Oldest aircraft carrier INS Viraat retires today: Top 10 things to know

Served the Indian navy for 30 years, spending 2,250 days at sea, sailing 5,88,288 nautical miles

The world's oldest aircraft carrier in active service, INS Viraat, will be decommissioned on Monday after serving the Indian Navy for nearly 30 years. The decommissioning ceremony will be attended by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and other dignitaries. The grand event will see the lowering and wrap-up of the naval flag installed on the warship at sunset, marking an end to a long sea odyssey lasting 55 years. Here are 10 things to know about INS Viraat:
 

1. INS Viraat was earlier known as HMS Hermes. It initially served the British Royal Navy for around 27 years 

2. In the