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