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• The first Hermes was a converted cruiser that was used as an experimental seaplane tender by the Royal Naval Air Service shortly before the First World War. She was sunk by a German U-boat in 1914.

• The second Hermes was the first purpose built fleet aircraft carrier of the Royal Navy, built just after the First World War.

• The third Hermes (R12) was the last of the postwar conventional aircraft carriers commissioned into the Royal Navy ( 1959), later serving in the Falklands War, then sold to the Indian Navy and recommissioned as INS ViraatThe INS Viraat (R22) is a Centaur class aircraft carrier. Commissioned by India on 20 May 1987, it was purchased from the UK government in 1986 having served in the UK Royal Navy since the 1950s as HMS Hermes''. It recently underwent an upgrade and will s.