INS Vikrant was a Majestic-class aircraft carrier of the Indian Navy. The ship played a key role in enforcing the naval blockade of East Pakistan during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. In its later years, the ship underwent major refits to embark modern aircraft, before being decommissioned in January 1997. She was preserved as a museum ship in Cuffe Parade, Mumbai until 2012. In January 2014 the ship was sold through an online auction and scrapped in November 2014.
About INS Vikrant (R11) in brief
INS Vikrant was a Majestic-class aircraft carrier of the Indian Navy. The ship was laid down as HMS Hercules for the British Royal Navy during World War II, but construction was put on hold when the war ended. India purchased the incomplete carrier in 1957, and construction was completed in 1961. Vikrant played a key role in enforcing the naval blockade of East Pakistan during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. In its later years, the ship underwent major refits to embark modern aircraft, before being decommissioned in January 1997. She was preserved as a museum ship in Cuffe Parade, Mumbai until 2012. In January 2014 the ship was sold through an online auction and scrapped in November 2014 after final clearance from the Supreme Court. The name Vikrant is derived from the Sanskrit word vikrānta meaning “stepping beyond beyond” or “courageous”. The ship carried Hawker Sea Hawk and Sea Harrier jet fighters, Sea King Mk 42B and HAL Chetak helicopters, and Breguet Alizé Br. 1050 anti-submarine aircraft. It was armed with sixteen 40-millimetre Bofors anti-aircraft guns, but these were later reduced to eight. The carrier fielded between 21 and 23 aircraft of all types, and was equipped with one LW-05 air-search radar, one LW-10 tactical radar and one Type 963 aircraft landing radar with other communication systems.
She had an overall length of 700 ft, a beam of 128 ft and a mean deep draught of 24 ft. She was powered by a pair of Parsons geared steam turbines, driving two propeller shafts, using steam provided by four Admiralty three-drum boilers. The turbines developed a total of 40,000 indicated horsepower which gave a maximum speed of 25 knots. Vikrant carried about 3,175 t of fuel oil that gave her a range of 12,000 nmi at 14 knots, and 6,200 mi at 23 knots. At various times, its aircraft consisted of Hawker. Sea Hawk, Sea Harriers, and Sea King MK 42B jet fighters. It had a crew of 1,110 officers and men, and armed with 16 40- millimetre anti- aircraft guns. It also had a modified island, with an angled deck, steam catapults, and a modified. island for landing aircraft. The Indian Navy’s first aircraft carrier was commissioned as INS Vikrant on 4 March 1961 by Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, the Indian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, which carried British Sea Hawk fighter-bombers and French anti- Submarine aircraft on board the ship. On 18 March 1961, the first commanding officer of the ship, Captain Pritam Singh Mahindroo, was the first officer to take command of Vikrant. The vessel was decommissioning in 1997.
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