HMS Vengeance (R71)
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HMS Vengeance
HMS Vengeance was a Colossus-class aircraft carrier of the Royal Navy, laid down on 16 November 1942 at Swan Hunter, launched 23 February 1944 and commissioned in the fleet 15 January 1945. Vengeance left for the Far East to reinforce the British Pacific Fleet immediately it was able to. Immediately hostilties were over, Vengeance was despatched to Hong Kong to reoccupy the colony. This was done to prevent Chinese forces attempting a de facto takeover by coup de main. Vengeance then joined the other Colossus-class ships in repatriating prisoners of war.
After returning to the UK, Vengeance served as flagship of the 3rd Aircraft Carrier Squadron for two years. In 1952, new pastures beckoned, and the ship was loaned to the Royal Australian Navy on 13 November 1952. After three years of service in the antipodes, the ship was returned to the Royal Navy on 12 August 1955. The ship left British hands for the last time on 14 December 1956 upon sale to Brazil. The ship was commissioned in the Brazillian fleet as Minas Gerais.
See HMS Vengeance for other ships of this name.