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HMAS Australia (ex-HMS Hermes - STOVL Version)

In this alternate Cold War timeline, Australia secures a new carrier — but not without a twist of history.

In reality, pursuant to the 1981 Defence White Paper, the sale and transfer of HMS Invincible was negotiated, and by 1982, Australia had announced it would acquire the carrier to replace HMAS Melbourne. However, following the outbreak of the Falklands War in 1982, Invincible was rushed into action, and the sale was eventually cancelled as the UK opted to retain a three-carrier force. As a result, the RAN was left without a replacement for Melbourne, which decommissioned later that year.

But what if circumstances were different?

Historically, HMS Hermes in her CATOBAR configuration had also been offered to Australia in the late 1960s as a potential replacement for Melbourne, but she was rejected due to high operating and manpower costs. In the early 1980s, with Hermes again considered surplus following the planned drawdown of Britain's carrier fleet, she was once more offered to Australia—this time with a package that included a squadron of Sea Harriers. The offer was ultimately declined again, largely due to fiscal constraints and uncertainty surrounding the future of fixed-wing naval aviation.

In this alternate timeline, however, with increased investment in the RAN and heightened strategic concern in the Indo-Pacific—especially regarding Cold War tensions, the long-term status of Hong Kong and a stronger desire to maintain fixed-wing carrier operations—Australia reassesses its priorities. The Royal Navy, having decided to retain Invincible post-Falklands as part of its own force structure, instead offers Hermes to Australia on highly favourable terms, including a full refit and upgrade package similar to what she historically received before being sold to India. In her STOVL configuration, the long term operation and maintenance would have seemed less intensive.

Under this arrangement, Hermes undergoes a comprehensive modernisation refit in 1983–1984, including refurbished machinery, updated command facilities, new communications, and modifications to support the Sea Harrier and modern helicopters. She is recommissioned into the Royal Australian Navy in late 1984 as HMAS Australia (R22).

The carrier becomes the centrepiece of Australia’s revived fixed-wing naval aviation, operating Sea Harrier FRS.1s (later FA.2s), Sea King helicopters, and AEW variants. Over the next three decades, Australia serves in both peacetime and combat deployments, including regional interventions and contributions to coalition operations in the Middle East and elsewhere. Her longevity, bolstered by a capable refit and later upgrades, mirrors the extended service life the ship achieved under Indian service in real history.

• 1984 – Baseline Configuration: Received with original sensor suite and Seacat missile systems, Sea Harrier FRS.1 aircraft, Sea King Mk50 and UK sourced Sea King Mk50 AEW.2A. Focused on air defence and ASW, with minor integration of U.S. munitions.
  
  
• 1989 – First refit: Major overhaul replaces the Seacat launchers with the Sea Sparrow BPDMS and its associated fire control systems. A significant upgrade is the replacement of the original sensor suite with American AN/SPS-48C and AN/SPS-49(V)5 radars and American AN/SLQ-32 ESM/ECM systems. FRS.2 (AU) multirole Harriers replace the original squadron. Three Phalanx Block 1 CIWS are added to the defensive weapons suite in order to protect the flagship from missile swarm attacks.
  
  
• 1999 – The Modern Era: Fully realized multirole strike carrier with AMRAAM-capable Sea Harrier FA2 (AU) fighters with internal ECM and precision strike laser-designator pods. Upgraded ASW Sea King Mk50B & Sea King Mk50B AEW.5 helicopters. Phalanx CIWS upgraded to Block 1A standard and upgraded RIM-7P missiles keep the defensive suite up to date. Continued sensor upgrades include the AN/SPS-48E and AN/SPS-49A(V)1 radars and ESM/ECM systems kept up to date.

The ship would have required significant investment however if done so it would have allowed the RAN to maintain a very powerful blue water capability into the 21st century, also retaining and continued development of carrier based aviation.

• Sea Harrier FRS.1 (AU): Standard British FRS.1 aircraft with minor modifications for U.S. bomb and rocket compatibility. Carried by the 1983 variant with classic hi-vis livery.
  
  
• FRS.2 (AU): With collaboration between British Aerospace and the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation, a new variant was built under licence (and older existing airframes updated) and introduced by 1989, equipped with AGM-65B/F Mavericks and Shrike missiles, plus upgraded avionics and improved ECM pod capability. New low-vis livery used from this time period onwards.
  
  
• F(A).2 (AU): 1990s updated variant of the CAC licence built FRS.2 developed with British FAA collaboration - equipped with Blue Vixen radar, AIM-120 AMRAAM, Australianised LITENING laser designation pod for GBU-12 LGBs & AGM-65E Maverick, AGM-88 HARM, and integrated ECM. The definitive RAN multirole naval fighter.

✅ Three fully realized variants spanning 1984–1999, with the final variant very capable out into the 2000's and beyond
✅ Modular Harrier squadrons reflecting RAN-specific upgrades
✅ Eventual improvement of defensive weapons suite
✅ Ideal for Cold War or Pacific flashpoint scenarios
✅ Pair with the HMAS Melbourne '84 or '98 mods to create a powerful two-carrier RAN force, for interesting what-if Australian carrier based naval resurgence and alt-history scenarios, with Australian naval independence and the opportunity to make big contributions in larger conflicts with allied navies
✅Pair the 1999 variant with the Gallipoli Class DDG mod to give her a powerful AAW escort

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The Royal Navy Mod Pack (Team) - especially petrouvis01 who made the HMS Hermes model
RAN and RCN Sea Kings MOD - by plasm@n
RAN Sea Harrier (fictional) MOD - by plasm@n
New Threat Upgrade - by nuclearstonk


(You will need to look these up on YouTube, the automated content checker can have issues with links)
Simple Install Guide by Skyblazer
Sealifter and Anchor Chain guide by Brothermunro