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HMS Vengeance R71
Information gathered from the web sites http://www.hms-vengeance.co.uk/vengitin2.htm and www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk.
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19 March - 23 May 1945
On 15th January 1945, the newly constructed Vengeance (R71), along with Colossus, Glory and Venerable, were allocated to the British Pacific Fleet as the 11th Aircraft carrier Squadron (AC.11).
On 10th February, 1850 squadron embarked on Venerable for their carrier and DLT (Deck Landing Training) work-up. On the 25th, the squadron transferred to Vengeance, being joined a day later by 812 squadron flying Barracuda IIs.
After trails and preliminary work up on 2nd March in the Clyde approaches, it was time for a full work-up and shakedown period. This would normally have been carried out in the training areas off the Clyde and upper reaches of the Irish Sea. However, due to increased U-boat activity in the same Irish Sea, AC.11 was ordered to the safer waters of the Mediterranean. Colossus, Venerable and Vengeance sailed on 12th March for Malta, escorted by Tartar, Ulysses, HMCS Assinboine, Stckham, Inman and Cotton.
On reaching Marsaxlokk Bay, Malta, on 19.03.45, Venerable and Vengeance flew their squadrons ashore, whilst Colossus continued to Alexandria, returning to Malta in early May.
Vengeance departed for drydocking at Gibraltar on the 21st for maintenance on her underwater hull, returning to Marsaxlokk Bay on 22nd April. Embarking 812 and 1850 squadrons the squadrons between the 23rd and the 25th, the ship raised anchor and sailed the short distance to Grand Harbour the following month on 12th May, for a nine day maintenance period, departing Malta for Alexandria on the 23rd with Colossus, Venerable, Tuscan and Tyrian.
Glory departed the UK later on 9th May, arriving in Malta on the 22nd, to begin her work-up. Departure from Malta unknown.
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06 – 20 November 1947
The carrier arrived from Gibraltar on the 6th. On the 10th, 802 squadron was flown off the carrier to be based at Ta’ Qali, as the ship was required for trooping duties, entering Grand Harbour on the 11th, eventually departing for Singapore on the 20th.
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09 – 14 February 1948
HMS Vengeance returned from Singapore on the 9th, departing for the UK on the 14th.
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__ – 04 June 1952
In March 1952 the vessel had undergone a refit to prepare her for aircraft transport work, sailing for Malta with aircraft embarked, Fireflies and Sea Furies being visible on deck.
Vengeance again entered Grand Harbour on unknown date, late May or early June, whilst on delivery to the Royal Australian Navy, with Fireflies and Sea Furies visible on deck. The website www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk states the carrier was conveying aircraft to Malta.
Departed for Singapore on a trooping trip.
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12 - 20 August 1952
The carrier returned to Malta for an eight-day stay before sailing for the UK.
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__ January 1953
HMS Vengeance was loaned to the Royal Australian Navy for three years, due to the belated completion of the aircraft-carrier HMAS Melbourne. It was commissioned as HMAS Vengeance on 13th November 1952 and, after embarking three Bristol Sycamore helicopters for the Royal Australian Navy at Devonport, sailed on 7th January 1953 on its delivery voyage to Australia. It proceeded via Gibraltar, Malta, Port Said, Suez Canal, Colombo, Fremantle, Melbourne and eventually arrived in Sydney on 11th March 1953.
At the end of its Australian service, it again visited Malta. HMAS Vengeance departed Sydney for its return voyage to the UK on 16th June 1955, sailing via Singapore, Colombo, Aden, Suez, Port Said, and Malta. It arrived in Portsmouth on 5th August 1955 and on to Devonport on the 13th, where it reverted to the Royal Navy.
In October the ship was decommissioned, and the following year was sold to the Brazilian Navy. It sailed for Rotterdam for a $US27m refit to allow the operation of jet aircraft, sailing for Brazil in January 1961, entering Brazilian Navy service as the Minas Gerai.
The carrier remained in service (with two major refits in the 70’s and 90’s) until decommissioned in 2001, and eventual scrapping in 2003.
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