HMS Vindex (1915)
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| Career |  |
|---|---|
| Name: | HMS Vindex |
| Builder: | Armstrong Whitworth, Elswick |
| Laid down: | 1904 |
| Launched: | March 7, 1905 |
| Acquired: | March 15, 1915 |
| Commissioned: | March 26, 1915 |
| Fate: | Sold back to owners February 12, 1920 |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 2950 tons normal |
| Length: | 361 ft (110 m) oa |
| Beam: | 42 ft (13 m) |
| Draught: | 13.25 ft (4.04 m) |
| Propulsion: | 3 shaft turbine 11,000 shp |
| Speed: | 23 knots |
| Complement: | 218 |
| Armament: | 4 x 12 pdr (76 mm); 1 x 6 pdr (57 mm) AA |
HMS Vindex was a Royal Navy seaplane carrier of the First World War. She had been built in 1905 by Armstrong Whitworth as the Viking, a fast passenger ferry for the Isle of Man Steam Packet.
The Viking was requisitioned by the Royal Navy on March 15, 1915 for conversion to a seaplane carrier, and was purchased outright on October 11, 1915. She was renamed HMS Vindex to avoid confusion with the destroyer HMS Viking.
HMS Vindex was fitted with a flying-off platform, allowing planes to take off from wheeled trolleys. She was capable of operating up to seven seaplanes, and during her career, operated a range of aircraft including Short Type 184, Bristol Scout, Sopwith Pup and Sopwith Baby. Her 12 pdr guns were later replaced by two 4inch Anti-Aircraft guns.
HMS Vindex was based at the Nore and Harwich, before moving to the Mediterranean in 1918. After paying-off in late 1919, she was sold back to her original owners on February 12, 1920.
[edit] References
- Colledge, J. J. and Warlow, Ben (2006). Ships of the Royal Navy: the complete record of all fighting ships of the Royal Navy, Rev. ed., London: Chatham. ISBN 9781861762818. OCLC 67375475.
- Dittmar, F. J. & Colledge, J. J., "British Warships 1914-1919", (Ian Allen, London, 1972), ISBN 0-7110-0380-7
- Gray, Randal (ed), "Conway's All The Worlds Fighting Ships, 1906-1921", (Conway Maritime Press, London, 1985), ISBN 0-85177-245-5
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