HMS Illustrious is setting off on her final journey today following 32 years in service.
The Royal Navy’s former aircraft carrier is leaving Portsmouth to allow her replacement, the UK’s biggest ever warship, HMS Queen Elizabeth into port. Work is carrying on at pace to make the dockyard ready to accept the new ship and with it’s imminent arrival, sailors are saying their goodbyes to Illustrious.
The ship is being saluted by former sailors and onlookers from the Round Tower in Old Portsmouth this morning. After more than 900,000 nautical miles under her bow, many sailors have fond memories of their time on board.
Serving two and a half years on board Illustrious, Leading Airman (Aircraft Handler) George Medcalf said: “I really enjoyed my time on Illustrious and I’m sad to say goodbye to the ship but I had good times on board.
“Working on a ship of this size is just exciting and I’m drafted now for two years. I’m really looking forward to the exciting times ahead, especially with the F35s coming in.”
The ship is now on its way to Leyal Ship Recycling Ltd, after a competition to retain part or all of the ship for heritage found no viable proposal.
Illustrious was launched in 1978 as the second of three Invicible-class carriers and deployed following the end of the Falklands war. Needing the ship at sea as quickly as possible, the commissioning ceremony took place at sea en route to the Falklands.
Illustrious has also been deployed to Bosnia and the Gulf over the years, as well as helping to restore peace in Sierra Leone and playing an important role in Afghanistan following the September 11 attacks.
Her final mission saw her make headlines around the world, when she assisted with disaster relief operations in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan.
Infrastructure work will now continue in Portsmouth to prepare the dockyard for the arrival of HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, the first of the Royal Navy’s new aircraft carriers.
Image: © Crown Copyright
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HMS Illustrious HMS Prince of Wales HMS Queen Elizabeth Invicible class Leyal Ship Recycling Portsmouth Royal Navy
Post written by: Vicky Maggiani
Vicky has worked in media for over 20 years and has a wealth of experience in editing and creating copy for a variety of sectors.
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