HMS Hermes (R12) (Centaur Class Aircraft Carrier) (1959-1984) (Ex RN)

Contains threads on Royal Navy equipment of the past, present and future.
Lord Jim
Senior Member
Posts: 7314
Joined: 10 Dec 2015, 02:15
United Kingdom

Re: HMS Hermes (R12) (Centaur Class Aircraft Carrier) (1959-1984) (Ex RN)

Post by Lord Jim »

It is a shame that we have not preserved at least one warship from the Falkland's War as a memorial/museum. But then again few vessels have ever been preserved and those you can count on one hand.

User avatar
SKB
Senior Member
Posts: 7931
Joined: 30 Apr 2015, 18:35
England

Re: HMS Hermes (R12) (Centaur Class Aircraft Carrier) (1959-1984) (Ex RN)

Post by SKB »

From the Falklands, we still have HMS Bristol (D23) at Whale Island, Portsmouth. Now used as a static training ship.
HMS Conqueror's periscopes, Captain's cabin and control panel are at Gosport's Royal Navy Submarine Museum. Conqueror herself is at Devonport awaiting dismantling....

User avatar
SKB
Senior Member
Posts: 7931
Joined: 30 Apr 2015, 18:35
England

Re: HMS Hermes (R12) (Centaur Class Aircraft Carrier) (1959-1984) (Ex RN)

Post by SKB »

Image
Image

It's 38 years to the day since HMS Hermes (and HMS Invincible) left Portsmouth for the Falkland Islands.


R686
Senior Member
Posts: 2322
Joined: 28 May 2015, 02:43
Australia

Re: HMS Hermes (R12) (Centaur Class Aircraft Carrier) (1959-1984) (Ex RN)

Post by R686 »

Comparing Hermes to the current QE class carriers it just seems to me that even though the ramp is an afterthought on Hermes it just appears to have nicer lines overall the the current UK carriers

Scimitar54
Senior Member
Posts: 1701
Joined: 13 Jul 2015, 05:10
United Kingdom

Re: HMS Hermes (R12) (Centaur Class Aircraft Carrier) (1959-1984) (Ex RN)

Post by Scimitar54 »

Did not have to think so much about Radar Signature reduction in those days! :mrgreen:

RAF>FAN
Member
Posts: 45
Joined: 01 May 2015, 08:30

Re: HMS Hermes (R12) (Centaur Class Aircraft Carrier) (1959-1984) (Ex RN)

Post by RAF>FAN »

R686 wrote:Comparing Hermes to the current QE class carriers it just seems to me that even though the ramp is an afterthought on Hermes it just appears to have nicer lines overall the the current UK carriers
I have stated previously that although the QE Class are undoubtedly fantastic warships, good lookers they are not but they are built to fight not to win any fashion show.

Just my opinion of course.

User avatar
whitelancer
Member
Posts: 619
Joined: 05 May 2015, 22:19
United Kingdom

Re: HMS Hermes (R12) (Centaur Class Aircraft Carrier) (1959-1984) (Ex RN)

Post by whitelancer »

HMS Victorious my favourite carrier with a proper carrier bow..



HMS Queen Elizabeth


Spot the difference.
Its always seemed to me that originally QE was meant to have had a bow like Victorious or indeed Hermes but someone came along needing to save money and decided that chopping 5-10 meters off the bow was the way to do it. Probably not the case but it would have been aesthetically more pleasing if the bow looked more like Victorious, even with the ramp.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

User avatar
whitelancer
Member
Posts: 619
Joined: 05 May 2015, 22:19
United Kingdom

Re: HMS Hermes (R12) (Centaur Class Aircraft Carrier) (1959-1984) (Ex RN)

Post by whitelancer »

Sorry problems attaching the pic of HMs Victorious which is very annoying.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

RAF>FAN
Member
Posts: 45
Joined: 01 May 2015, 08:30

Re: HMS Hermes (R12) (Centaur Class Aircraft Carrier) (1959-1984) (Ex RN)

Post by RAF>FAN »

whitelancer wrote:HMS Victorious my favourite carrier with a proper carrier bow..



HMS Queen Elizabeth


Spot the difference.
Its always seemed to me that originally QE was meant to have had a bow like Victorious or indeed Hermes but someone came along needing to save money and decided that chopping 5-10 meters off the bow was the way to do it. Probably not the case but it would have been aesthetically more pleasing if the bow looked more like Victorious, even with the ramp.

Maybe the bow section was on a different set of construction drawings and someone spilled their coffee over them, threw them away and didn't replace them. That's why the bow is missing? :lol: :roll:

User avatar
SKB
Senior Member
Posts: 7931
Joined: 30 Apr 2015, 18:35
England

Re: HMS Hermes (R12) (Centaur Class Aircraft Carrier) (1959-1984) (Ex RN)

Post by SKB »

Image
The front of Hermes' ramp has a streamlined rounded wing-edge look about it. Was it designed that way to generate aerodynamic uplift for Sea Harriers?
Or to reduce drag (slowing the ship) from a simpler slab-fronted QE style ramp? I also like the way Hermes' ramp sides follow the contours of the upper hull.
Very elegant.

User avatar
SKB
Senior Member
Posts: 7931
Joined: 30 Apr 2015, 18:35
England

Re: HMS Hermes (R12) (Centaur Class Aircraft Carrier) (1959-1984) (Ex RN)

Post by SKB »

Enough of the non Hermes related fantasy chat please.

Ron5
Donator
Posts: 7249
Joined: 05 May 2015, 21:42
United States of America

Re: HMS Hermes (R12) (Centaur Class Aircraft Carrier) (1959-1984) (Ex RN)

Post by Ron5 »

You're correct Jake, the CdeG is too small for the F-35C.

downsizer
Member
Posts: 893
Joined: 02 May 2015, 08:03

Re: HMS Hermes (R12) (Centaur Class Aircraft Carrier) (1959-1984) (Ex RN)

Post by downsizer »

Ron5 wrote:You're correct Jake, the CdeG is too small for the F-35C.
By how much?

SW1
Senior Member
Posts: 5657
Joined: 27 Aug 2018, 19:12
United Kingdom

Re: HMS Hermes (R12) (Centaur Class Aircraft Carrier) (1959-1984) (Ex RN)

Post by SW1 »

Digger22 wrote:Could the F35C operate from a Hermes sized carrier? It was deemed unsuitable for F4. F35C has greater thrust/weight ratio? Shorter, but wider wingspan though, higher Max Weight countered by thrust/weight ratio? If so shouldn't QE class have been a class of Four Cat and Trap 30k Carriers? Operating the C would have been better than a two type mixed fleet of A and B's.
Thrust to weight ratio is a metric most associated around aircraft acceleration or climb performance. Lift to weight, thrust to drag is the common steady state flight. In this instance lift to weight being the most relevant in so much that your looking at Cl max for landing. Low observable aircraft do not like apertures of any kind and so the flaps on f35c where constrained by design this lead to the requirement for a bigger wing to achieve the desired Cl for acceptable field performance. This drives approach aoa and speed which for f35 is higher I think around 144kts, which with max a/c landing weight, arrestor wire effects and the time for the engine to spool to go around speed will determine landing distance requirements. You can always dial back a/c weight (less fuel and ordnance) to improve these metrics or make the ship go faster. You can then work of if it gives you something that is operationally relevant. Field performance is a massive driver in a/c design.


User avatar
SKB
Senior Member
Posts: 7931
Joined: 30 Apr 2015, 18:35
England

Re: HMS Hermes (R12) (Centaur Class Aircraft Carrier) (1959-1984) (Ex RN)

Post by SKB »


:thumbdown: :cry:

User avatar
Tempest414
Senior Member
Posts: 5550
Joined: 04 Jan 2018, 23:39
France

Re: HMS Hermes (R12) (Centaur Class Aircraft Carrier) (1959-1984) (Ex RN)

Post by Tempest414 »

Very sad but was always going to happen one day however she did well to stay a creditable asset for the best part of 60 years and a war vet to boot

User avatar
Tempest414
Senior Member
Posts: 5550
Joined: 04 Jan 2018, 23:39
France

Re: HMS Hermes (R12) (Centaur Class Aircraft Carrier) (1959-1984) (Ex RN)

Post by Tempest414 »

SKB wrote:Image
The front of Hermes' ramp has a streamlined rounded wing-edge look about it. Was it designed that way to generate aerodynamic uplift for Sea Harriers?
Or to reduce drag (slowing the ship) from a simpler slab-fronted QE style ramp? I also like the way Hermes' ramp sides follow the contours of the upper hull.
Very elegant.
This is a great picture and shows off the deck angel and lay out given Hermes was 225 x 43 meters it will be interesting to see what China will do given the proposed lay out of the type 076 is very similar plus looks to be 240 x 40 meters

R686
Senior Member
Posts: 2322
Joined: 28 May 2015, 02:43
Australia

Re: HMS Hermes (R12) (Centaur Class Aircraft Carrier) (1959-1984) (Ex RN)

Post by R686 »

SKB wrote:
:thumbdown: :cry:

Maybe the Chinese will buy it to turn into a casino :lol:

User avatar
SKB
Senior Member
Posts: 7931
Joined: 30 Apr 2015, 18:35
England

Re: HMS Hermes (R12) (Centaur Class Aircraft Carrier) (1959-1984) (Ex RN)

Post by SKB »



User avatar
Jensy
Senior Member
Posts: 1061
Joined: 05 Aug 2016, 19:44
United Kingdom

Re: HMS Hermes (R12) (Centaur Class Aircraft Carrier) (1959-1984) (Ex RN)

Post by Jensy »

One last ride on the HMS Hermes preservation rollercoaster:

Ready to sell warship 'Viraat' for Rs 100 crore
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/ne ... 425379.cms
Since the ship was bought as scrap in an auction, aspiring buyers would also need to procure a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Ministry of Defence to buy the ship now, Shree Ram Group Chairman Mukesh Patel said on Thursday.

"I bought this warship just out of my love for my country. Now, a Mumbai-based company wants to convert this ship it into a museum. Since they are also doing it out of patriotism, I agreed to sell the ship to them," he said.
Only a very slim chance but there might be hope for the old girl yet!

User avatar
SKB
Senior Member
Posts: 7931
Joined: 30 Apr 2015, 18:35
England

Re: HMS Hermes (R12) (Centaur Class Aircraft Carrier) (1959-1984) (Ex RN)

Post by SKB »


User avatar
SKB
Senior Member
Posts: 7931
Joined: 30 Apr 2015, 18:35
England

Re: HMS Hermes (R12) (Centaur Class Aircraft Carrier) (1959-1984) (Ex RN)

Post by SKB »

Going, going....
Image
Image
:cry:

Digger22
Member
Posts: 347
Joined: 27 May 2015, 16:47
England

Re: HMS Hermes (R12) (Centaur Class Aircraft Carrier) (1959-1984) (Ex RN)

Post by Digger22 »

The Worlds Greatest ever Carrier?? Poor old girl.

Post Reply