#INSViraat At sunset 2day, the Naval Ensign & Commissioning pennant of Viraat shall be hauled down 4 the very last time @SpokespersonMoD pic.twitter.com/h2CABkPzki — SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) March 6, 2017

#INSViraat End of an Era. Adm S Lanba CNS & Adm Sir Phillip Jones 1st Sea Lord Royal Navy 2attend Decommissioning ceremony @SpokespersonMoD pic.twitter.com/kn0MRRURRN — SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) March 5, 2017









The world’s oldest aircraft carrier, INS Viraat , which was in service with the Indian Navy was decommissioned at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai on Monday. This marks the end of an era of Viraat being the flagship of the Indian Navy. India finally lets go of this Centaur-class carrier, which spent 30 years in the Indian Navy and 27 years in the Royal Navy The decommissioning ceremony was attended by more than 1300 personnel who have served on board INS Viraat.Admiral Sir Philip Jones, KCB, ADC, First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff of Royal Navy and Indian Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba were present for the occasion.These are the things you should know about the last serving British built ship in the Indian Navy:1. INS Viraat is the longest serving warship in the world. It hold the Guinness Books of record for this, according to the Indian Navy.2. INS Viraat was first commissioned into the British Royal Navy as the HMS Hermes on November 18, 1959, 15 years after she was laid down in June, 1944.3. She served as the flagship of the Royal Navy’s task force during the Falklands War in 1982. She was decommissioned in 1985.4. Hermes was thereafter towed from Portsmouth Dockyard to Devonport Dockyard to be refitted and sold to India.5. The aircraft carrier was commissioned into the Indian Navy on May 12, 1987.6. Its motto is (in Sanskrit)- “Jalamev Yasya Balmev Tasya” (One who controls the sea is all powerful).7. The crest of Viraat shows an eagle which symbolizes air power and the five arrows held in the talons of the eagle depict the ship’s versatile weapon capability.1. She is referred to as ‘Mother’ in the Western Navy.2. She has been commanded by 22 Captains since 1987.3. She has been the Flagship of the Indian Navy since her inception.4.Five Indian Navy chiefs were raised and groomed in her lap.5. Viraat has played a major role in Operation Jupiter in 1989 in the Sri Lankan peace keeping operation.6. Her major participation was seen in Op Parakram in 2001-20012 when India and Pakistan were engaged in a standoff post the Parliament terror attack.7. The ship has participated in various international joint exercises such as Exercise Malabar with the US, Exercise Varuna with France, etc.8. It has been instrumental in honing the art of flying operations from a carrier deck in the Navy, which resulted in the seamless induction of INS Vikramaditya.1. Viraat consisted of the fighter jet, Sea Harriers, popularly called ‘White Tigers’, anti-submarine aircraft, Seak King Mk 42B, Sea King Mk 42 C known as ‘Harpoons’ and the Chetak helicopter. The Sea Harriers fleet was decommissioned in Goa on May 11, 2016.2. The Advanced Light Helicopter-’Dhruv’- and the Russian twin rotor Kamov-31 are also operated on the ship.1. On July 23, 2016, Viraat sailed from Mumbai to Kochi, where she underwent a refit in preparation of her decommissioning.2. The decommissioning ceremony was attended by personnel who have served on Viraat in the past. It will also include some officers and men from the United Kingdom.3. Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba told NDTV on Monday that there is a plan to sink the Viraat and convert it into a major tourist attraction for divers.It would be a marine museum. He also said if a buyer is not found for the ship in four months, it will be broken and sold for scrap.4. The Andhra Pradesh government had proposed converting the ship into a museum, but the project will cost almost Rs. 1,000 crore.5. Viraat, an Indian Naval Ship no more.