NAeL Minas Gerais (pennant number A 11) was a Colossus-class light aircraft carrier operated by the Marinha do Brasil (MB, Brazilian Navy) from 1960 until 2001.

The ship underwent a four-year conversion in the Netherlands to make her capable of operating heavier naval aircraft.

[2] The Colossus-class carriers were intended to be 'disposable warships': they were to be operated during World War II and scrapped at the end of hostilities or within three years of entering service.

[4][5] From late 1952 until mid-1955, Vengeance was loaned to the Royal Australian Navy, to serve in place of the under-construction HMAS Melbourne.

[8] Kubitschek later claimed that this was to avoid a naval rebellion during his inauguration at the start of 1956, and despite believing in the "military uselessness" of the second-hand warship,[8] the sale of Vengeance to Brazil for US$9 million went through on 14 December 1956.

[9] The size of the angle required that an accessway be built around the starboard side of the island superstructure; the weight acting as a counterbalance for the flight deck's portside overhang.

[9] Combined with the fitting of a more powerful steam catapult, stronger arresting gear, reinforced hangar elevators, and a mirror landing aid, these modifications permitted the operation of jet aircraft up to 20,000 pounds (9,100 kg) in weight.

[9][10] The carrier's island superstructure was replaced, and a lattice mast was fitted to support the new fire control system and radar suite.

[2] The carrier was commissioned into the Marinha do Brasil as NAeL Minas Gerais (named for Kubitschek's home state) on 6 December 1960.

[13] In 1965, President Humberto de Alencar Castelo Branco permitted the operation of helicopters to the Navy, fixed-wing aircraft were to remain the responsibility of the Força Aérea Brasileira (FAB, Brazilian Air Force).

[17] During 1995 and 1996, the ability to operate fixed-wing aircraft was restored to Minas Gerais after the catapult from the decommissioned Veinticinco de Mayo was acquired and installed.

[12] This was the first time since the carrier's commissioning that Força Aeronaval da Marinha (Brazilian Navy Aviation) had been permitted to own and operate fixed-wing aircraft.

[12] The 23 aircraft were formed as the First Intercept and Attack Squadron, had all entered service by early 2000, and began carrier operations in late October 2000.

[12][19] To complement this proposal, a plan to expand the Brazilian fleet air arm by acquiring second-hand A-4 Skyhawks from Kuwait or Israel was submitted.

[19] To make the purchase worthwhile, Minas Gerais would have to operate the aircraft until the replacement carrier entered service, which in turn required the installation of a modified steam catapult and arresting gear.

[3][22] At the time of her decommissioning, she was the second oldest active aircraft carrier in the world (a title passed on to the 1961-commissioned USS Kitty Hawk).

[21] The carrier was marked for sale in 2002, and was sought after by British naval associations for return to the United Kingdom and preservation as a museum ship, although they were unable to raise the required money.