VINDICTIVE aircraft carrier - cruiser
Vindictive 1918
| Name | No | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comp | Fate |
| Vindictive (ex-Cavendish) | Harland & Wolff, Belfast | 29/6/1916 | 17/1/1918 | 10/1918 | repair ship 1940, sold for BU 2/1946 |
|
Displacement normal, t |
9750 |
|
Displacement full, t |
12400 |
|
Length, m |
184.4 |
|
Breadth, m |
19.8 |
|
Draught, m |
5.9 |
|
No of shafts |
4 |
|
Machinery |
Parsons geared steam turbines, 12 Yarrow boilers |
|
Power, h. p. |
60000 |
|
Max speed, kn |
30 |
|
Fuel, t |
1480 oil + 860 coal |
| Armour, mm | belt: 76 - 38, deck: 38 - 13, CT: 76 |
|
Armament |
4 x 1 - 190/45 BL Mk VI, 4 x 1 - 76/50 QF Mk I, 4 x 1 - 76/45 QF Mk I HA, 6 - 533 TT (beam), 6 aircraft (Pup, Camel fighters, 11/2-strutter, Griffin, Fairey III recon planes, Short 184, Cuckoo torpedo bombers) |
|
Complement |
560 |
Aircraft facilities (fd - 1,503m², ha - 357m² / 1,607m³): There were 2 flight decks: flying-off deck with 32m length and landing deck (58.8 x 17.4m). Decks were connected by 2.4m wide gangway. Hangar was fitted under flying-off deck and has 23.8m length.
| Year | Fighters | Recon planes |
| 1918 | 2 Pup | 4 Griffin |
Ship project history: Vindictive was laid down as light cruiser of Hawkins class but in August 1917 it was decided to build her as aircraft carrier. At first she received only fwd hangar, airplanes started from its roof and landed ashore. Aft landing deck with second hangar were built before commissioning of the ship. Additional deep bulges were fitted to compensate additional top weight.
Protection: Underwater protection (bulges) was 1.5m in deep. Main belt was 76mm thick abreast machinery and extended up to upper deck. Its thickness decreased consistently to 64 - 51 - 38mm fore and 64 - 57mm aft. Upper 51mm belt extended from "A" turret to forecastle cut and from main belt to forecastle deck. Flat main deck connected with upper edge of main belt and was 38mm over machinery and 25mm over steering gear. Magazines had additional separate protection: 13mm sides and 25mm crowns.
Modernizations: 1923 - 1925: ship reconstructed as cruiser. Armament: 6 x 1 - 190/45 BL Mk VI, 3 x 1 - 102/45 QF Mk V HA, 4 x 1 - 47/40 Hotchkiss, 1 x 1 - 40/39 pompom, 6 - 533 TT (beam). There was an hangar and 15.2m compressed air catapult on the "B" position. Flight decks were removed. Cruiser can carry 6 Fairey IIID seaplanes.
1928: catapult was removed. Displacement was 9996 / 12000t.
(5/1936 - 9/1937, Portsmouth DYd): converted to TS: 4 boilers were removed (engine power decreased to 25000hp, max speed to 24kts); all guns removed, 2 x 1 - 120/45 BL Mk IX fitted.
1938: + 1 x 4 - 40/39 pompom
Naval service: Vindictive served on Baltic sea n 1919 and ran aground in Biorke Sound 6/7/1919, sustaining serious damage to frames and bottom plating. After repair in August 1919 - March 1920 she went to reserve. TS from 9/1937, converted to repair ship on Devonport DYd 9/1939 - 3/1940 (armament consisted of 3 x 2 - 102/45 QF Mk XVI, 1 x 4 - 40/39 pompom).
Vindictive 1919
© Ivan Gogin, 2008-09