INS Viraat to be decommissioned

 INS Viraat to be decommissioned  

INS Viraat, the oldest serving aircraft carrier, will be decommissioned today after serving the Indian Navy for nearly 30 years. Originally christened(नामकरण) HMS Hermes, INS Viraat served the

British Royal Navy from 1959 to 1984 before she was decommissioned and sold(बेच दिया) to India. Under her new name and flag, INS Viraat was commissioned into the Indian Navy on May 12, 1987. The ageing warship sailed(रवाना हुए) under her own power for the last time from Mumbai to Kochi in July 2016. Last October she was towed out of Kochi and brought back to Mumbai where she will be formally decommissioned at a ceremony(समारोह).

The ceremonies of the Guinness Record holder warship shall be commemorated(स्मरणोत्सव) by releasing a book on her history, and a Special Cover by Army Postal Service.