HMAS Vengeance

HMAS Vengeance (I) was one of a group of 16 Light Fleet Carriers laid down in British shipyards during 1942 and 1943, known as the Colossus and Majestic classes.

HMAS Vengeance at sea in the waters off Sydney

It was commissioned by the Royal Navy (RN) as HMS Vengeance on 15 January 1945. It completed its workup in the Mediterranean in March 1945 before joining the East Indies Fleet and then the British Pacific Fleet. 

Vengeance served with the Home Fleet, including service in the Mediterranean and off Africa, until the early 1950s. It also spent a period conducting endurance trials in the Arctic in February and March 1949. In September 1952 it commenced a refit in preparation for its Australian service.

Vengeance was commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy, on loan from the RN, at Devonport, England, on 13 November 1952. Vengeance arrived in Sydney on 11 March 1953.

Vengeance began seagoing service with the Australian fleet in June 1953. It operated in Australian waters until April 1954. Between February and April 1954 it was one of several Australian warships tasked for Royal Escort duty during the visit of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highess the Duke of Edinburgh. 

In 1954 Vengeance began service as a fleet training ship, including instruction for national service trainees.

On 27 October 1954 it sailed from Sydney for Japan to embark aircraft, crew and equipment of No. 77 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, and return them to Australia. Vengeance (I) sailed from Yokosuka on 19 November 1954 and arrived in Sydney on 3 December.

Following a three-month refit which was completed in February 1955, Vengeance resumed training duties. On 16 June 1955 it sailed from Sydney to commence the long passage to England and reversion to the RN.

Vengeance decommissioned on 25 October 1955. It remained in the Reserve Fleet until 14 December 1956 when it was sold to Brazil. Following extensive reconstruction and modernisation in Rotterdam, Vengeance was renamed and commissioned by the Brazilian Navy as Minas Gerais on 6 December 1960.