Built by Vickers Armstrong, HMS Hercules (as
she was called), the Majestic class vessel was inducted to the British Royal
Navy in 1945. When World War II ended, her construction was still incomplete. HMS
Hercules was sold to India in 1957 and was later re-named as INS Vikrant.
India’s decision
to own a British light fleet aircraft carrier was met with all sorts of protest
and skepticism. But then, isn’t that the fate of any major Defence procurement?
With a vast coastline, India had to strengthen its Navy and INS Vikrant was the
answer.
INS Vikrant
started its Indianization at Harland and Wolff Yard, Belfast, Ireland; the same
shipyard that made RMS Titanic!
On 4th
March 1961, she was commissioned by Vijayalakshmi Pandit, the then High Commissioner
of India to Britain. Commanded by the young Captain Pritam Singh Mahindroo, the
ship sailed half way through the world, finally getting a hero’s welcome at
home by the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, formally joining the Indian Navy
on 3rd November 1961 at Bombay Harbour. The story of its first Captain, who started as a merchant navy sailor at 16, is as interesting as the Ship, but that is a story for another time.
INS Vikrant
was never taken lightly by the enemies. She was initially deployed in Operation
Vijay of 1961 (annexation of Goa), with her role being patrolling the sea to check
foreign intrusions. During the 1965 war, Pakistan claimed to have sunk her when
she was actually in dry dock fitting. There were many questions raised about the
heavy investment made on the vessel, some even terming her as white elephant. Her hour of
glory however, came during the 1971 Indo-Pak war, with the vessel playing an instrumental
role in neutralizing enemy advances.
Seldom has
a ship commanded the imagination and inspired so many generations! The vessel
was celebrated and paved way to the sea of interest on maritime studies and
investment in India.
After an
active service spanning over three decades that was marred by some controversies
as well, INS Vikrant was decommissioned on 31st January 1997. Ironically,
her first Captain, himself, decommissioned her in the Mumbai Naval Dockyard.
But the story of INS Vikrant was far from over. Post decommissioning, she was converted to museum ship in Mumbai. Opened for public in 2001, operational cost soon overrun all sentiments. The museum was finally closed in 2012, after Navy failed to get a partner to run it. Thereafter, it was decided to scrap the vessel, a decision that invited many litigations and flared emotions.
INS Vikrant
was sold as scrap through an online auction in January 2014 to IB Commercials Pvt
Ltd. After further round of litigations and appeals, going all the way up to
Supreme court, INS Vikrant was scrapped on 22nd November 2014 at
Darukhana ship breaking yard in Mumbai.
The British
Seahawks, French Breguet Alize aircraft, Westland Sea Kings, HAL Chetak, Sea
harriers to the Bofors anti-aircraft guns – INS Vikrant carried it all.
All good
things have to end. For better things await only when the good is gone.
Today, India’s
first indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC 1) – INS Vikrant, built by Cochin
Shipyard is undergoing trials. The initial plan to built the new
Vikrant was laid down as early as 1989. It came to design phase in 1999 and formal govt
approval happened in 2003. IAC 1 - INS Vikrant is expected to be commissioned by 2022 and be a formidable force in India's maritime capabilities.
So, what's
in a name? Not just a legacy, but a destiny to script!
IAC 1 - INS Vikrant
