HMS Vindex (D15) was a Nairana-class escort carrier of the Royal Navy that saw service during the Second World War. She was built at Swan Hunter shipyards in Newcastle upon Tyne. When construction started in 1942 she was intended as a merchant ship, but was completed and launched as an escort carrier, entering service at the end of 1943.
Vindex operated escorting convoys and doing anti-submarine work in the Atlantic and Arctic theatres. Her Swordfish aircraft were involved in the sinking of four U-boats during her service. She survived the war, and immediately afterwards served in the Far East transporting men and material to and from Japan. In 1947, she was decommissioned and sold for commercial use, to Port Line and renamed Port Vindex. In 1971, she was scrapped in Taiwan.
HMS VindexHMS Vindex 1943Clearing snow from HMS Vindex’s flight deck March 1944HMS Vindex 1943A Fairey Swordfish aircraft approaches HMS Vindex March 1944HMS Vindex 1943 1946 after her Sydney refitSea Hurricane about to take off on patrol from HMS VindexHawker Sea Hurricane IIC of 825 NAS takes off from HMS VindexFairey Swordfish Carries out a Test Drop Near HMS VindexHMS VindexHMS Vindex passing under the Sydney Harbour Bridge with 300 ex-prisoners of war returning homeHMS Vindex is towed into the Tyne by tugs 03 October 1947 HMS Vindex having her flight deck removed after the warHMS Vindex as Port VindexHMS Vindex as Port Vindex
Personal Photographs of Eric Soper (1926-2023) Signaller C/SX.734200
The following photographs were taken by Eric Soper after joining HMS Vindex at Sydney, December 1945 (after tours on HMS Swiftsure and HMS Newfoundland in the Pacific). They are published here with the permission of Geoff Soper.
Eric Soper on the signal deck of VindexVindex’s signals team, of 23 men, Feb 1946, Sydney, at start of 3 month refit; Eric Soper’s photo (front center)Crew on Vindex’s flightdeck, 20 April 1946, at Sydney, show the 2nd tower added behind Vindex’s main tower in 1945Crew on Vindex’s flightdeck, 20 April 1946, at Sydney, show the 2nd tower added behind Vindex’s main tower in 1945HMS Vindex’s entertainment below decks. C.King tenor Deck hockey at sea on Vindex’s flight deck, taken from the towerHMS Vindex in dry dock, Cockatoo Island, Sydney from 1 April 1946HMS Vindex in dry dock, Cockatoo Island, Sydney from 1 April 1946Vindex’s Pennant
