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INS Vikrant (1961)

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INS Vikrant (1961)

INS Vikrant (from Sanskrit vikrānta, "courageous") 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 was put on hold when the war ended. India purchased the incomplete carrier in 1957, and construction was completed in 1961. Vikrant was commissioned as the first aircraft carrier of the Indian Navy and 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 the Naval Docks in 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.

Infobox

Name
Vikrant
Builder
Vickers-Armstrongs, High Walker Harland & Wolff
Laid down
14 October 1943
Launched
22 September 1945
Commissioned
4 March 1961
Identification
Pennant number: R11
Fate
Scrapped, 2014
Acquired
1957
Decommissioned
31 January 1997
Homeport
Bombay
Motto
Sanskrit: Jayema Sam Yudhi Sprdhah English: I completely defeat those who dare to fight with me
Class & type
Majestic-class light carrier
Displacement
16,000 t (15,750 long tons) (standard) 19,500 t (19,200 long tons) (deep load)
Length
700 ft (210 m) (o/a)
Beam
128 ft (39 m)
Draught
24 ft (7.3 m)
Installed power
40,000 ihp (30,000 kW) 4 Admiralty three-drum boilers
Propulsion
2 shafts; 2 Parsons geared steam turbines
Speed
25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)
Range
12,000 nmi (22,000 km; 14,000 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) 6,200 nmi (11,500 km; 7,100 mi) at 23 knots (43 km/h; 26 mph)
Complement
1,110
Sensors &processing systems
1 × LW-05 air-search radar 1 × ZW-06 surface-search radar 1 × LW-10 tactical radar 1 × Type 963 aircraft-landing radar
Armament
16 × 40 mm Bofors anti-aircraft guns (later reduced to 8)
Aircraft carried
21–23
Aviation facilities
1961: Catapult Assisted Take-Off 1989: 9.75 degree ski jump

Tables

· Service › Squadrons embarked
White Tigers
White Tigers
Squadron
INAS 300
Name
White Tigers
Aircraft
Hawker Sea Hawk
Notes
Operated during the 1971 war, and phased out in 1978.
Introduced in 1983, with the first Harrier landing on the ship's deck on 20 December 1983, operated until the ship was decommissioned in late 1997.
Introduced in 1983, with the first Harrier landing on the ship's deck on 20 December 1983, operated until the ship was decommissioned in late 1997.
Squadron
BAE Sea Harrier
Name
Introduced in 1983, with the first Harrier landing on the ship's deck on 20 December 1983, operated until the ship was decommissioned in late 1997.
Cobras
Cobras
Squadron
INAS 310
Name
Cobras
Aircraft
Breguet Alizé
Notes
Operated during the 1971 war, and phased out in 1987, with the last Alizé flown off on 2 April 1987.
Angels
Angels
Squadron
INAS 321
Name
Angels
Aircraft
Alouette III/HAL Chetak
Notes
The Alouettes/Chetaks were first embarked in 1960s, and operated until the ship was decommissioned in 1997.
Harpoons
Harpoons
Squadron
INAS 330
Name
Harpoons
Aircraft
Westland Sea King
Notes
Introduced into the Indian Navy in 1974, the Sea Kings operated on Vikrant from 1991, and remained until the ship was decommissioned in 1997.
Squadron
Name
Insignia
Aircraft
Notes
INAS 300
White Tigers
Hawker Sea Hawk
Operated during the 1971 war, and phased out in 1978.
BAE Sea Harrier
Introduced in 1983, with the first Harrier landing on the ship's deck on 20 December 1983, operated until the ship was decommissioned in late 1997.
INAS 310
Cobras
Breguet Alizé
Operated during the 1971 war, and phased out in 1987, with the last Alizé flown off on 2 April 1987.
INAS 321
Angels
Alouette III/HAL Chetak
The Alouettes/Chetaks were first embarked in 1960s, and operated until the ship was decommissioned in 1997.
INAS 330
Harpoons
Westland Sea King
Introduced into the Indian Navy in 1974, the Sea Kings operated on Vikrant from 1991, and remained until the ship was decommissioned in 1997.
· Commanding officers
Captain P. S. Mahindroo
Captain P. S. Mahindroo
S.No
1
Name
Captain P. S. Mahindroo
Assumed office
16 February 1961
Left office
16 April 1963
Notes
Commissioning CO. Later Chief of Materiel.
Captain Nilakanta Krishnan DSC
Captain Nilakanta Krishnan DSC
S.No
2
Name
Captain Nilakanta Krishnan DSC
Assumed office
17 April 1963
Left office
16 November 1964
Notes
Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.
Captain V. A. Kamath
Captain V. A. Kamath
S.No
3
Name
Captain V. A. Kamath
Assumed office
16 November 1964
Left office
4 November 1966
Notes
Flag Officer Commanding Southern Naval Area during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. Founding Director General of Indian Coast Guard.
Captain Jal Cursetji
Captain Jal Cursetji
S.No
4
Name
Captain Jal Cursetji
Assumed office
4 November 1966
Left office
8 December 1967
Notes
Later Chief of the Naval Staff.
Captain E. C. Kuruvila
Captain E. C. Kuruvila
S.No
5
Name
Captain E. C. Kuruvila
Assumed office
8 December 1967
Left office
5 December 1969
Notes
Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. Later Flag Officer Commanding Southern Naval Area.
Captain Kirpal Singh
Captain Kirpal Singh
S.No
6
Name
Captain Kirpal Singh
Assumed office
5 December 1969
Left office
15 January 1971
Notes
Later Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet.
Captain S. L. Sethi NM
Captain S. L. Sethi NM
S.No
7
Name
Captain S. L. Sethi NM
Assumed office
15 January 1971
Left office
30 June 1971
Notes
Later Vice Chief of the Naval Staff.
Captain Swaraj Parkash MVC, AVSM
Captain Swaraj Parkash MVC, AVSM
S.No
8
Name
Captain Swaraj Parkash MVC, AVSM
Assumed office
1 July 1971
Left office
24 January 1973
Notes
Later Vice Chief of the Naval Staff and Director General of Indian Coast Guard.
Captain M. K. Roy AVSM
Captain M. K. Roy AVSM
S.No
9
Name
Captain M. K. Roy AVSM
Assumed office
3 January 1974
Left office
8 February 1976
Notes
Later Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command.
Captain R. H. Tahiliani AVSM
Captain R. H. Tahiliani AVSM
S.No
10
Name
Captain R. H. Tahiliani AVSM
Assumed office
8 February 1976
Left office
26 December 1977
Notes
Later Chief of the Naval Staff.
Captain J. C. Puri VrC, VSM
Captain J. C. Puri VrC, VSM
S.No
11
Name
Captain J. C. Puri VrC, VSM
Assumed office
26 December 1977
Left office
5 March 1979
Captain R. D. Dhir
Captain R. D. Dhir
S.No
12
Name
Captain R. D. Dhir
Assumed office
5 March 1979
Left office
15 June 1979
Captain S. Bose
Captain S. Bose
S.No
13
Name
Captain S. Bose
Assumed office
15 June 1979
Left office
2 April 1981
Captain Arindam Ghosh VSM
Captain Arindam Ghosh VSM
S.No
14
Name
Captain Arindam Ghosh VSM
Assumed office
2 April 1981
Left office
27 August 1982
Notes
Later Fortress Commander, Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Captain KASZ Raju NM
Captain KASZ Raju NM
S.No
15
Name
Captain KASZ Raju NM
Assumed office
27 August 1982
Left office
19 November 1984
Notes
Later Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command.
Captain S. K. Gupta MVC, NM
Captain S. K. Gupta MVC, NM
S.No
16
Name
Captain S. K. Gupta MVC, NM
Assumed office
19 November 1984
Left office
17 March 1986
Captain P. A. Debrass AVSM, NM
Captain P. A. Debrass AVSM, NM
S.No
17
Name
Captain P. A. Debrass AVSM, NM
Assumed office
17 March 1986
Left office
8 August 1988
Notes
Later Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra Naval Area.
Captain B. S. Karpe
Captain B. S. Karpe
S.No
18
Name
Captain B. S. Karpe
Assumed office
11 October 1988
Left office
22 October 1989
Captain R. N. Ganesh AVSM, NM
Captain R. N. Ganesh AVSM, NM
S.No
19
Name
Captain R. N. Ganesh AVSM, NM
Assumed office
22 October 1989
Left office
3 January 1991
Notes
Later Fortress Commander, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Naval Command.
Captain Raman Puri VSM
Captain Raman Puri VSM
S.No
20
Name
Captain Raman Puri VSM
Assumed office
3 January 1991
Left office
25 June 1992
Notes
Later Chief of Integrated Defence Staff.
Captain R. C. Kochchar VSM
Captain R. C. Kochchar VSM
S.No
21
Name
Captain R. C. Kochchar VSM
Assumed office
25 June 1992
Left office
7 September 1994
Notes
Later Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra Naval Area.
Captain K. Mohanan
Captain K. Mohanan
S.No
22
Name
Captain K. Mohanan
Assumed office
7 September 1994
Left office
7 August 1995
Commander H. S. Rawat
Commander H. S. Rawat
S.No
23
Name
Commander H. S. Rawat
Assumed office
20 July 1996
Left office
31 January 1997
Notes
Last Commanding Officer.
S.No
Name
Assumed office
Left office
Notes
1
Captain P. S. Mahindroo
16 February 1961
16 April 1963
Commissioning CO. Later Chief of Materiel.
2
Captain Nilakanta Krishnan DSC
17 April 1963
16 November 1964
Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.
3
Captain V. A. Kamath
16 November 1964
4 November 1966
Flag Officer Commanding Southern Naval Area during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. Founding Director General of Indian Coast Guard.
4
Captain Jal Cursetji
4 November 1966
8 December 1967
Later Chief of the Naval Staff.
5
Captain E. C. Kuruvila
8 December 1967
5 December 1969
Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. Later Flag Officer Commanding Southern Naval Area.
6
Captain Kirpal Singh
5 December 1969
15 January 1971
Later Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet.
7
Captain S. L. Sethi NM
15 January 1971
30 June 1971
Later Vice Chief of the Naval Staff.
8
Captain Swaraj Parkash MVC, AVSM
1 July 1971
24 January 1973
Later Vice Chief of the Naval Staff and Director General of Indian Coast Guard.
9
Captain M. K. Roy AVSM
3 January 1974
8 February 1976
Later Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command.
10
Captain R. H. Tahiliani AVSM
8 February 1976
26 December 1977
Later Chief of the Naval Staff.
11
Captain J. C. Puri VrC, VSM
26 December 1977
5 March 1979
12
Captain R. D. Dhir
5 March 1979
15 June 1979
13
Captain S. Bose
15 June 1979
2 April 1981
14
Captain Arindam Ghosh VSM
2 April 1981
27 August 1982
Later Fortress Commander, Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
15
Captain KASZ Raju NM
27 August 1982
19 November 1984
Later Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command.
16
Captain S. K. Gupta MVC, NM
19 November 1984
17 March 1986
17
Captain P. A. Debrass AVSM, NM
17 March 1986
8 August 1988
Later Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra Naval Area.
18
Captain B. S. Karpe
11 October 1988
22 October 1989
19
Captain R. N. Ganesh AVSM, NM
22 October 1989
3 January 1991
Later Fortress Commander, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Naval Command.
20
Captain Raman Puri VSM
3 January 1991
25 June 1992
Later Chief of Integrated Defence Staff.
21
Captain R. C. Kochchar VSM
25 June 1992
7 September 1994
Later Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra Naval Area.
22
Captain K. Mohanan
7 September 1994
7 August 1995
23
Commander H. S. Rawat
20 July 1996
31 January 1997
Last Commanding Officer.

References

  1. The A1 boiler was completely blanked off due to serious problems.
  2. French Alouette III light helicopters were produced in India under license by Hindustan Aircraft Limited (HAL) as "Cheta
  3. "HMS Hercules"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20120131203708/http://www.fleetairarmarchive.net/ships/Hercules.html
  4. Konstam 2012, p. 46.
  5. Hobbs 2014, pp. 199–200.
  6. Hobbs 2014, p. 185.
  7. Hobbs 2014, p. 199.
  8. www.bharat-rakshak.com
    http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NAVY/Ships/Past/23-INS-Vikrant.html
  9. Hobbs 2014, p. 203.
  10. Military Factory
    http://www.militaryfactory.com/ships/detail.asp?ship_id=INS-Vikrant-R11
  11. Team BHP
    http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/commercial-vehicles/163578-indian-naval-aviation-air-arm-its-carriers.html
  12. Chant 2014, p. 187.
  13. The Financial Express
    http://www.financialexpress.com/article/industry/automobiles/bajaj-v-a-bike-made-of-ins-vikrants-metal-launching-on-february-2/202259/
  14. USI of India
    https://web.archive.org/web/20161221002945/http://usiofindia.org/Article/Print/?pub=Journal&pubno=594&ano=2188
  15. Hiranandani 2000, p. 118.
  16. Hiranandani 2000, p. 119.
  17. Hiranandani 2000, p. 120.
  18. Hiranandani 2000, p. 121.
  19. Hiranandani 2000, p. 122.
  20. Hiranandani 2000, p. 123.
  21. Hiranandani 2000, p. 143.
  22. Till 2013, p. 171.
  23. Hiranandani 2000, p. 142.
  24. Hiranandani 2000, p. 145.
  25. Roy 1995, p. 165.
  26. Hiranandani 2000, p. 139.
  27. Hiranandani 2009, p. 151.
  28. Hiranandani 2000, p. 276.
  29. Hiranandani 2009, p. 152.
  30. Hiranandani 2009, p. 154.
  31. Hiranandani 2009, p. 158.
  32. Hiranandani 2009, p. 157.
  33. Business Standard
    http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/ins-vikrant-will-now-be-made-training-school/236011/
  34. The Times of India
    http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Not-museum-but-scrapyard-for-warship-Vikrant/articleshow/29795409.cms
  35. Times of India
    http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Warship-INS-Vikrant-heads-for-Alang-death/articleshow/29594882.cms
  36. Mumbai Mirror
    http://www.mumbaimirror.com/mumbai/others/Vikrant-museum-to-be-scrapped-as-Navy-readies-new-carrier/articleshow/21740538.cms
  37. "Govt to auction decommissioned aircraft carrier INS Vikrant"
    http://www.firstpost.com/india/govt-to-auction-decommissioned-aircraft-carrier-ins-vikrant-1265381.html
  38. Times of India
    http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Not-museum-but-scrapyard-for-warship-Vikrant/articleshow/29795409.cms
  39. Mumbai Mirror
    http://www.mumbaimirror.com/mumbai/others/Crushing-museum-dreams-court-says-INS-Vikrant-must-be-scrapped/articleshow/29265563.cms
  40. Indian Express
    http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/dismantling-of-iconic-warship-ins-vikrant-begins/
  41. The Times of India
    https://web.archive.org/web/20141123081000/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Indias-first-aircraft-carrier-slips-into-history/articleshow/45237088.cms
  42. Times of India
    http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Not-museum-but-scrapyard-for-warship-Vikrant/articleshow/29795409.cms
  43. Bihar Prabha
    http://news.biharprabha.com/2014/04/activists-move-supreme-court-over-sale-of-ins-vikrant-to-ship-breaker/
  44. Times of India
    http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Indias-first-aircraft-carrier-slips-into-history/articleshow/45237088.cms
  45. Vikrant
    https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-the-cheating-case-ins-vikrant-kirit-somaiya-son-booked-7858567/
  46. Indian Navy
    https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/vikrant-memorial-traffic-island-near-lion-gate
  47. eHot News
    https://web.archive.org/web/20160204155631/http://ehot.news/bajaj-v-a-bike-made-with-ins-vikrants-scrap-unveiled/
  48. The World Reporter
    http://www.theworldreporter.com/2013/08/aicraft-carrier-liaoning-vs-indian-ins-vikrant.html
  49. The Hindu
    https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/ins-vikrant-may-be-inducted-by-2022-23-says-enc-chief/article33243875.ece
  50. Bollywood Bazaar
    https://web.archive.org/web/20150707172741/http://www.bollywoodnazar.com/news/article/varun-dhawan-poses-before-the-ins-vikrant-battle-ship-/7855
  51. Parsi Khabar
    https://parsikhabar.net/india/arzan-khambatta-creates-memorial-to-indian-naval-ship-vikrant/12337/
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