… I seem to recall a discussion some months ago about preserving aircraft carriers. Can’t remember whether people were talking about the Brazilians or the Indians preserving one, or having one which was due to retire and may be up for preservation. Can anyone shed any light on this for me please? Thanks in advance…
By: EHVB - 29th March 2003 at 07:20
The Argentine “25 de Mayo” is/was the ex Dutch “Karel Doorman”. Plans to safe it from the Indian scrapyard, and put it in the Rotterdam harbour as a museam (and underdecks a floating parking place) fell through as it was found out that it was full with asbest. To remove this, millions (which weren’t there) were needed as it was named a safety hazard. I’ll think the same is going on with the other ships af this vintage. Most probably they can be obtained for almost the metal price, but the asbestos (don’t know the English name) will prevent this plans, unless a lot of money is there. BW Roger
By: Arabella-Cox - 29th March 2003 at 01:24
Another one, taken from the bridge this time. Sorry about the quality, the coach was bouncing around all over the place!
By: Arabella-Cox - 29th March 2003 at 01:21
Here you go folks; both Brazilian carriers in Rio harbour last weekend, Vengeance is the smaller of the two, the larger is the ex French carrier Foch.
By: ageorge - 27th March 2003 at 16:17
I think the Indians still have two as well , INS Viraat and INS Vikrant , one is the old Falklands veteran HMS Hermes I think the other is another ex RN and maybe ex-Netherland’s???.
The Argentinians sent the old “25th De Mayo” to the shipbreakers at Alang in India 2 years ago , I don’t know if shes been broken up yet , Anybody ??????
By: Arabella-Cox - 27th March 2003 at 12:54
Guys, thanks very much, between you, you and that website have answered all my questions – reason I was asking was that I was in Rio last weekend, spotted a pair of carriers tied up in the harbour, and wondered which ones they were. I did get a couple of shots of them on Saturday, one from the ferry across the bay and the other from our coach as it went across the bay bridge. The quality’s not brilliant but I’ll stick ’em both up on the board when I get home tonight. Cheers again. 🙂
By: lauriebe - 27th March 2003 at 06:36
Steve,
It is indeed the former HMS Vengence, latterly the Minas Gerais of the Brazilian Navy. A group of investors in the UK is looking at purchasing her and bringing her back as a floating museum at Southampton. It seems though that the Mayor of Rio De Janero might have the same idea. The link below will take you to the HMS Vengence web site:
www.hms.vengeance.btinternet.co.uk/
Regards,
Laurie B
By: dhfan - 27th March 2003 at 05:36
Hardly a great deal of light on the subject as it’s solely based on increasingly unreliable memory but:
I think one of our WW2 carriers, possibly HMS Vengeance, was sold to Brazil and they’re now retiring it/her. There’s a move afoot to try to return her to the UK.
Since I only buy Flypast & Aeroplane, I assume it was in one of them, as you said, a few months ago.
Sign In
March 26, 2003 at 11:23 pm