Completed on 15 January 1945, HMS Vengeance was a Colossus-class aircraft carrier built for the Royal Navy. Vengeance arrived in Sydney Australia in July 1945, but was still in port when the Japanese surrendered and therefore saw no action during the Second World War.
Post war she was converted for Arctic conditions, and from 5 February 1949 to 8 March 1949 operated in Arctic waters as part of Operation Rusty: an experimental cruise to determine how well ships, aircraft, and personnel functioned in extreme cold.
When the construction of the Australian aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne was delayed, Vengeance was loaned to the Royal Australian Navy and commissioned as HMAS Vengeance on 13 November 1952.
Vengeance was returned to the Royal Navy on 25 October 1955, but was not reactivated. Instead she was sold to Brazil on 14 December 1956 and commissioned into the Marinha do Brasil (MB, Brazilian Navy) as NAeL Minas Gerais on 6 December 1960.
HMS Vengeance in 1945HMS Vengeance (R-71) underway, 1945HMS Vengeance (R71) and another light carrier in Grand Harbour Malta March-April 1945HMS Vengeance moored in Sydney Harbour at the end of WWIIHMS Vengeance with BPF carriers at Woolloomooloo, SydneyHMS Vengeance (R71) at Labuan Island, Borneo, on 1 January 1946HMS Vengeance (R71) entering Sydney Harbour with 450 Australian Army personnel from Labuan January 1946HMS Vengeance (R71) entering Sydney Harbour with 450 Australian Army personnel from Labuan January 1946HMS VengeanceHMS Vengeance during her visit to Oslo in 1947HMS Vengeance moored in the River Forth in ScotlandHMS Vengeance (R71)HMS Vengeance (R71)HMS Vengeance (R71)HMS Vengeance
Arctic Trials
HMS Vengeance undergoing Arctic Trials during February and March 1949. Fairey Firefly of 814 NAS on deckHMS Vengeance undergoing Arctic Trials during February and March 1949. Fairey Firefly and Sea Fury aircraft on deckHMS Vengeance undergoing Arctic Trials during February and March 1949. Fairey Firefly and Sea Fury aircraft on deckHMS Vengeance undergoing Arctic Trials during February and March 1949. Fairey Firefly and Sea Fury aircraft on deck
Aircraft Operations
de Havilland Sea Hornet
de Havilland Sea Hornet NF 21 of No 809 NAS on HMS Vengeancede Havilland Sea Hornet NF 21 (in front) and Fairey Fireflies on the flight deck of HMS Vengeance May 1950
de Havilland Sea Vampire
de Havilland Sea Vampire landing on HMS Vengeance (R71) in 1951
Fairey Barracuda
Fairey Barracuda from HMS Vengeance 812 Sqn Dec 1945Fairey Barracuda from HMS Vengeance 812 Sqn Dec 1945Fairey Barracuda HMS Vengeance May 1951Fairey Barracuda taking off from HMS Vengeance January 1945A Fairey Barracuda landing on HMS Vengeance in the Clyde. The arrestor hook has caught the arrestor wire.Fairey Barracuda of 812 Squadron, HMS Vengeance during exercises off Manus, Australia, when the pilot decided to go round again instead of landing on. The aircraft can be seen pulling up sharply and turning away just in front of the carrier’s islandFairey Barracuda of 821 NAS going round again on HMS VengeanceFairey Barracuda crash on HMS Vengeance in the PacificFairey Barracuda taking off from HMS VengeanceFairey Barracuda Mk.II on HMS Vengeance 812 Sqn Sep 1945 Hong KongCrew of a Fairey Barracuda from HMS Vengeance after they had been forced to land in the sea. All were saved Apr 45
Fairey Firefly
Fairey Firefly fighter-bombers operated by 812 Squadron on HMS VengeanceFairey Firefly of 812 Squadron crashed on HMS VengeanceHMS Vengeance undergoing Arctic Trials during February and March 1949. Fairey Firefly and Sea Fury aircraft on deckHMS Vengeance undergoing Arctic Trials during February and March 1949. Fairey Firefly and Sea Fury aircraft on deckHMS Vengeance undergoing Arctic Trials during February and March 1949. Fairey Firefly and Sea Fury aircraft on deckHMS Vengeance undergoing Arctic Trials during February and March 1949. Fairey Firefly of 814 NAS on deck
Hawker Sea Fury
Hawker Sea Fury FB II’s from 802 Sqn. in formation during HMS Vengeance visit to C.T. in Nov. 1948HMS Vengeance undergoing Arctic Trials during February and March 1949. Fairey Firefly and Sea Fury aircraft on deckHMS Vengeance undergoing Arctic Trials during February and March 1949. Fairey Firefly and Sea Fury aircraft on deckHMS Vengeance undergoing Arctic Trials during February and March 1949. Fairey Firefly and Sea Fury aircraft on deck
Supermarine Seafire
Supermarine Seafire III crash on HMS VengeanceSupermarine Seafire III crash on HMS VengeanceSupermarine Seafire crash on HMS VengeanceSupermarine Seafire crash on HMS VengeanceHMS Vengeance during her visit to Oslo in 1947
Vought Corsair
Vought Corsair landing-on HMS Vengeance March 1945
Laid down on 12 December 1942 as HMS Warrior, a Colossus-class light-aircraft carrier for the Royal Navy, the ship was loaned to the Royal Canadian Navy as HMCS Warrior. Commissioned on 24 January 1946, she lacked heating for some of the onboard equipment, as the Royal Navy had intended her to be used in the tropics where heating was unnecessary. Unfortunately, the Royal Canadian Navy operated in a much colder climate, which made her unsuitable for service in the north. Combined with defense cuts, it was decided to only operate one aircraft carrier (the other being HMCS Magnificent which would shortly be available) and Warrior was returned to the Royal Navy on 23 March 1948.
While operated by the RCN, Warrior embarked 803 (Supermarine Seafires and 825 Squadrons (Fairey Fireflies). In August 1947, the squadrons were re-equipped with Firefly Mark IV and Hawker Sea Fury aircraft.
After a period of service with the Royal Navy, she was sold to Argentina as ARA Independencia.
HMCS Warrior going under the Lions Gate Bridge 10 February 1947HMCS Warrior (R31)HMCS Warrior (R31)HMCS Warrior (R31)HMCS Warrior (R31)HMCS Warrior (R31) after the aircraft carrier ran aground, 14:30 hours, 23 August 1946HMCS Warrior (R31) with HMS Savage G20 in the backgroundHMCS Warrior (R31)HMCS Warrior (R31)HMCS Warrior (R31)HMCS Warrior (R31)HMCS Warrior (R31)HMCS Warrior (R31) run aground in the St. Lawrence Seaway due to a steering gear problem in 1947HMCS Warrior (R31)HMCS Warrior (R31)HMCS Warrior (R31)HMCS Warrior (R31) Sunday divisions 1947HMCS Warrior (R31) fueling HMCS Nootka R96 during deployment to the Pacific Ocean in 1947HMCS Warrior (R31)HMCS Warrior (R31)HMCS Warrior (R31) in dry dockHMCS Warrior (R31) in dry dock
Aircraft Operations
Fairey Firefly
Fairey Firefly on HMCS WarriorFairey Firefly with folded wings on HMCS WarriorFairey Firefly with wings folded on HMCS WarriorFairey Firefly on HMCS WarriorFairey Firefly aircraft on HMCS WarriorFairey Firefly aircraft on HMCS WarriorSupermarine Seafire and Fairey Firefly aircraft on HMCS WarriorFairey Firefly aircraft on HMCS WarriorFairey Firefly landing on HMCS WarriorFairey Firefly landing on HMCS WarriorCrashed Fairey Firefly on HMCS WarriorCrashed Fairey Firefly on HMCS WarriorCrashed Fairey Firefly on HMCS WarriorCrashed Fairey Firefly on HMCS WarriorCrashed Fairey Firefly on HMCS Warrior
Supermarine Seafire Mk XV
Supermarine Seafire on HMCS WarriorSupermarine Seafire and Fairey Firefly aircraft on HMCS WarriorSupermarine Seafire taking off from HMCS Warrior
Laid down on the 15th of March 1912 and launched on the 14th of December 1914, Haruna was the forth of the four-ship Kongō-class battlecruisers built for the Imperial Japanese Navy. Her three sisters were Kirishima, Hiei and Kongō. Commissioned into the fleet on the 19th of April 1915, she saw no action during the First World War, although she undertook patrols off the Chinese coast.
During gunnery drills in 1920, an explosion destroyed one of her guns, damaged the gun turret, and killed seven men.
In 1926 Haruna underwent a reconstruction to transform her into a battleship. Additional armour was added and her speed increased. In 1933 a more extensive reconstruction was undertaken, with her superstructure completely rebuilt, aircraft facilities added and her machinery upgraded. She was redesignated a fast battleship and primarily used to escort Japan’s fast aircraft carriers.
During the Second World War, she provided support for the invasion of the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) and in the Indian Ocean raid of April 1942. During the Battle of Midway, she provided escort to Nagumo’s four carriers, before redeploying to the Solomon Islands during the Battle of Guadalcanal. Haruna participated in the Battle of the Philippine Sea and the Battle of Leyte Gulf in 1944 (22–23 October).
In 1945, Haruna was transferred to Kure Naval Base, where she was sunk by aircraft of Task Force 38 on 28 July 1945.
Haruna ready for launchHaruna being launchedHaruna fitting out at Kawasaki in Kobe, Japan14 inch gun being installed (in the turret at left) on Haruna
Haruna in Service
Haruna at Kobe, Japan one week after commissioningHaruna undergoing sea trials in 1915Haruna 4 April 1916Haruna coaling 21 Oct 1915Haruna at Yokosuka, Japan 1916Haruna undergoes trials after reconfiguration from a battlecruiser to a battleship 1928Haruna 3 Nov 1931Haruna underway, 1931Haruna Feb 1 1933Haruna 1933Haruna Running trials 28 Aug 1934Haruna Running trials 28 Aug 1934Haruna seen in the mid 1930sHaruna undergoes trials after her second reconstructionHaruna off Yokosuka, Japan in 1935Fuso, (background), and Yamashiro, (foreground), Haruna is in the distant backgroundHarunaHaruna looking aft at forward main armament late 1930s
Explosion in Turret No. 1
Sep 20 1920 following explosion in No 1 turretSep 20 1920 following explosion in No 1 turret
Aircraft
Launching Nakajima E8NNakajima E5N 1937Nakajima E5N with a Kawanishi E7K1 in the background
Under Attack in Kure
July 28, 1945 Haruna under attack by U.S. Aircraft at Kure, JapanJuly 28, 1945 Haruna under attack by U.S. aircraft at Kure, Japan
Post-War Wreck
Wreck of HarunaHaruna wreck post warHaruna Sunk at her moorings following the Kure raids on July 28th, 1945. Taken after the war, these late 1945Haruna Sunk at her moorings following the Kure raids on July 28th, 1945. Taken after the war, these late 1945October 1945 the sunken hulk of the Haruna at Kure, JapanHaruna wreck post warHaruna wreck post warHaruna Sunk at her moorings following the Kure raids on July 28th, 1945Haruna wreck post warHaruna wreck post war
