HMS Vengeance (R71)

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HMAS Vengeance in 1953

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 15 January 1945. Vengeance left for the Far East to reinforce the British Pacific Fleet. Immediately after hostilities ended, the Vengeance was dispatched to Hong Kong to reoccupy the colony to prevent a coup de main by the Chinese forces. 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. The ship was loaned to the Royal Australian Navy on 13 November 1952. After three years of service in the southern hemisphere, Vengeance returned to the Royal Navy on 12 August 1955, but was sold to Brazil on 14 December 1956. The ship was commissioned in the Brazilian fleet as NAeL Minas Gerais.

After being decommissioned, Vengeance was briefly put up for auction at eBay.com. The auction was placed by an anonymous seller from Brazil, but was removed before the auction completed because eBay forbids the sale of military ordnance. She was ultimately taken to India and broken up for scrap.