Redlands18
Well-Known Member
Not bad for ships that were supposed to serve for only 3-5 years.Viraat/Hermes was laid down in 1944, but work suspended in 1945 because the war was over (many ships were scrapped unfinished), resumed in 1952 to clear the slipway, launched in 1953 then work suspended again, & finally commissioned in 1959, with an angled deck & other changes from the original design.
Much the same for Hercules/Vikrant. Laid down 1943, launched 1945, work suspended 1946. Bought by India in 1957 & commissioned, modified, in 1961.