Viraat's future

Thx, I assumed they’d try and reduce the number of airframes when the M29’s arrive, but then looking at the Indian Armed Forces, it was a crazy assumption 😮

India doesnt throw anything away as long as there is some life left in the kit- developing country syndrome plus totally ‘effed up bureaucratic delays at the MOD level.

Long time back there used to be a River called Mithi River in Mumbai ( then Bombay ) , But Thanks to Years of Neglect , Unchecked Encroachment all supported by Local Politician and Mafia ,well both working hand in glove , The River is nothing but a Sewage now 😡

Mithi River

IN Shars are getting some extensive upgrades – EL 2032 radar with derby/python combo for A2A, newer EW fit and so on. I’m betting they will continue beyond the Viraat, possibly on the ADS. IN the A2G role perhaps some Israeli ASM (popeye) might replace or complement the Sea Eagles. Should be a competent beast in the IOR.

REgards,
USS.

Thx, I assumed they’d try and reduce the number of airframes when the M29’s arrive, but then looking at the Indian Armed Forces, it was a crazy assumption 😮

Does that mean they will try and keep SHAR operating until 2012 as well?

IN Shars are getting some extensive upgrades – EL 2032 radar with derby/python combo for A2A, newer EW fit and so on. I’m betting they will continue beyond the Viraat, possibly on the ADS. IN the A2G role perhaps some Israeli ASM (popeye) might replace or complement the Sea Eagles. Should be a competent beast in the IOR.

REgards,
USS.

Btw, Dont think that Viraat is gonna be decommisioned Quickly.

Latest news is that the Indian Navy had decided to maintain the Carrier Operational till 2012-2014.

The Navy hopes to have two fully-operational “carrier battle groups” till the year 2008 which of the battle groups will be centred around INS Viraat, the other will be led by INS Vikramaditya, when the Gorskhov also enters the IN Fleet.
Not to Forget, The Main reason why the Navy wants the Viraat to be Operational till further 2012 because of the need of “Three Carrier Battle Groups” Blue Water Navy Dream. In 2012 The 40,000-tonne indigenous aircraft carrier, being built at Cochin Shipyard will also become fully operational.

The Navy keep on shouting for a 3 Carriers Group Fleet and its must for us to get that Mark.

Does that mean they will try and keep SHAR operating until 2012 as well?

Btw, Dont think that Viraat is gonna be decommisioned Quickly.

Latest news is that the Indian Navy had decided to maintain the Carrier Operational till 2012-2014.

The Navy hopes to have two fully-operational “carrier battle groups” till the year 2008 which of the battle groups will be centred around INS Viraat, the other will be led by INS Vikramaditya, when the Gorskhov also enters the IN Fleet.
Not to Forget, The Main reason why the Navy wants the Viraat to be Operational till further 2012 because of the need of “Three Carrier Battle Groups” Blue Water Navy Dream. In 2012 The 40,000-tonne indigenous aircraft carrier, being built at Cochin Shipyard will also become fully operational.

The Navy keep on shouting for a 3 Carriers Group Fleet and its must for us to get that Mark.

May be INS Viraat will be sunk, as USN does, caus’ it seems that Indian scrapyards are not able to scrap carriers, actually. I don’t think Clemenceau was in a so different shape (about asbestos, of course) :rolleyes:
X:confused:

you watch discovery channel too much Mr.. in Mumbai can u tell where is the river :diablo:

it is in ur mind what you want to see if you want to see dirt find it that :dev2:

I see waterways that could be considered rivers, even if not called that. The pedantry of this board gets worse by the day.

you watch discovery channel too much Mr.. in Mumbai can u tell where is the river :diablo:

it is in ur mind what you want to see if you want to see dirt find it that :dev2:

ulhas river flows in bombay, right?

the other time I spent two days there, I walked around and was not impressed with how dirty the place was, what really turned me was the dead cow floating in the river right past a spot were people were bathing and washing their clothes. I know cows are sacred in India but polution is polution and the amount of diseases that I thought of in that carcas floating down just made me want to leave. As for INS Vikrant- interestingly enough she was in the docks getting a new paint job or something. I did see her in the naval berths, I would like to see her.

you watch discovery channel too much Mr.. in Mumbai can u tell where is the river :diablo:

it is in ur mind what you want to see if you want to see dirt find it that :dev2:

how can u predict it that it is going to increase tourism.

Simple, look at the pilgramiges that people are taking these days to view military related articles. Here in Australia since we started sinking ships as dive wrecks, tourism has increased by 500%, this co-insides with numbers passing through the numerous military museums around our country (presumably they gain the knowledge of where these vessels are during a visit to a museum and then go out and see it for themselves. It doesn’t take a brainiac to work out what’s going on here! Perhaps the museums should start looking at package deals in order to fund raise better 😉

can u tell when ur coming to india to see other one in mumbai

Been to Mumbai twice mate when I was in the navy, once I was not allowed off the ship as we were only there for an emergency refit, the other time I spent two days there, I walked around and was not impressed with how dirty the place was, what really turned me was the dead cow floating in the river right past a spot were people were bathing and washing their clothes. I know cows are sacred in India but polution is polution and the amount of diseases that I thought of in that carcas floating down just made me want to leave. As for INS Vikrant- interestingly enough she was in the docks getting a new paint job or something. I did see her in the naval berths, I would like to see her.

If the UK did not want her, I’d love to see her moored next to USS Intrepid, as that is trhe last place I saw HMS Hermes in person…..

In all probability it will remain in India as a second museum ship on the opposite coast (giving them one on each side and thus increasing tourism to the country).

:confused: how can u predict it that it is going to increase tourism. can u tell when ur coming to india to see other one in mumbai:p

The chances of the former HMS Hermes going back to England as a museum ship are comical to say the least. The politicians over there have all turned into a bunch of ignorant, tree huggers who care about trees alright, after all money is made from paper and papaer comes from trees- hence their love of trees (investment protection they call it).

The fact that this ship is full of asbestos is also a draw back- if you remove that then there’s less than half a ship remaining. English don’t give two hoots about ships anymore, look at the Minas Gerais fiasco, the last war built carrier served in three navies, served in Korea and did they care? Not a bit!

In all probability it will remain in India as a second museum ship on the opposite coast (giving them one on each side and thus increasing tourism to the country).

She would be a neat segue between Brit CTOL and VTOL operations.

I personally do not consider Hermes to be “war-built”.

Yes, she was laid down during WW2 (1944)… but she was not launched until 1952, and then was heavily modified before completing in 1959… 14 years after the end of the war. She was, at the time she first commissioned, a fully modern post-war ship.

Centaur (’53), Albion (’54), & Bulwark (’54) were, at least, completed fairly quickly (all laid down 1944 and launched ’47-’48), and to nearly their original design… although the last two did have a minimal “angled deck”.

Hermes was, of course, the main carrier in the Falklands war (“lose Invincible and the issue is in doubt, lose Hermes and the war is lost”… remember that quote?), and thus definitely deserves preservation as the UK’s only museum carrier.

I hope it is not scrapped. If the case reaches supreme court then definitely it won’t be scrapped in India, but they can always send it to china or Bangladesh where human rights or environmental concerns are zilch.

When INS Viraat is decommisioned, what will become of her? Any plans on preservng her as a museum? Or will she e scrapped? Wouldthe English like her back to put on display?

I would be nice to see the very last warbuilt British fleet carrier return to the UK. The ex-Hermes is far more historically significant and interesting than even the decommissioned HMS Invincible.

Perhaps Viraat/Hermes will be spared from the scrappers by growing worker safety and environmental concerns in India? In another decade, it is even possible that the shipbreaking business might end in India.

I don’t Think IN has any plans for it. The Vikrant was turned into a museum. Most likely scrap it. But it still has a good 7-8 years left in it.