India has decommissioned the oldest aircraft carrier in the world
As the RIA News, 6 March was decommissioned the world's oldest operating aircraft carrier "Viraat»Indian Navy. On this occasion, a ceremony was organized in Mumbai, during which the Navy flag and pennant were lowered on the ship during sunset and the pennant no longer rising above the deck of the Viraat. It was attended by the head of the Navy Sunil Lanba, former aircraft carrier commanders.
The fate of the ship has not yet decided. It is believed that if there is no buyer for it during 4 - 6 months, the aircraft carrier is waiting for recycling. Its transformation into a museum is possible. Or it can be flooded so that tourists can explore the Viraat during diving sessions. It was also intended to turn it into an elite hotel on the water, but this would require large expenses: 150 million dollars for the project, not counting the high maintenance costs of the original hotel.
The aircraft carrier Viraat (British Centaurus series) with a displacement of 27800 tons was adopted by the Indian Navy in 1987, and until 2013 was the flagship of the Navy, while the aircraft carrier Vikramaditya (former Russian Admiral Gorshkov) did not enter into service. Between 2013 and 1959, the Viraat served in the British Navy as Hermes, taking part in Falkland War with Argentina in 1982 year.
Thus, the aircraft carrier has been in service for almost 60 years, of which 30 are in India. During this time, the aircraft carrier traveled about 1,1 million kilometers, which is equivalent to 27 round-the-world travels. According to the Guinness Book of Records, the Viraat was the oldest aircraft carrier in the service of the military fleet.
In the service of the Indian Navy
The fate of the ship has not yet decided. It is believed that if there is no buyer for it during 4 - 6 months, the aircraft carrier is waiting for recycling. Its transformation into a museum is possible. Or it can be flooded so that tourists can explore the Viraat during diving sessions. It was also intended to turn it into an elite hotel on the water, but this would require large expenses: 150 million dollars for the project, not counting the high maintenance costs of the original hotel.
The aircraft carrier Viraat (British Centaurus series) with a displacement of 27800 tons was adopted by the Indian Navy in 1987, and until 2013 was the flagship of the Navy, while the aircraft carrier Vikramaditya (former Russian Admiral Gorshkov) did not enter into service. Between 2013 and 1959, the Viraat served in the British Navy as Hermes, taking part in Falkland War with Argentina in 1982 year.
Return from the Falklands, April 1982
Thus, the aircraft carrier has been in service for almost 60 years, of which 30 are in India. During this time, the aircraft carrier traveled about 1,1 million kilometers, which is equivalent to 27 round-the-world travels. According to the Guinness Book of Records, the Viraat was the oldest aircraft carrier in the service of the military fleet.
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