Re: When is a Dreadnought a Dreadnought (HMS Hermes)

Deeply in Love with Dot wrote:

> At 11:19 AM 8/19/97 -0400, you wrote:
> >classes?  What makes an escort carrier, or a light carrier?	What do
> >the British call their small Harrier-carriers (ha) with the ramp
> thing
> I believe they call them 'assault carriers', as their primary function
> was
> supposed to be to provide air and logistic support to amphibious
> landings /
> assaults. Although I thought we had sold them all the India in the
> last few
> years and were in the process of building some replacements..

I think you are talking about the Hermes. We did sell the Hermes to the
Indians. She was a conventional carrier that was converted to the dual
ASW/Commando role in 1976/1977. She was refitted to carry the Sea
Harrier in 1980. I beleive she is now called the 'Viraat'.
During the 70s two other small carriers Bulwark and Albion were
converted to the Commando role carrying Wessex or Sea King troop
carriers. They were never fitted with the Ski-jumps and never operated
SHARS.

The Invincible class, Invincible, Illustrious and Ark Royal are all I
beleive still in RN service, there was talk once of selling one of them
to the Aussies. The Invincibles role was pimarily in support of ASW
operations as was the majority of the RN, that was our designated role
in NATO operations. A complement of ASW Sea Kings was carried with the
SHARSs missioned to chase off Soviet recon aircraft and  provide some
anti-surface capability.

Regards....... Roger