Invincible Class Aircraft Carriers

Originally envisaged as an escort carrier to complement the CVA project. After the cancellation of the CVA-01 fleet carrier replacement by the Labour Government in 1966, designers set about planning a 12,500 ton command cruiser capable of carrying six Sea King helicopters. This later increased to nine helicopters and the design was revised as a 19,500 ton 'through deck cruiser'. The term 'through deck cruiser' was used because in a time of heavy defence cuts the term 'aircraft carrier' was politically sensitive. It was later decided that these vessels would carry Sea Harrier aircraft and by the time of Invincible's entry into service they had evolved into small yet capable aircraft carriers. In the early part of their lifetime and during construction these carriers were always in danger of being mothballed or withdrawn from service. If it hadn't been for the Falkland's conflict Invincible would have almost certainly been sold to Australia and there was even talk that the Americans were interested in these ships.

Although the Sea Harrier aircraft operated by these vessels are capable of vertical take off the Invincible Class carriers are fitted with 'Ski Jump' to enable them to take off fully loaded with fuel and armaments, which would make them too heavy otherwise for successful vertical take off. The flight deck runs the full length of the ship and includes two aircraft and vehicle lifts that provide access to the hangers below. Invincible and Illustrious were originally built with 7º ski jumps whilst Ark Royal was completed with a 12º Ski Jump.

These vessels were conceived in the Cold War and when the main threat came from Soviet submarines. Therefore they were designed especially for anti-submarine warfare and until the mid-1990's even carried nuclear weapons for the use of their air groups. However, since the end of the Cold War these ships have had to adapt to other operations.

The Falklands Conflict (1982) highlighted the need to have a minimum of two operational carriers at any one time. Added to the fact that manpower shortages rule that only two can be operational the Navy tends to operate a rotational system whereby one carry is on deployment, one in reserve or refit and one in training or maintenance. However this is sometimes difficult to put into operation and a situation inevitably occurs where only one carrier is available. At present Illustrious is the active carrier, Ark Royal is in a major refit at Rosyth and Invincible is undergoing maintenance at Portsmouth.

Ship	History
Invincible	In February 1982 it was announced that Invincible was to be sold to Australia where she would replace the aging Melbourne as the flagship of the R.A.N. However, a few months later Invincible sailed together with the larger carrier Hermes to the Falklands. As one of only two available aircraft carriers she was one of the principle targets of the Argentine air force not only because of her importance to the operation but also because of the presence of H.R.H Prince Andrew- a helicopter pilot- on board. If Argentina had succeeded in eliminating her, the results would have been disastrous- as Admiral Woodward commented "Lose Invincible and the Operation is severely jeopardized". After the ceasefire Invincible returned to heroes welcome at Portsmouth and her sale to Australia was cancelled. Between 1986 and 1988 Invincible underwent a large refit at Devonport Dockyard. During NATO exercise Tapan in 1998 Invincible simultaneously operated three kinds of harrier aircraft- the Royal Navy FA2 Sea Harrier, the RAF GR.7 Harriers and the Spanish AV8B Harrier. In the same year she not only became the first carrier to enter the Baltic for many years on a visit to Poland but she also became what is believed to be the first carrier to visit HM Naval Base Clyde (Faslane). In 1998/9 Invincible became a household name, reaching the headlines once again after being sent to the Gulf where she supported operation 'Desert Fox'. A short while later she was deployed off the former Yugoslavia where she participated in Operation 'Allied Force'- the bombing of Kosovo. In 2000 Invincible was deployed to the Mediteranean during the Serbain elections. On 19th September she came to the aid of a sinking yacht off the North East Algerian coast. The carrier, 15 miles away, received the mayday from the stricken yacht- Kabuki- saying she had lost her sail and was taking on water. A Sea King helicopter was immediately launched and twenty minutes later whinched two Frenchmen from the vessel to safety. On 26th September 2000 the Greek registered ferry Express Samina ran aground two miles off the island of Paros. Two Sea King helicopters from HMS Invincible winched a total of 12 people, including two Britons, off the rocks. Once flown back to the carrier, one survivor was treated for hypothermia and the rest for minor bruises, cuts and shock.
Illustrious	H.M.S Illustrious was completed ahead of schedule by her builders, Swan Hunter, in order to sail South for the Falklands Conflict in 1982. However she arrived just after the Argentine surrender and was able to relive her sister ship, Invincible . Having been hurriedly commissioned on the journey South a second commissioning service was held a year later on March 30^th. After finally realizing that these vessels were too small for post-cold war operations, Illustrious entered an 'Extended Defect and Maintenance Period' at Portsmouth Dockyard. This major upgrade involved removing her Sea Dart Weapon System and replacing it with extra deck space for aircraft and extra storage space for aircraft ammunition. It cost £12 million and lasted 7 months. Illustrious can now carry and operate 22 aircraft including harrier GR.7's. After Ocean was withdrawn from Plymouth Navy Day's Illustrious took her place as the 'star attraction'.
Ark Royal	Ark Royal was to be named 'Indomitable' but at the launch off Illustrious in 1978 it was announced she would become the fifth ship to bear the name Ark Royal. The reason behind the change was to try and lesson public disapproval at the paying off of the fourth Ark Royal. She was launched by the Queen Mother who had also launched her predecessor some ?? years beforehand. Ark Royal was laid up between 1994 and 1999 in the care of the Disposal and Reserve Ships Organisation (DRSO). She was to have entered refit in 1997 but this was delayed for two years. On 16th May 1999 she was towed from Portsmouth Dockyard by the tug Portosalvo to Rosyth, arriving on 11^th, where she began a £100 million two year refit that would not only bring her out of reserve and back into service but would also see her flight deck modified in the same way as her sister Illustrious. By the time she leaves her refit she will have been out of action for seven years. Presently she is expected to recommission in 2001. She is the first Invincible Class Aircraft Carrier to be refitted at the Scottish dockyard.

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Ship	Pennant Number:	Deck Code	Builder	Laid Down	Launched	Commissioned
Invincible	RO5	N	Vickers	20th July 1973	3rd May 1977	11th July 1980
Illustrious	RO6	L	Swan Hunter	7th October 1976	14th December 1978	4th June 1981
Ark Royal	RO7	R	Swan Hunter	7th December 1978	20th June 1982	1st November 1985