NAIRANA CLASS (2 ships)
NAIRANA
VINDEX (May 4, 1943)
Displacement: 13,500 tons (16,830 tons full load), Nairana
14,210 tons full load
Complement: 700 - 728
Length: 524 ft (159.7 m)
Beam: 68 ft (20.7 m)
Draught: 25 ft (7.6 m)
Aircraft: 20
Guns:
2 - 4 inch AA
16 - 2 pdr. pompoms
8 - 40 mm AA
16 - 20 mm AA
Armour:
Machinery:Diesels, 2 shafts, 10,700 bhp, 16 knots |
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Nairana class escort aircraft carriers
Nairana History ex-merchant D05 Built by John Brown. Laid
down ???, converted prior to completion, launched 20 May 1943,
commissioned 26 November 1943. Operated as in a hunter-killer
group and on Russia convoy runs. Loaned to the Netherlands
as Karel Doorman (QH 1) and recommissioned 23 March 1946. Returned
to RN 28 May 1948 and immediately sold into merchant service
as Port Victor. Scrapped at Faslane starting 7/1971. Historical
note Captain Dumaresq, Commanding Officer of the HMAS Sydney,
was an enthusiastic supporter of naval air during 1917 following
a Zeppelin attack on his ship. The ship unable to defend itself
against L43 which then escaped unscathed. The Australian Naval
Board then began to appreciate naval air power's potential but
requests to permanently embark Royal Naval aircraft on Australian
ships were denied by the British Admiralty. Australian ships
embarked aircraft only when in direct support of British objectives
or an individual 'arrangements' between British and Australian
naval ships. HMAS Sydney in fact carried the first ship-borne
aircraft to shoot down an enemy machine, as Australian Mail Steamer,
the Nairana , was requisitioned by the RN and converted into
an aircraft carrier. HMS Nairana played an important role in
the capture of Archangel during August of 1918 by using her seaplanes
and guns to attack the fort and gun batteries which guarded the
port. Nairana was later returned to her Australian owners, plying
Bass Strait until she was laid up in Melbourne 1948.
Vindex History ex-merchant D15 - (R319) Built by Swan
Hunter. Laid down 1 July 1942, converted prior to completion,
launched 4 May 1943, commissioned 15 November 1943. Served as
a convoy escort on Atlantic runs, and later as a night-fighter
carrier on Russia runs. Assigned RN designation R319 circa 1945
for service in the Pacific, but probably not redesignated. Operated
as a ferry carrier after 5/1945. Sold into merchant service 2
October 1947 as Port Vindex. Scrapped in Taiwan starting 23 August
1971. Concept/Program: Two fast freighters converted to escort
carriers. These ships and their half-sister were the last RN-built
escort carriers. Class: Campania was very similar. Design/Conversion:
Generally similar to Activity, but with a much larger hangar.
Variations: Vindex varied in displacement. Modifications: unknown.
Operational: Both operated in the Atlantic and on Russian convoys
later on. Departure from Service/Disposal: Discarded immediately
post-war. |
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