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| The fifth '''HMS ''Illustrious'' (R06)''' is an ] ] of the ], affectionately known as 'Lusty' to her crew. | The fifth '''HMS ''Illustrious'' (R06)''' is an ] ] of the ], affectionately known as 'Lusty' to her crew. | ||
| She was was laid down at ] on the ] in ], and launched in ]. As the ship neared the end of its fitting out period, the ] broke out. As a consequence, work on ''Illustrious'' was greatly speeded up. The war was won before ''Illustrious'' could be finished, but she did perform a useful service in the aftermath. Until the ] airfield on the ] was repaired, an aircraft carrier was required on station to protect the area |
She was was laid down at ] on the ] in ], and launched in ]. As the ship neared the end of its fitting out period, the ] broke out. As a consequence, work on ''Illustrious'' was greatly speeded up. The war was won before ''Illustrious'' could be finished, but she did perform a useful service in the aftermath. Until the ] airfield on the ] was repaired, an aircraft carrier was required on station to protect the area from possible Argentine attack. ] had been on station for many months when ''Illustrious'' steamed to its relief. However, ''Illustrious'' was needed so quickly that the ship was actually commissioned underway. After the RAF airfield was repaired, ''Illustrious'' returned to the UK for a more proper shakedown cruise and workup period, with a formal commissioning on ] ]. | ||
| The ship saw no further action during the remainder of the decade, but continued to be a valuable asset for the ] in showing the flag and participating in exercises all around the world. During those years, the ship received several enhancements during refits, including a ski-jump with a steeper angle to enable the Harriers in the airwing to takeoff with a larger payload. | The ship saw no further action during the remainder of the decade, but continued to be a valuable asset for the ] in showing the flag and participating in exercises all around the world. During those years, the ship received several enhancements during refits, including a ski-jump with a steeper angle to enable the Harriers in the airwing to takeoff with a larger payload. | ||
Revision as of 00:59, 26 September 2004
| File:HMS Illustrious (Invincible class aircraft carrier).jpg | |
| Career | RN Ensign |
|---|---|
| Ordered: | |
| Laid down: | 7 October 1976 |
| Launched: | 14 December 1981 |
| Commissioned: | 4 June 1982 |
| Decommissioned: | |
| Fate: | In service |
| Struck: | |
| General Characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 20,600 tons |
| Length: | 210 metres |
| Beam: | 36 metres |
| Draught: | 7.5 metres |
| Propulsion: | Four Rolls-Royce Olympus TM3B gas turbines |
| Speed: | 28+ knots |
| Range: | 5000 miles at 18 knots |
| Complement: | 685 crew, 366 Fleet Air Arm |
| Armament: | |
| Aircraft: | Sea Harrier fighter/bomber "jump jets", Sea King helicopters |
| Motto: | Vox Non Incerta |
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The fifth HMS Illustrious (R06) is an Invincible-class aircraft carrier of the Royal Navy, affectionately known as 'Lusty' to her crew.
She was was laid down at Swan Hunter on the Tyne in 1976, and launched in 1981. As the ship neared the end of its fitting out period, the Falklands War broke out. As a consequence, work on Illustrious was greatly speeded up. The war was won before Illustrious could be finished, but she did perform a useful service in the aftermath. Until the RAF airfield on the Falklands was repaired, an aircraft carrier was required on station to protect the area from possible Argentine attack. HMS Invincible had been on station for many months when Illustrious steamed to its relief. However, Illustrious was needed so quickly that the ship was actually commissioned underway. After the RAF airfield was repaired, Illustrious returned to the UK for a more proper shakedown cruise and workup period, with a formal commissioning on 20 March 1983.
The ship saw no further action during the remainder of the decade, but continued to be a valuable asset for the Royal Navy in showing the flag and participating in exercises all around the world. During those years, the ship received several enhancements during refits, including a ski-jump with a steeper angle to enable the Harriers in the airwing to takeoff with a larger payload. During an 'Extended Defect and Maintenance Period', numerous modifications were made to the ship including the removal of her Sea Dart defences at a cost of £12 million pounds. This allowed for extra deck space that enables her to carry unto 22 aircraft, including the Harrier GR.7 and Sea Harrier FA.2.
During the 1990s, the main task of the aircraft carriers of the Royal Navy was helping to maintain the no-fly zone over Bosnia during that war there. All three of the navy's carriers rotated through the area. At the turn of the century, Illustrious entered a refit and emerged with another large change in configuration. The ship's Sea Dart missile system was removed to allow a large flight deck and greater stowage of ordnance for RAF Harriers that were becoming a more regular part of the airwing.
In 2000 she took part in the British operation to restore peace and stability to Sierra Leone in which she led a naval task force comprising HM ships - Ocean, Argyll, Iron Duke, Chatham and numerous RFA ships.
A notable combat deployment for the ship took place in late 2001. A large British exercise, Saif Sareea II took place in Oman in the autumn of 2001. During the exercise, the World Trade Center was destroyed by Al Qaida. What had been an exercise became a wartime mission. Illustrious remained in theatre while other elements of the task force returned to the United Kingdom to refit. Illustrious had elements of the Royal Marines on board, ready for possible combat operations in Afghanistan. It turned out that no deployment was made before Illustrious was relieved by HMS Ocean in early 2002, but the ship had made a valuable contribution to British options in the conflict, providing a launching point for ground forces, had they been needed.
In mid-2003, the ship entered a further refit at Rosyth. This refit involves the total rebuild of the skijump, the adding of better communications and reconfiguring the ship so that it can be more quickly switched between the light aircraft carrier and helicopter carrier roles. The refit should enable her to carry on until 2012, when it is expected that the first of the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers will come into service.
See HMS Illustrious for other RN ships of the same name.
(another version of statistics)
Invincible Class Statistics
- Displacement: 22,000 tonnes
- Length: 209.1 metres/686 feet
- Beam: 33.5 metres/110 feet
- Speed: 28 knots
- Complement: 685 Crew and 386 Air Group. A total of 1071
- Armament:
- 3 x Phalanx/ Goalkeeper
- 2 x 20mm Close range guns
- Aircraft: A mixture of Sea Harrier FA.2, Harrier GR.7, Sea King, and Merlin aircraft.
- Propulsion: COGAG (Combined Gas and Gas), 2 Shafts, 4 x Gas Turbines producing 72MW
| Invincible-class aircraft carrier | |
|---|---|
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