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INS Viraat / HMS Hermes still soldiering on
It is 60 yrs old now and will retire around 2020, nearly 70 yrs old..
Soon the INS will take into service an old rebuild Soviet carrier too, with Mig29Ks they have been operating for some time. 2 New ships, Vikrant class are being build. I guess the British involvement in this Viraat must still be major? Its all British, except the people (?) http://i369.photobucket.com/albums/o...ZksW6E-5JR.jpg In the new Asian weapons race, it makes sure India has operational knowledge & experience of carrier operation that the Chinese are now starting to build. Again much faster then anyone thought / hoped... |
Quite impressive really A sixty year old Aircraft carrier with 30 year old Harriers and 40 year old sea kings. At sea and most probably fully operational. What are the Indians doing that we can't :confused:
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Spending new money on old kit?
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Spending new money on old kit? |
Spending new money on old kit? |
An informal tour, including the mess :)
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Originally Posted by Dysonsphere
Maybe so but at least there at sea with a fixed wing carrier group unlike the UK for the forseable future. (Thats if the F35 ever works)
Pointless having a floating curry palace if it can't influence events. Anyone know the capabilities? |
Anyone know the capabilities? |
Rather excitable chaps don't you think :rolleyes:
Are my eyes deceiving me or did I see Command Aaddeshwa "Sharkey" Ward in the background ... Aaddeshwa ... Indian Male Christian name meaning God :E |
That's half their remaining SHAR force on deck in the piccy, which are allegedly getting Derby from the Red Sea Pedestrians which makes them BVR capable. They have the Helix variant with an AEW radar and they can run some mid-80's vintage SeaKings and Helix in the ASW role.
Which means they can at least have a go at keeping MPA a reasonable way off and is more than we can do right now at any sort of distance from land. However, availability is apparently a bit of a mare for both cabs and ship. The pic may show her at sea with a deckful, question is how long she could stay there. It is also likely that the stability standards of Viraat have been eroded over the years. It doesn't mean she's about to roll over, but it does mean that the amount of damage sustained before she would be lost is probably a bit less than it was in RN service and a lot less than what QEC (irrespective of relative size) is designed to survive. She'll be carrying a bit more stress in her structure as well, which won't help reduce incidences of fatigue cracking, which can hit availability as well. |
Magnificent picture but I feel it may be a little out of date?? I was on a liner this time last year parked alongside the carrier and it was clearly marked as a museum ship?? It had a Sea Hawk and a Sea King parked on deck with a few weapons as exhibits.
Our captain, a Brit, did not even mention that it was the old Hermes nor its Falklands history even though it was the anniversary of the campaign?? Speedbird 48. |
The ship you were berthed next to is the ex-Vikrant (ex HMS Hercules) which has been retired for a good 15 years or more now.
File:Vikrant Museum Ship.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia |
Not a Boffin,
Thank you sir, I stand corrected. It looked to be in good shape but would not take visitors. The Sea Hawk needed a new canopy as the Bombay sun had not done it any good. Glad the Hermes still has life in her and hope the UK doesn't have to borrow it back again for another Falklands trip?? Speedbird 48. |
Was at BAe Dunsfold 1984-1987 and we did the integration of Magic I & II on the FRS51 - very interesting missile mechanisation. We also did the A/G trials on their own HUD software (INSHAR 5) - again very interesting including a runway denial weapon BAP 100. Subsequently did ship trials with Viraat (we were based at Dabolam (?) airport at Goa which was also an IN Air Base - UK aircraft on the South side of the airport, Soviet aircraft on the North side. The BAe trials pilot (Taylor Scott) embarked in an FRS51 and then a T8 for ramp launches etc with Indian indigenous weapons. Great trip and good hotel (Bogmaloo Beach Hotel).
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LUSH (Limited Update for Sea Harrier) added a new Elta radar and Derby capability
http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/foru...?topic=10029.0 http://livefist.********.co.uk/2010/...rier-lush.html Twin missile rails, but the original small fuel tanks |
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Tks - wondered about that strange 'grey' radome
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A WREN went to see the MO with a sensitive complaint....
"I think that I have got Hermes". "Don't you mean Herpes?" "No - I think I'm a carrier". :oh: |
Some nice pictures;
INS Viraat Aircraft Carrier of Indian Navy It seems the Indian navy refused used UK Harriers. IMO the rewinged variants would have been more capable then the sea Harriers for use this decade.. http://defenceforumindia.com/jh4cz/a...NS_Viraat-.jpg The INS is in a hurry to modernize its carrier assets. The Sea Harrier is an excellent interceptor, but the Chinese move on.. http://img.ibtimes.com/www/data/imag...ft-carrier.jpg |
Originally Posted by NAB
That's half their remaining SHAR force on deck in the piccy, which are allegedly getting Derby from the Red Sea Pedestrians which makes them BVR capable. They have the Helix variant with an AEW radar and they can run some mid-80's vintage SeaKings and Helix in the ASW role.
Which means they can at least have a go at keeping MPA a reasonable way off and is more than we can do right now at any sort of distance from land. However, availability is apparently a bit of a mare for both cabs and ship. The pic may show her at sea with a deckful, question is how long she could stay there. It is also likely that the stability standards of Viraat have been eroded over the years. It doesn't mean she's about to roll over, but it does mean that the amount of damage sustained before she would be lost is probably a bit less than it was in RN service and a lot less than what QEC (irrespective of relative size) is designed to survive. She'll be carrying a bit more stress in her structure as well, which won't help reduce incidences of fatigue cracking, which can hit availability as well. Would we have removed all of the catapult systems and more to the point when we sold hermes to the Indian Navy would we hand over all the drawings, paper work etc regarding her previous fitment of cats and traps? I believe China purchased an Australian carrier just to get access to this design information but that might just be an old sea story that I have been told. uick drying cement |
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