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