| Records at the best of times can be | | | | it was believed the Japanese intended to |
| thoughtlessly cruel. One which I feel never | | | | occupy to use as a submarine base from which |
| really accounted for the sterling service | | | | to attack allied convoy routes in the Indian |
| delivered by a ship during wartime was that | | | | Ocean. |
| in which the Admiralty record concludes the | | | | |
| history of HMS Indomitable. No reference to | | | | The Indomitable, along with her sister ship |
| descommisioning, merely the word scrapped. | | | | Illustrius and a vast fleet of other ships |
| | | | converged on Durban in South Africa in |
| I can find no record that the Indomitable was | | | | preparation for an invasion. This commenced |
| ever decommissioned; though many sources | | | | on 5th May at Courrier Bay and after bitter |
| report her earlier history. By the time I | | | | fighting lasting almost two days the |
| came to know her, in 1952, she was already | | | | strategic town was taken. |
| feeling her age. I only learned of her | | | | |
| distinguied career much later. She was | | | | In July the Indom' returned to the UK, but |
| ordered in 1937 as war loomed ever closer. As | | | | was soon off again into action, this time for |
| a modified version of the Illustrious Class | | | | Operation Pedestal as part of the largest |
| Aircraft Carriers already in service | | | | convoy ever to head for beseiged Malta: |
| Indomitable would carry more aircraft than | | | | fourteen merchant ships were escorted by, as |
| the older ships. This would prove a real | | | | well as the Indomitable, Cairo, Charybdis, |
| advantage during the coming wartime forays. | | | | Eagle, Victorious, Kenya, Manchester, Nelson, |
| Her first real venture into the maritime | | | | Nigeria, Phoebe, Rodney, Sirious and 32 |
| world came in November 1941 when her maiden | | | | destroyers. The plan was for HMS Furious, |
| voyage took her to the West Indies. A not | | | | which had also joined the other ships, to |
| very auspicious start in fact, as whilst | | | | launch Spitfires headed for Malta to |
| there she ran aground on a coral reef near | | | | reinforce the air defences to enable an |
| Jamaica. Not badly damaged, however, she was | | | | offensive to take place. This time the |
| able to make a quick return to service. In | | | | mission was a complete success ending on 11th |
| January 1942 she joined the Eastern Fleet | | | | August. |
| based in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) where she | | | | |
| ferried 48 RAF Hawker Hurricans for Singapore | | | | However during the operation an 1100 pound |
| via Java. | | | | bomb had pierced Indomitable's armoured |
| | | | flight deck putting her out of action for the |
| Here started her World War Two career and she | | | | remainder of Operation Pedestal. She was hit |
| became ever more indispensible as the other | | | | twice, but thankfully evaded three later |
| carriers in the Eastern Fleet went out of | | | | attacks. |
| service. Hermes could already be said to be | | | | |
| obsolete. Though still in action at that time | | | | Limping to the United States she remained |
| she would be sunk in the Indian Ocean before | | | | there for repairs until February 1943 when |
| too long, along with the Vampire, an | | | | she returned to the Mediterranean. Again |
| Australian destroyer, and a corvette. | | | | tragedy. She was torpedoed on 15th June |
| | | | whilst covering the Sicily Landings and again |
| In May 1942 Operation Ironclad was launched | | | | returned to the USA for repairs, this time |
| against the Vichy-controlled Madagascar which | | | | remaining there until February 1944. |