Hermes aircraft carrier sails into Southampton
May 05, 1959 - Carrier That Took Fifteen Years To Build - Goes To Southampton For Fitting Out: The building of the aircraft carrier Hermes began as a rush job - a 22, 000 - ton warship that was to fight the Germans in 1944. But the rush job last fifteen years. Yesterday, the carrier sailed into Southampton for fitting out - six years after being launched by Lady Churchill. The Hermes, believed to have cost between 15, 000, 000 and 20, 000, 000 is expected to stay at Southampton for three weeks and then go for sped trials and return to Barrow for final fitting-out. The carrier, radically modified from the original plan, is fitted with the latest air defence radar, a fully angled deck, a steamatapult and a mirror landing aid. Photo shows: View of the Hermes aircraft carrier as she sailed into Southampton yesterday
