After fulfilling the role of a light attack carrier for a number of years, "Hermes" was converted to a commando carrier to replace "Albion" in the early 1970s. However, a return to operating fixed-wing aircraft beckoned at the end of the decade. "Hermes" was fitted with a ski-jump to enable the ship to operate the new Sea Harrier aircraft then coming into service. In this role, the ship saw considerable action in the Falklands War, acting as the flagship of the aircraft carrier task force. "Hermes" finally left Royal Navy service in 1984, and was sold to India. As , she was recommissioned into the Indian Navy in 1987 and served through 2016; in February 2016, she was de-operationalised and laid up in preparation for her decommissioning, scheduled for June 2016.