The Indian Navy’s first aircraft carrier ‘INS Vikrant’ was commissioned in the United Kingdom at Belfast, Northern Ireland.

On 14 October 1943, the ship was laid down in the United Kingdom as HMS Hercules (R49) for the British Royal Navy.

On 22 September 1945, it was launched, but construction was suspended after the end of the Second World War.

In 1957, India purchased the incomplete carrier from Britain.

On 4 March 1961, it was commissioned into the Indian Navy at Belfast under the command of Captain Pritam Singh Mahindroo.

On 5 March 1961, Vikrant sailed from Belfast to Portsmouth and Portland for sea trials.

On 6 October 1961, it departed from the United Kingdom for India.

On 3 November 1961, it entered Bombay (now Mumbai).

On 4 December 1971, during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, it launched its first air strikes against targets in East Pakistan and enforced a naval blockade.

On 31 January 1997, INS Vikrant was decommissioned from active service.

On 14 January 2002, it was opened to the public as a museum ship in Mumbai.

In December 2012, it was closed to visitors.

On 22 November 2014, the ship was finally broken up for scrap.
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