POIGNANT pictures showing a Barrow-built aircraft carrier on her final journey have been posted online.
The Indian Navy uploaded a series of images of INS Viraat, formerly HMS Hermes, as the flagship departed Mumbai for Kochi.
The aircraft carrier
was was laid down in Barrow in 1944 but did not enter the Royal Navy until 1959, by which time it incorporated some of the most modern developments in aircraft carrier thinking, including an angled flight deck, the newest radar, mirror landing systems and other innovations.
HMS Hermes was the flagship in the Falklands Task Force despite being much older than the brand new HMS Invincible. She was sold to India in 1987, along with British Sea Harrier jets and became the INS Viraat – which translates as “giant”.
INS Viraat was given a quiet farewell fm Mumbai 2day as she departed for her final repairs 2 Kochi. 2b decom soon pic.twitter.com/idDIqdUZPf
— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) July 23, 2016
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here