HMS Vengeance (R71)

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HMS Vengeance (R71) was a Template:Sclass light aircraft carrier built for the Royal Navy during World War II. The carrier served in three navies during her career: the Royal Navy, the Royal Australian Navy (as HMAS Vengeance, from 1952 to 1955), and the Brazilian Navy (as NAeL Minas Gerais, from 1956 to 2001).

Constructed during World War II, Vengeance was one of the few ships in her class to be completed before the war's end, but she did not see active service. The ship spent the next few years as an aircraft transport and training carrier before she was sent on an experimental cruise to learn how well ships and personnel could function in extreme Arctic conditions. In late 1952, Vengeance was loaned to the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) as a replacement for the delayed aircraft carrier Template:HMAS. She remained in Australian waters, operating as an aircraft carrier and training ship, for the majority of her three-year loan, and was returned to the Royal Navy (RN) in August 1955.

Instead of returning to RN service, the carrier was sold in 1956 to Brazil, and entered service after major upgrades, which allowed the ship to operate jet aircraft. Renamed Minas Gerais, the carrier remained in operation until 2001. Several attempts were made to sell the ship, including a listing on eBay, before she was sold for scrap and taken to Alang for breaking up.

Design and construction

Template:Main Vengeance was constructed by Swan Hunter.<ref name=Janes68>Blackman (ed.), Jane's Fighting Ships (1968–69), p. 23</ref> She was laid down on 16 November 1942, and launched on 23 February 1944.<ref name=Janes68/> Construction was completed on 15 January 1945, and Vengeance was commissioned into the RN.<ref name=Janes68/><ref name=RAN/>

The Colossus-class carriers were intended to be 'disposable warships': they were to be operated during World War II and scrapped at the end of hostilities or within three years of entering service.<ref name="Hobbs p. 217">Hobbs, in The Navy and the Nation, p. 217</ref> Despite this prediction, Vengeance had a service life of over 55 years.

Weapons and systems

Her initial armament consisted of six quadruple QF 2 pounder naval guns (known as pom-poms) and 19 Oerlikon 20 mm cannon.<ref name=GillettANZ/> In 1945, after being assigned to the British Pacific Fleet, eight of the Oerlikons were replaced with eight single Bofors 40 mm guns; these guns provided better protection against Japanese kamikaze aircraft.<ref name=GillettANZ/>

When commissioned into the RAN in 1952, the weapons outfit included 12 Bofors 40 mm guns and 32 Oerlikon 20 mm cannon.<ref name=GillettANZ/>

Aircraft

During her service in the RAN, Vengeance carried a squadron each of Hawker Sea Furies and Fairey Fireflies.<ref name=GillettANZ/> The carrier's air group included three Bristol Sycamore, acquired by the RAN after observing the performance of a United States Navy SycamoreTemplate:Dubious operating from Template:HMAS during her Korean War deployment.<ref name=Cooper178/>Template:Verify source Although not the first helicopters to see military service in Australia (that title belonging to a Sikorsky S-51 of the Royal Australian Air Force), the Sycamores formed the first Australian military helicopter squadron, and led to the establishment of Australia's first helicopter pilot school.<ref name=ANAM111/> All three helicopters were brought out from England aboard Vengeance.<ref name=ANAM111/>

Operational history

RN service

File:Vengeance oslo 1947.jpg

HMS Vengeance visiting Oslo in 1947

On 11 March 1945, Vengeance left the River Clyde for working-up trials in Malta.<ref name=Cass181>Cassells, The Capital Ships, p. 181</ref> These were completed by 21 May, when she was assigned to the 11th Aircraft Carrier Squadron of the British Pacific Fleet.<ref name=Cass181/> The carrier sailed to Sydney via Alexandria, Port Said, Trincomalee, and Fremantle, arriving on 26 July.<ref name=Cass181/> While alongside in Sydney, eight Oerlikons were replaced with eight single Bofors 40 mm guns; these guns provided better protection against Japanese kamikaze aircraft.<ref name=GillettANZ/> Vengeance was assigned to Task Group 111.2 of the British Pacific Fleet, and was to be deployed as part of the force attacking Japanese-held Truk, but did not leave Sydney until the war ended.<ref name=Cass181/><ref name=WestMorNews>Western Morning News, Pivotal Role in Britain's Naval History, p. 17</ref> Following the end of the war Vengeance was ordered to Hong Kong, and on 3 September was used as the venue for the Japanese surrender of the territory.<ref name=WestMorNews/>

She remained in the area until the end of 1945, sailed to Australia for a refit, then returned to Hong Kong.<ref name=RAN/> In April 1946, Vengeance delivered No. 11 and No. 17 Squadrons of the Royal Air Force to Miho, Ibaraki in Japan, where they were assigned as part of British Commonwealth Occupation Force.<ref>Thomas & Davey, Griffon Spitfire Aces, p. 83</ref> Vengeance remained in Eastern waters until 20 July 1946, when she departed for England.<ref name=Cass181/> The ship arrived at Devonport on 13 August after visiting Trincomalee, and at the end of the year was reassigned as a Scotland-based training carrier.<ref name=RAN/><ref name=Cass181/>

Vengeance visited Oslo and Trondheim in June 1947, with First Sea Lord Sir John Cunningham aboard.<ref name=Cass181/> During early 1948, the carrier was attached to the 3rd Aircraft Carrier Squadron, part of the British Home Fleet.<ref name=Cass181/> She visited St Helena in October, and cruised with the Squadron in South African waters until mid-November.<ref name=Cass181/> On her return to the UK, Vengeance was converted for Arctic conditions, and from 5 February 1949 to 8 March 1949 operated in Arctic waters as part of Operation Rusty: an experimental cruise to determine how well ships, aircraft, and personnel functioned in extreme cold.<ref name=Cass181/><ref>Till, Holding the Bridge in Troubled Times, p. 317</ref>

Loan to Australia

In June 1951, following the receipt of advice that the Australian aircraft carrier Template:HMAS would not be completed until at least March 1954, the Australian Defence Committee recommended that Australia request the RN loan a carrier to the RAN.<ref name=Donohue94>Donohue, From Empire Defence to the Long Haul, p. 94</ref> The new predicted date of completion for Melbourne was 21 months later than previous predictions, on which the establishment of two-carrier naval aviation in the RAN had been dependent.<ref name=Donohue94/> The Navy sought a four-year loan of an aircraft carrier from late 1952 to late 1956, to cover both the delays with Melbourne and the planned upgrading of Template:HMAS once Melbourne was in service.<ref name=Donohue94/> The Australian government proposed that the loaned carrier be modified to operate both Sea Venom and Gannet aircraft, so that Melbourne and the loaned carrier could both see active service while Sydney was upgraded, but withdrew the suggestion when informed by the Admiralty that providing such capability would require the installation of a new arrestor cable system, prevent the loaned carrier from entering service until at least March 1954, and would be paid for entirely by Australia.<ref>ANAM, Flying Stations, pp. 108–9</ref> Several smaller modifications were approved and paid for by Australia, including the installation of additional aircrew accommodation.<ref name=Donohue94/>

Vengeance was the carrier selected for the loan, and modifications for Australian service were completed in January 1952.<ref name=ANAM108>ANAM, Flying Stations, p. 108</ref> In order to provide personnel for the loaned carrier, the RAN had to place the light cruiser Template:HMAS into reserve.<ref name=Donohue94/> The loan was approved, with the British government choosing not to charge Australia for the loan, but stating that all operational costs would be met by the RAN, including the initial outfit of stores.<ref name=Donohue94/> In mid-1952, the liner Asturias was chartered by the RAN to transport a commissioning crew to England.<ref name=ANAM108/>

RAN service

Vengeance was transferred to the Royal Australian Navy on 13 November 1952.<ref>Gillett, Warships of Australia, pp. 131–2</ref> She was recommissioned as an Australian ship on this date, and received the prefix HMAS.<ref name=RAN/> Departing from Devonport at the end of 1952, the carrier sailed to Australia via the Mediterranean, and arrived in Fremantle on 26 February 1953.<ref name=Cass181/> She reached Sydney in March, and was marked as fully operational in June.<ref name=ANAM111>ANAM, Flying Stations, p. 111</ref> In late 1953, Vengeance was prepared for a deployment to Korea, to support the United Nations enforcement of the July 1953 armistice.<ref name=OxCom549>Dennis et al, The Oxford Companion to Australian military history, p. 549</ref> The deployment did not go ahead: HMAS Sydney was sent instead.<ref name=OxCom549/>

File:Vengeance Elizabeth signature.jpg

The ship's company of Vengeance, arranged on the flight deck to recreate the signature of Queen Elizabeth II

From February until April 1954, Vengeance was tasked with escorting the royal yacht Template:SS through Australian waters during the Royal Visit of Queen Elizabeth II to Australia.<ref name=RAN/> On 9 March 1954, while in Port Philip Bay, a whaler transporting 30 sailors to the carrier hit a series of freak waves and capsized.<ref name=NNbrief>Navy News (Australia), Briefs – In Memory</ref> Two sailors were killed.<ref name=NNbrief/> Navy divers were involved in rescuing the survivors, with one earning the British Empire Medal for his efforts.<ref>Navy News (Australia) Diving legend's final resting place at sea</ref> On 3 April, while escorting Gothic to the Cocos Islands with the destroyers Template:HMAS and Template:HMAS accompanying, VengeanceTemplate:'s ship's company assembled on the flight deck and positioned themselves to form the Queen's signature.<ref name=RAN/><ref>Davis, H.M.A.S. Vengeance</ref> After later seeing an aerial photograph of this, Her Majesty had a message sent to the carrier, saying "Thank you for the original forgery."<ref name=Lind232>Lind, The Royal Australian Navy – Historic Naval Events Year by Year, p. 232</ref> On 5 April, after arriving at the Cocos Islands, Vengeance was involved in a collision with Bataan while the destroyer attempted to refuel from the carrier.<ref name=RAN/> BataanTemplate:'s bow made contact with Vengeance's side, but the damage was minor, and both ships returned to Sydney in May without assistance, after visiting Manus Island and Rabaul.<ref name=RAN/><ref>Lind, The Royal Australian Navy – Historic Naval Events Year by Year, pp. 231–2</ref>

In June 1954, Vengeance was removed from active service and reclassified as the RAN's primary training ship.<ref name=OxCom549/><ref name=GillettWOA132>Gillett, Warships of Australia, p. 132</ref> The previous training ship, the cruiser Template:HMAS, had been earmarked in mid-1953 to be decommissioned and scrapped, as modernising her would have been uneconomical.<ref>Donohue, From Empire Defence to the Long Haul, p. 134</ref> At the same time, the RAN was exploring avenues to reduce operating costs: the reduction of naval aviation from two active carriers to one would provide significant savings.<ref>Donohue, From Empire Defence to the Long Haul, pp. 133–142</ref> The removal of Vengeance from active service, combined with the need to find a replacement training ship for Australia which was large enough to accommodate the large number of National Service trainees, saw the carrier placed in the training role.<ref>Donohue, From Empire Defence to the Long Haul, p. 143</ref> On 31 August, Vengeance accompanied Australia during the latter's final voyage before decommissioning.<ref name=ANAM119>ANAM, Flying Stations, p. 119</ref> The carrier sailed to Japan in late October; her first departure from Australian waters while in RAN service.<ref name=Cass181/> Vengeance returned to Australia in November, after collecting No. 77 Squadron RAAF.<ref name=Cooper178>Cooper, in The Royal Australian Navy, p. 178</ref>

Return to Britain and sale to Brazil

In May 1955, Sydney assumed VengeanceTemplate:'s training carrier duties as well as her own flagship and operation duties, while the latter carrier was prepared for the return to England.<ref name=ANAM120>ANAM, Flying Stations, p. 120</ref> Vengeance left for the UK in June, stopping in Singapore to collect a squadron of RN helicopters.<ref name=ANAM120/> Arriving on 13 August, her RAN crew prepared the carrier for reserve, and Vengeance was decommissioned on 25 October.<ref name=GillettANZ>Gillett, Australian and New Zealand Warships since 1946, p. 21</ref><ref name=RAN>HMAS Vengeance, Royal Australian Navy</ref> The personnel were used as the first ship's company of Template:HMAS, which was commissioned on 28 October 1955.<ref name=RAN/>

Vengeance was not reactivated for RN use, and on 14 December 1956, the carrier was sold by the Admiralty to Brazil for US$9 million.<ref name=Janes68/> From mid-1957 until December 1960, the carrier underwent a massive refit and reconstruction at Verolme Dock in Rotterdam, which cost US$27 million.<ref name=Janes68/> Modifications included the installation of an 8.5-degree angled flight deck, a more powerful steam catapult, stronger arresting gear, reinforced hangar lifts and a mirror landing aid.<ref name=Ireland245>Ireland, Aircraft Carriers of the World, p. 245</ref><ref name=BisChant82>Bishop & Chant, Aircraft carriers, p. 82</ref> This was to allow the operation of jet aircraft, which were larger, faster, and heavier than the propeller aircraft previously operated by the carrier.<ref name=Ireland245/> A new superstructure was fitted, including a large lattice mast to support a new radar suite and fire control system.<ref name=Janes68/><ref name=Ireland245/><ref name=BisChant82/> Boiler capacity was increased, and the internal electrics were converted to AC power.<ref name=Janes68/> The length of the modernisation refit meant that while the carrier was the first purchased by a Latin American nation, she was the second to enter service; another Colossus-class carrier entered service with the Argentine Navy as Template:Ship in July 1959.<ref name=English56>English, Focus on Latin American Navies, p. 56</ref>

The carrier was commissioned into the Marinha do Brasil (MB, Brazilian Navy) as NAeL Minas Gerais on 6 December 1960.<ref name=Janes68/> She departed Rotterdam for Rio de Janeiro on 13 January 1961.<ref name=Janes68/>

MB service

Template:Main In 1965, President Humberto de Alencar Castelo Branco outlawed the operation of fixed-wing aircraft by the MB; this remained the responsibility of the Força Aérea Brasileira (FAB, Brazilian Air Force).<ref name=Signals1998>Jane's Navy International, Carrier Aviation – Skyhawks set to land on Brazilian carrier, p. 6</ref> As a result, Minas Gerais was required to embark two air groups: the Navy operated helicopters while the Air Force operated S-2 Tracker aircraft.<ref name=English1996/> Consequently, the ship spent most of her Brazilian career operating as an anti-submarine warfare carrier.<ref name=Corless>Corless, The Brazilian Navy blazes a trail in the South Atlantic</ref>

File:Minas Gerais DN-ST-90-01334.jpg

Minas Gerais underway during 1984

Minas Gerais underwent another major refit from 1976 to 1981, during which her radar suite was updated, datalinks were installed, and the ship's life expectancy was increased to the 1990s.<ref name=BisChant82/> From 1986, engine and funding problems saw the Argentine Navy's Template:Ship confined to port, making Minas Gerais the only operating carrier in the South American region.<ref name=English1996>English, Latin American Navies still treading water</ref>

From July 1991 to October 1993, the carrier underwent another modernisation refit; the work included refurbishment of her propulsion system, upgrades to the command and control system and radars, and replacement of the ship's Bofors with Mistral surface-to-air missiles.<ref name=ScottStarr>Scott & Starr, Carrier aviation at the crossroads</ref><ref name=Janes96>Sharpe (ed.), Jane's Fighting Ships, 1996–1997, p. 55</ref> In 1999, the MB acquired 20 A-4KU Skyhawks and 3 TA-4KU trainer aircraft from the Kuwait Air Force; the first time since the carrier's commissioning that Forca Aeronaval da Marinha (Brazilian Navy Aviation) had been permitted to own and operate fixed-wing aircraft.<ref name=Corless/>

Decommissioning and fate

Minas Gerais was decommissioned on 16 October 2001: the last of the World War II-era light aircraft carriers to leave service.<ref name="Hobbs p. 217"/><ref name=NNCampaign>Navy News (Australia), Campaign to save the Vengeance</ref> At the time of her decommissioning, she was the oldest active aircraft carrier in the world (a title passed on to the 1961-commissioned Template:USS).<ref>Polmar, The Naval Institute Guide to the Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet, p. 107</ref> The carrier was marked for sale in 2002, and was actively sought after by British naval associations for return to England and preservation as a museum ship, although they were unable to raise the required money.<ref name=telerace>Syal & Lashmar, Race to save historic ship from scrap heap</ref><ref name=Parry/>

Just before Christmas 2003, the carrier was listed for sale on auction website eBay by a user claiming to be a shipbroker representing the owner.<ref name=teleebay>Tweedie, For internet sale: aircraft carrier, only three owners</ref> Bidding reached £4 million before the auction was removed from the website under rules preventing the sale of military ordnance.<ref name=teleebay/> An auction in Rio de Janeiro in February 2004 also failed to sell the ship.<ref name=Parry/> Sometime between February and July 2004, the carrier was towed to the ship breaking yards at Alang, India, for dismantling.<ref name=Parry>Parry, Sad end to symbol of city's liberation</ref>

References

Books

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Journal articles

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Newspaper articles

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Websites

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External links and further reading

• Template:Cite book – an autobiography by James Lovelock. The first part of chapter 4 (pp. 91–99) contains Lovelock's recount of the 1949 Vengeance voyage into Arctic waters.
• Template:Usurped – the proposal to convert Vengeance/Minas Gerais into a museum ship.