NAVYPEDIA

Photo

Vindex 1944

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Vindex	D15, R319	1667	Swan Hunter, Wallsend	1.7.1942	4.5.1943	3.12.1943	sold mercantile 10.1947
Nairana	D05	577	John Brown, Clydebank	6.11.1941	20.5.1943	12.12.1943	to Netherlands 3.1946 - 5.1948 (Karel Doorman), sold mercantile 1948

Technical data

Displacement standard, t	Vindex: 13445 Nairana: 13825
Displacement full, t	Vindex: 16830 Nairana: 17210
Length, m	Vindex: 159.6 Nairana: 160.9
Breadth, m	20.8
Draught, m	Vindex: 7.67 deep load Nairana: 7.82 deep load
No of shafts	2
Machinery	2 Doxford diesels
Power, h. p.	10700
Max speed, kts	17
Fuel, t	diesel oil 1655
Endurance, nm(kts)	13000(15)
Armament	1 x 2 - 102/45 QF Mk XVI, 4 x 4 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, 8 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, 18 aircraft (Fulmar, Sea Hurricane, Seafire, Martlet fighters, Swordfish torpedo bombers)
Electronic equipment	type 277, type 281В, 4x type 282, type 293 radars
Complement	700 - 728

Air group

Year	Fighters	torpedo bombers
1.1944 Nairana	3 Sea Hurricane	9 Swordfish
3.1944 Vindex	6 Sea Hurricane	12 Swordfish
10.1944 Vindex	4 Wildcat	12 Swordfish
10.1944 Nairana	6 Wildcat	14 Swordfish
1.1945 Vindex	7 Wildcat	12 Swordfish
4.1945 Vindex	12 Wildcat	8 SWordfish

Standard scale images

Graphics

Aircraft facilities(fd - 3,124m², ha - 1,309m² / 6,979m³)

 (fd - 3,124m², ha - 1,309m² / 6,979m³): Flight deck: 153.3x19.8m, hangar: 70.4x18.6x5.33m. There was a lift (13.7x10.4m, 4.6t) and 1 catapult C-II (6.4t plane was launched at 122km/h). Aircraft fuel stowage was 236,000l.   

Project history

Most successful British-built escort aircraft carriers. They were converted from hulls of fast cargo ships laid on the stocks and requisitioned in June-October, 1942. Small degree of readiness of motorships has allowed to bring to the design a number of the important changes: in particular, increasing of number of watertight bulkheads, more rational arranging of aviation magazines and petrol tanks. Nairana and Campania classes ships were lonely British escort aircraft carriers having strengthened flight deck ensuring an additional hull strength. Besides, they were differed by unusually wide hangars. Both ships carried up to 3000t lead ballast.

Modernizations

None.

1/1946: 1 x 2 - 102/45 QMk XIX, 4 x 4 - 40/39 Mk VII, 8 x 2 - 20/70 Mk V, 18 aircraft, type 277, type 281В, 4x type 282, type 293 radars

Naval service

No significant events.

Many thanks to Wolfgang Stöhr for additional information on this page.