HMS Hermes (R12)

The Worlds longest serving Aircraft Carrier

HMS Hermes (R12) was a Royal Navy aircraft carrier that served as a key component of Britain's naval aviation capability during the Cold War era. Launched in 1953, she was the last conventional British aircraft carrier and had a long and distinguished career before being sold to India in 1986, where she continued her service as the INS Viraat. 

HMS Hermes was initially laid down as HMS Elephant during World War II in 1944. The ship’s construction was delayed due to post-war budget constraints, and she was finally launched on February 16, 1953, by the Vickers-Armstrongs shipyard at Barrow-in-Furness. Upon her commissioning on November 25, 1959, Hermes became the seventh ship in the Royal Navy to bear the name, embodying the tradition of its predecessors.

Initially intended as a Centaur-class light fleet carrier, HMS Hermes was redesigned during construction to accommodate advances in naval aviation, such as angled flight decks, steam catapults, and mirror landing systems. This marked a shift in British naval strategy, preparing Hermes to support jet aircraft and helicopters, which were becoming the mainstay of naval aviation.

Key Milestones:

• 1953: Launched as HMS Hermes.
• 1959: Commissioned into the Royal Navy.
• 1960-1970s: Operated as a strike carrier, supporting British operations globally.
• 1982: Led British naval forces during the Falklands War.
• 1986: Decommissioned from the Royal Navy and sold to India, becoming INS Viraat.