Nairana 1944
| Name | No | Yard No | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comp | Fate |
| Vindex | D15, R319 | 1667 | Swan Hunter, Wallsend | 1.7.1942 | 4.5.1943 | 3.12.1943 | sold mercantile 10.1947 |
| Nairana | D05 | 577 | John Brown, Clydebank | 6.11.1941 | 20.5.1943 | 12.12.1943 | to Netherlands 3.1946 - 5.1948 (Karel Doorman), sold mercantile 1948 |
|
Displacement standard, t |
Vindex: 13445 Nairana: 13825 |
|
Displacement full, t |
Vindex: 16830 Nairana: 17210 |
|
Length, m |
Vindex: 159.6 Nairana: 160.9 |
|
Breadth, m |
20.8 |
|
Draught, m |
Vindex: 7.67 deep load Nairana: 7.82 deep load |
|
No of shafts |
2 |
|
Machinery |
2 Doxford diesels |
|
Power, h. p. |
10700 |
|
Max speed, kts |
17 |
|
Fuel, t |
diesel oil 1655 |
| Endurance, nm(kts) | 13000(15) |
|
Armament |
1 x 2 - 102/45 QF Mk XVI, 4 x 4 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, 8 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, 18 aircraft (Fulmar, Sea Hurricane, Seafire, Martlet fighters, Swordfish torpedo bombers) |
| Sensors | type 277, type 281Â, 4x type 282, type 293 radars |
| Complement | 700 - 728 |
Aircraft facilities (fd - 3,124m², ha - 1,309m² / 6,979m³): Flight deck: 153.3x19.8m, hangar: 70.4x18.6x5.33m. There was a lift (13.7x10.4m, 4.6t) and 1 catapult C-II (6.4t plane was launched at 122km/h). Aircraft fuel stowage was 236,000l.
| Year | Fighters | Torpedo bombers |
| 1.1944 Nairana | 3 Sea Hurricane | 9 Swordfish |
| 3.1944 Vindex | 6 Sea Hurricane | 12 Swordfish |
| 10.1944 Vindex | 4 Wildcat | 12 Swordfish |
| 10.1944 Nairana | 6 Wildcat | 14 Swordfish |
| 1.1945 Vindex | 7 Wildcat | 12 Swordfish |
| 4.1945 Vindex | 12 Wildcat | 8 SWordfish |
Project history: Most successful British-built escort aircraft carriers. They were converted from hulls of fast cargo ships laid on the stocks and requisitioned in June-October, 1942. Small degree of readiness of motorships has allowed to bring to the design a number of the important changes: in particular, increasing of number of watertight bulkheads, more rational arranging of aviation magazines and petrol tanks. Nairana and Campania classes ships were lonely British escort aircraft carriers having strengthened flight deck ensuring an additional hull strength. Besides, they were differed by unusually wide hangars. Both ships carried up to 3000t lead ballast.
Modernizations: None.
1/1946: 1 x 2 - 102/45 QMk XIX, 4 x 4 - 40/39 Mk VII, 8 x 2 - 20/70 Mk V, 18 aircraft, type 277, type 281Â, 4x type 282, type 293 radars
Naval service: No significant events.
Many thanks to Wolfgang Stöhr for additional information on this page.
Vindex 1944
© Ivan Gogin, 2008-15