INS Viraat to become part of history

An average of 350 kg of rice, 7,000 parathas, 200 kg mutton, 80 kg of dal and 300 kg of vegetables was prepared daily when the majestic aircraft carrier INS Viraat was operational.

Prince Charles, the heir to the British throne, had served on-board when she was HMS Hermes – part of the Royal Navy. The second Centaur-Class aircraft carrier of the country has spent 29 years under the Indian flag and 27 years with the Royal Navy of the UK, totaling 56 years of operational service.

A world record too

She also holds the Guinness world record for being the oldest serving warship.  The iconic warship played a major role in Operation Jupiter, Operation Parakram and Operation Vijay after it was commissioned into the Indian Navy.

INS Viraat would be decommissioned on March 6 in Mumbai, where Admiral Sunil Lanba, the chief of naval staff, would preside over the decommissioning ceremony.  The total length of the warship is 226.5 metres and the breadth is 48.78 meters.

The ship is manned by 150 officers and 1,500 sailors.  The ship is like a mini-city, complete with attendant logistics infrastructure libraries, gymnasiums, an on-board ATM counter, a TV and a video studio.

A full-fledged hospital and dental centre function onboard to cater to all emergencies. The British-built warships are equipped for the comfort and convenience for all on-board, even in non-combat mode.

The ship also has a laundry, which washes over 800 pairs of uniforms daily, a tailor and a barber’s shop. Unlike other Indian Navy ships, INS Viraat has a chapel and a graveyard inside the ship, which is reminiscent of her British past. The crest of INS Viraat depicts an eagle with five arrows. The eagle symbolises air power.