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
The Republic XF-12 Rainbow was a four-engined reconnaissance aircraft designed for the USAAF. Designed during the Second World War, the first of two prototypes had its first flight on the 4th of February 1946.
On the 10th of July 1947, the first prototype had its right main gear severed at the engine nacelle while landing during maximum load tests. The aircraft bounced and the pilot took the aircraft up to a safe altitude. During the resulting crash landing, the right wing spar was cracked and the two starboard engines needed replacing. Republic repaired the XF-12 and it was returned to service.
The second prototype crashed on the 7th of November 1948 when the port inner engine exploded, causing violent buffeting. Five of the seven crew escaped safely while two crew members were killed.
With the end of the Second World War and the introduction of jet aircraft, the USAAF lost interest in the project. When no orders were received, flight testing of the remaining XF-11 was wound down and ceased in 1952.
Republic proposed an airliner version of the XF-12, called the RC-2. Although tentative interest was shown by several airlines, the projected operating costs were higher than competing aircraft and no RC-2s were built.
Full-scale mock-up of the XF-12Republic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 Rainbow under constructionRepublic XF-12 Rainbow under constructionRepublic XF-12 Rainbow Nose Secion MockupRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 Rainbow taking offRepublic XF-12 Rainbow 44-91002Republic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 Rainbow Nacelle Republic XF-12 Rainbow NacelleRepublic XF-12 Rainbow NacelleRepublic XF-12 Rainbow first prototype accident 10 July 1947The first Republic XF-12 Rainbow prototype after crash-landing with two out of three gear down. It was later repaired and put back into the airRepublic XF-12 Rainbow first prototype accident 10 July 1947Republic XF-12 Rainbow, RC-3 Seabee and P-47 ThunderboltRepublic XF-12 Rainbow, RC-3 Seabee and P-47 ThunderboltRepublic XF-12 Rainbow camera installationRepublic XF-12 Rainbow undercarriageRepublic RC-2 Rainbow advertRepublic RC2 Rainbow cutaway diagramRepublic RC-2 Rainbow cockpit mockup
