the flagship of the Royal Navy’s task force during the Falklands war, the Hermes was sold to India in May 1986.
The ship was purchased by India in 1986, the carrier, now renamed Viraat, was commissioned-into the Indian Navy in 1987. The current air group includes 12 or 18 Sea Harrier V/STOL fighters and seven or a eight Sea King or Kamov ‘Hormone’ ASW helicopters. In emergencies, the Viraat can operate up to 30 Harriers. At present, the INS Viraat carries a complement of Sea Harrier aircraft, which are wired for Sea Eagle Anti-Ship Missiles (ASMs) and Matra 550 Magic missiles and various choppers like the Sea King for Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Search-And-Rescue (SAR) and transport. It is fitted by the “Barak” missile point defense system made by Israel.
The Viraat will most likely need to be replaced by 2010 due to the vessel’s extreme age. It completed a major refit at Cochin Shipyards from 1999 through April 2001. This refit extended the ship’s service life until 2010 and included upgrades to the ship’s propulsion systems, its radar suite, communications systems, elevator upgrades, and new weapon systems.
In November 2004 INS Viraat returned to operational service after a year-long repairs. The 45-year-old carrier was in dry-dock at Kochi for most of the year. Elaborate repairs and refitting had to be carried out on India’s lone aircraft carrier in dry dock to keep it going. The consolation is that the Barak missile defence system has been installed and validated on Viraat as it now returns to service. The 23,900-ton vessel had to be tugged back to dry dock for a rehab barely two years after an extensive life-extension, which was intended to give it a 10-year lease of life. The Viraat was unavailable to the Navy for two years during this period.
As of 2005 it was reported that the INS Viraat would be retired in the next four years, before 2010.
HMS Invincible
In mid-2002 the rumor going around London was that the UK would put up the aircraft carrier HMS Invincible for sale in 2006. Since the Indian Navy’s plans include three aircraft carriers, it made great sense that the Indian Navy will bid for the Invincible.
HMS Invincible could become the new flagship of the Indian navy in a controversial multi- million-pound deal with the British Ministry of Defence (MoD). The aircraft carrier, along with naval Sea Harrier jets to fly from it, was at the top of Delhi’s military shopping list. Britain has three aircraft carriers; the others are HMS Ark Royal and HMS Illustrious. Invincible is due to be taken out of service in 2006.
The Government of India proposed to buy 17 second-hand Sea Harriers from the Royal Navy of the UK. The Government has been collecting information whether there are surplus Fleet Air Arm Sea Harriers. Royal Navy Sea Harriers are said to cost $9 million each and they also suit Indian Navy’s requirements. About 29 Sea Harriers are available for disposal. Indian Navy, at present, has 17 units of FRS 51 model. Indian Navy might consider going for total fleet replacement. Sea Harriers can also be used for operational roles. This will suit INS Virat, as it can only carry Vertical/short take off and landing aircraft of size of the Sea Harriers. These can also be deployed across the border.
source:
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/r-viraat.htm
Just a quick update.
Regarding a possible confusion:
Yes, there are two “HMS Hermes” – The Indians did not salvage the original ones off Arugam’s East Coast!
First, here is a further link to some technical details regarding the “Hermes” (Mk1):
http://www.arugam.info/2006/01/24/aircraft-carrier-hms-hermes/
Further, the BBC web site has a good story about “Hermes Mk2”:
This carrier was also named after the Greek messenger, serving in the Malvenas (Falklands) conflict and is now stationed not too far away from Sri Lanka:
She is used by the Indian Navy at present.
See the related story:
1982: Homecoming for HMS Hermes
The flagship of the British task force to the Falklands, HMS Hermes, has arrived back in Portsmouth.
Thousands of relatives and friends crowded the dockside to welcome home the 1,700 crew, Royal Marines and survivors of the destroyed HMS Sheffield.
Several babies born during the conflict will be meeting their fathers, uncles and brothers for the first time.
The aircraft carrier – named after the winged messenger of Greek gods – began its 8,000-mile mission 108 days ago on 5 April.
An all-services salute including fly pasts from RAF Harriers, Army Lynx helicopters and a naval Hunter training squadron accompanied the aging ship as it cruised into port.
Flanked by a flotilla of smaller boats, Hermes replied with a 17-gun national salute, usually reserved for foreign visits.
One side of the ship has been decorated with a scoreboard showing the 46 enemy aircraft shot down by the Sea Harrier fighters launched from its deck.
It was all absolutely routine, daily attacks, nothing untoward
Captain Lynley Middleton
The Hermes is streaked with rust amid rumours it has been operating on just two of its four boilers, sometimes running at half speed.
Captain Lynley Middleton was adamant the ship – launched in 1953 and completed in 1959 – had not been dragged off the scrapheap to serve in the Falklands conflict.
He was modest about his company’s service in the South Atlantic: “It was all absolutely routine, daily attacks, nothing untoward,” he said.
But Able Seaman David Bass, 18, from Blackburn, Lancashire described a close encounter with an Exocet missile when he was on the bridge.
Executive officer Commander John Lock, 45, from Broad Windsor, Dorset, said: “Every time they fired something they hoped like hell it would hit us. We were the prime target.”
Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was helicoptered onto the carrier for an 80-minute inspection prior to the ship’s arrival.
The ambulance ship, Herald, reached Portsmouth just two hours earlier.
In Context
In November 1982 the Hermes became the venue for the Falklands Task Force Reunion Ball.
There was an 850-strong guest list including ship’s sweetheart Selina Scott of ITN.
The Hermes was kept in reserve by the British navy until 1985 with a maintenance crew of 200.
In 1986 India bought the carrier for her Navy.
source:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/july/21/newsid_
/2515987.stm