Vikrant 1975
| Name | No | Yard No | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comp | Fate |
| विक्रान्त [Vikrant] (ex-Hercules) | R11 | Vickers-Armstrong, Tyne, UK | 12.10.1943 | 22.9.1945 | 4.3.1961 | stricken 1.1997 |
|
Displacement standard, t |
16000 |
|
Displacement full, t |
19550 |
|
Length, m |
192.0 pp 213.6 oa |
|
Breadth, m |
24.4 wl 32.0 fd |
|
Draught, m |
7.32 deep load |
|
No of shafts |
2 |
|
Machinery |
2 sets Parsons geared steam turbines, 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers |
|
Power, h. p. |
42000 |
|
Max speed, kts |
24.5 |
|
Fuel, t |
oil 3000 |
| Endurance, nm(kts) | 12000(14) |
|
Armament |
4 x 2 - 40/60 Mk 5, 7 x 1 - 40/60 Mk 7, 22 aircraft (Sea Hawk attackers, Alizé ASW planes, Alouette II helicopters) |
| Electronic equipment |
type 960, type 977Q, type 293Q, type 963 radars |
|
Complement |
1075 (peace), 1345 (war) |
Aircraft facilities (fd - 5,131m², ha - 2,142m² / 11,355m³): Flight deck: 210.3x32.0.4m; hangar: 135.6x15.8x 5.3m. Two lifts: 16.5x10.4m, 6.8t. 1 catapult BS-4. Aircraft fuel stowage: 341,000l.
| Year | Attackers | ASW planes | Helicopters |
| 1961 | 10 Sea Hawk | 4 Alizé | 2 Alouette II |
| 1975 | 12 Sea Hawk | 4 Alizé | 2 Cheetak |
| 1985 | 6 Sea Harrier Mk 51 | 4 Alizé | 9 Sea King |
| 1989 | 6 Sea Harrier Mk 51 | --- | 9 Sea King Mk 42 |
Project history: The last of the light fleet carriers to be completed, HMS Hercules was bought in January 1957 by the Indian Navy, building to a recast design resumed at Harland & Wolff's yard in Belfast three months later. When she was ready in 1961 she had received a steam catapult, an angled deck, air conditioning and new radar, similar to HMAS Melbourne.
In 1979 it was announced that re-equipment with Sea Harrier V/STOL aircraft would take place. Delivery of eight began in January 1983.
Protection: There were mantlets around aircraft torpedoes warheads rooms only. Their thickness was 10mm. Longitudinal watertight bulkheads covered the machinery.
Modernizations: 1979-1/1982: - 4 x 2 - 40/60, type 960, type 977Q, type 293Q, type 963 radars; + LW-08, DA-05, ZW-06, ZW-10/11 radars
1985: + IPN-10 CCS
1987-1989: 6°-skyjump was fitted for take off of Sea Hariers with full load, catapult was removed.
Naval service: No significant events.
Vikrant 1971
© Ivan Gogin, 2015