HMS Illustrious (R06) 1

HMS Illustrious (R06)

HMS Illustrious

Career

Name: HMS Illustrious

Ordered: 14 May 1976

Builder: Swan Hunter, Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom

Laid down: 7 October 1976

Launched: 14 December 1978

Sponsored by: Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon

Commissioned: 20 June 1982

Homeport: HMNB Portsmouth

Identification: Pennant number: R06Deck code: LInternational callsign: GVUH[1]

Motto: Vox Non Incerta("No Uncertain Sound")

Nickname: "Lusty"

Status: in active service, as of 2013[2]

Badge:

General characteristicsClass & type: Invincible-class aircraft carrier

Displacement: 22,000 tonnes[3]

Length: 636 ft (194 m)

Beam: 118 ft (36 m)

Draught: 25 ft (7.6 m)

Propulsion: 4 × Rolls-Royce Olympus TM3B gas turbines providing 97,000 hp (75 MW)8 Paxman Valenta diesel generators

HMS Illustrious (R06) 2

Speed: 30 knots (56 km/h), 18 knots (33 km/h) cruising

Range: 5,000 nautical miles at 18 knots (9,300 km at 33 km/h)

Complement: 685 crew366 Fleet Air Arm

Armament: 3 × Goalkeeper CIWS2 × GAM-B01 20 mm close-range guns

Aircraft carried: Up to 22 helicopters with the combination of:•• Chinook•• Apache•• Merlin•• Lynx•• Sea King• Before their retirement, HMS Illustrious could operate up to 22 Sea Harriers/ Harrier II

Notes: SDSR stated that it is possible that Harrier Jump Jets from other countries could operate on HMS Illustrious.

HMS Illustrious is the second of three Invincible-class light aircraft carriers built for the Royal Navy in the late1970s and early 1980s. She is the fifth warship and second aircraft carrier to bear the name Illustrious, and isaffectionately known to her crew as "Lusty". In 1982, the conflict in the Falklands necessitated that Illustrious becompleted and rushed south to join her sister ship HMS Invincible and the veteran carrier HMS Hermes. To this end,she was brought forward by three months for completion at Swan Hunter Shipyard, then commissioned on 20 June1982 at sea en-route to Portsmouth Dockyard to take on board extra stores and crew. She arrived in the Falklands torelieve Invincible on 28 August 1982 in a steam past. Returning to the UK, she was not formally commissioned intothe fleet until 20 March 1983. After the Falklands War, she was deployed Operation Southern Watch in Iraq, thenOperation Deny Flight in Bosnia during the 1990s and Operation Palliser in Sierra Leone in 2000. An extensive re-fitduring 2002 prevented her from involvement in the 2003 Iraq War, but she was repaired in time to assist Britishcitizens trapped by the 2006 Lebanon War.Following the retirement of her fixed-wing British Aerospace Harrier II aircraft in 2010, Illustrious now operates asone of two Royal Navy helicopter carriers.[4] She is the oldest ship in the Royal Navy's active fleet and it isenvisaged that she will be withdrawn from service in 2014 (after 32 years' service) and will not be replaced untilHMS Queen Elizabeth is commissioned in 2016. The UK Ministry of Defence announced on 10 September 2012 thatonce she is decommissioned Illustrious will be preserved for the nation.[5]

Background

ConstructionIllustrious, the second of the three Invincible class aircraft carriers, was laid down at Swan Hunter on the River Tynein 1976 and launched in 1978. As the ship neared the end of its fitting out period, the Falklands War broke out. As aconsequence, work on Illustrious was greatly speeded up. The war was won before Illustrious could be finished, butshe did perform a useful service in the aftermath. Until the RAF airfield on the Falkland Islands was repaired, airdefence of the area was the responsibility of the Fleet Air Arm. After Hermes returned to the UK, Invincibleremained on station in the South Atlantic until September 1982. To relieve Invincible, the newly completedIllustrious was rapidly deployed, with 809 Naval Air Squadron (Harriers) and 814 Naval Air Squadron (SeakingHelicopters) embarked.[6] So rapidly was Illustrious deployed that she was commissioned while at sea. Rear AdmiralDerek Reffell commanded the relief task group from Illustrious during this period. After the RAF airfield wasrepaired, Illustrious returned to the UK for a full shakedown cruise and workup period, and was formallycommissioned on 20 March 1983.

HMS Illustrious (R06) 3

Operational history

1983–1990The ship saw no further action during the remainder of the 1980s, but continued to be a valuable asset for the RoyalNavy in showing the flag and participating in exercises all around the world. During those years, the ship receivedseveral enhancements during refits, including a steeper ski-jump to enable the Harriers in the air wing to take-offwith a larger payload. During an 'Extended Defect and Maintenance Period', numerous modifications were made tothe ship including the removal of her Sea Dart missile defences at a cost of twelve million pounds. This allowed forextra deck space that enables her to carry up to 22 aircraft, including the Harrier GR7.In 1986 she suffered a catastrophic gearbox failure which almost saw the end of the vessel's naval career. Juststarting out on her "fly the flag" around the globe trip, at about 23:30 whilst reaching full engine revs, the oil vapoursurrounding the gearbox exploded causing a fire lasting well over four hours. At one point thecaptainWikipedia:Avoid weasel words made preparations to abandon ship, but was then overruled by the fleetadmiralWikipedia:Avoid weasel words who believed the ship could be saved. There was no loss of life or seriousinjury, but the trip was put off for several months whilst the ship was taken out of service for extensive repairs.

1990–2002

Illustrious (r) and the American USS John C.Stennis in the Persian Gulf in 1998

During the 1990s, the main task of the aircraft carriers of the RoyalNavy was helping to maintain the no-fly zone over Bosnia during thewar there. All three of the navy's carriers rotated through the area. In1998 she operated in the Persian Gulf in support of Operation SouthernWatch, the Anglo-Saudi-American enforcement of the no-fly-zoneover Southern Iraq.

In 2000 she led Task Group 342.1, a naval task force comprising HMships — Ocean, Argyll, Iron Duke, Chatham — and numerous RFAships in Operation Palliser, which was aimed at restoring peace andstability to Sierra Leone.

A combat deployment for the ship took place in 2001. A large British exercise, Saif Sareea II took place in Oman inlate 2001. During the exercise, the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center took place. Illustrious remained intheatre while other elements of the task force returned to the United Kingdom. Illustrious had elements of the RoyalMarines on board, ready for possible combat operations in Afghanistan.[7]Wikipedia:Link rot No deployment wasmade before Illustrious was relieved by Ocean in early 2002 and returned to Portsmouth after seven months at sea.[8]

2003–2005

HMS Illustrious (R06) 4

Illustrious undergoing maintenance at Portsmouthduring 2005

In mid-2003, the ship underwent a further refit at Rosyth Dockyard.This refit involved the total rebuild of the ski jump, the adding of bettercommunications and reconfiguring the ship so that it can be morequickly switched between the light aircraft carrier and helicoptercarrier roles. The refit should have enable her to carry on until 2014,when it was expected that the first of the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraftcarriers would come into service.[citation needed] Illustrious returned toPortsmouth following the completion of the refit in December 2004.

She was re-dedicated in 2005, and following the death of the ship'soriginal sponsor Princess Margaret, her daughter Lady Sarah Chattoagreed to attend in a new role as "ship's friend".[9]

2006Illustrious along with HMS Gloucester helped in the evacuation of British citizens from Beirut as a result of the2006 Israel-Lebanon crisis. Later that year, as part of the Royal Navy's Remembrance Day activities, Illustrioussailed up the River Thames on Friday 10 November 2006. She was moored at Wood Wharf, a few hundred yardsupriver from the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, London, until Wednesday 15 November. Whilst there, theFalklands War commemorative events in 2007 were announced on board her.[10]

2007

Illustrious in formation with UnitedStates Navy Nimitz-class aircraft

carriers USS Harry S. Truman(CVN-75) and USS Dwight D.

Eisenhower (CVN-69) on a JointTask Force Exercise in the Atlantic

Ocean, July 2007

Illustrious carried out two weeks of fixed wing flying serials exercises in theNorth Sea 20 miles (32 km) off Hartlepool in March 2007, during which sevenGR9 Harriers from No. 4 Squadron RAF, Joint Force Harrier touched down onher flight-deck.[11] Also during these exercises, seven of her crew had to beairlifted to hospital in Middlesbrough on 13 March suffering from fumeinhalation and throat and eye irritation after an accident with chemicals incleaning a junior ratings' toilet area. Illustrious sailed on to Portsmouth, wherethey rejoined her on leaving hospital.[12]

From 25 to 30 May 2007, after an exercise in the Baltic Sea, Illustrious was thefirst British aircraft carrier ever to visit Tallinn, Estonia. The visit provided restfor the ship's crew after the Baltic exercise, acted as a diplomatic visit, and alsoinvolved naval and air exercises with the Estonian Defence Forces.[13]

Next, in July 2007, Illustrious took part in a US-led Joint Task Force Exercise(JTFX) off the eastern coast of the United States (for which she hosted 14 USHarrier jets and 200 US Marines) before returning to Portsmouth the followingmonth.[14]

2008

The carrier set sail from Portsmouth on 21 January 2008 as head of the multi-national Task Group 328.01,[15] underOperation Orion 08, which from January to May 2008 carried out exercises and diplomatic visits to twenty ports inthe Mediterranean, Africa, the Middle East, and south-east Asia. However, on 23 January, whilst still off the coast ofsouthern England, she sailed back to Portsmouth for repairs to a minor fault in a meat freezer. It was felt to be

important to repair this before sailing to a warmer climate, and Navy spokesman Anton Hanney stated that flying in an emergency plumber whilst she was underway would be more expensive than turning back whilst Illustrious was

HMS Illustrious (R06) 5

still in the English Channel. She sailed back out at 1pm on 24 January[16] and made up the lost 24 hours.[17][18][19]

Her ports of call included Valletta, Malta 26–29 February 2008.[20][21]

This 2008 assignment was filmed and shown on Channel 5 as the 6-part TV documentary Warship transmitted onMondays from 19 May 2008.[22][23] This documentary aimed to show life on board the now-aging carrier in muchthe same way that HMS Ark Royal was shown in the 1976 Sailor. Illustrious was commanded by Captain SteveChick CBE BSc, who had also commanded HMS Chatham during the 2005 BBC documentary Shipmates.By the end of July, she had returned to Portsmouth where she took part in the 2008 navy open-day. She proved to bepopular with visitors and the queue to tour her was long. On board she displayed a life-size model of the F-35 JointCombat Aircraft which will replace the Harriers then used by the ship. She was the only aircraft carrier to be part ofthe event, although the inactive Invincible was also visible to the public.[citation needed]

On 17 October she, along with HMS Cattistock, sailed into Liverpool where she was open to the public on Saturday18 October. On 4 November she moored at Greenwich, arriving to take central part in the Royal Navy'sremembrance week. The F-35 mock-up remained on deck.

2009

A V22 Osprey landing on the rear flight deck ofIllustrious in the Atlantic Ocean in 2007

On 7 May 2009 she returned to Greenwich to serve as the centre pieceof the Royal Navy's celebration of a century of British naval aviation;on board were examples of all the Navy's operationalhelicopters.[citation needed]

Beginning on 8 June, she took part in the exercise Loyal Arrow innorthern Sweden. The exercise lasted until 16 June. On 17 June 2009,she arrived in Tallinn. On 27 June 2009 she was in the harbour of Oslo,Norway.

On 22 October 2009 she arrived at Liverpool for a six-day visit andmoored at the cruise terminal. There was a fly past along The RiverMersey on 23 October as part of its celebrations to mark that year’scentenary of naval aviation. Illustrious was open to members of the

public on 25–26 October and left Liverpool on 27 October 2009.

2010–2014

Illustrious at Greenwich in 2013

As part of Strategic Defence and Security Review, and in addition tothe axing of the Harrier force and Illustrious's sister ship Ark Royal, itwas announced that a short study would be carried out to determinewhether Illustrious or Ocean was the most viable helicopter platform.The decision was subsequently made to retain Ocean for the longerterm. In May 2011 Illustrious was made operational after a £40 millionrefit,[24] and she was handed back to the fleet after sea trials in late July2011[25] She has taken over the helicopter carrier role while Oceanundergoes a planned refit, due for completion by 2014; Illustrious willthen be withdrawn from service.[26] The Ministry of Defence alsoannounced that Illustrious, as the last of the Invincible-class aircraftcarriers, will be preserved as a memorial "in recognition of the service given by these ships in protecting the UK overthe last 30 years".[27]

HMS Illustrious (R06) 6

In March 2012, Illustrious took part in Exercise 'Cold Response' with HMS Bulwark, RFA Mounts Bay and otherRoyal Navy vessels. This was a NATO winter war games exercise being conducted in northern Norway, where shetested her capabilities as a helicopter carrier.[28] The Illustrious was awarded the Bambara Trophy, the trophy isgiven to a unit each year with the best flight safety record, during 'Cold Response'.[29] Following 'Cold Response' shethen took part in Exercise 'Joint Warrior with vessels from Norway, the Netherlands and the United States[30] andCougar 12 in the Mediterranean.[31] In May 2013, as part of the 70th Anniversary of The Battle of the AtlanticCommemorations, 'Illustrious' sailed up The River Thames and was moored at Greenwich where she will be used asthe venue for a charity reception in aid of the Royal Navy's Aviation Heritage.She is currentlyWikipedia:Manual of Style/Dates and numbers#Chronological items readying for ExerciseCOUGAR 13.[32] Joining her will be HMS Bulwark, Westminster, Montrose and 6 RFA vessels.[33]

Commanding Officers• 1981-1983: Captain Jock Slater RN• 1983-1984: Captain John Kerr RN• 1984-1986: Captain Alan Grose RN• 1986-1988: Captain Peter Woodhead RN• 1988-1989: Captain Jonathan Tod RN•• 1993-1995: Captain Richard Phillips RN• 1995-1997: Captain Jonathan Band RN•• 1997-1998: Captain Stephen Meyer RN• 1998-2000: Captain Mark Stanhope OBE RN• 2000-2001: Captain Charles Style RN• 2001-2002: Captain Alan Massey RN• 2004-2006: Captain Robert Cooling RN•• 2006-2007: Captain Timothy Fraser RN•• 2007-2009: Captain Steven Chick RN•• 2009-2010: Captain Benjamin Key RN•• 2011-2012: Captain Jeremy Kyd RN• 2012–2013: Captain Martin Connell RN• 2013–Present: Captain Mike Utley RN

Affiliations

HMS Illustrious escorting the contestants in the2011 Clipper Round the World Yacht Race to the

start line in the Solent.

•• Grenadier Guards•• Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators•• City of London Corporation•• Worshipful Company of Lightmongers• 30 Signal Regiment, Royal Signals• T.S. Illustrious Sea Cadet Unit[34]

•• No. 7 Squadron RAF•• Metropolitan Police Service•• Bath R.F.C.• Oundle School CCF• University of London Air Squadron, RAF•• Worshipful Company of Shipwrights

HMS Illustrious (R06) 7

In MediaIn 2010, the ship was featured on Channel 5 documentary series Warship. The series centered on the daily routinesand lives of the crew on board and was filmed during one of its exercises.

References[2] http:/ / en. wikipedia. org/ w/ index. php?title=HMS_Illustrious_(R06)& action=edit[3] http:/ / www. aircraftcarrieralliance. co. uk/ the-ships/ the-current-uk-aircraft-carriers. aspx[6][6] 814 Naval Air Squadron[9] HMS Illustrious and Lady Sarah Chatto (http:/ / www. royalnavy. mod. uk/ server/ show/ ConWebDoc. 8084)[15] Richard Scott, 'ASW Resurfaces,' Jane's Defence Weekly, Volume 45, Issue 24, 11 June 2008, p.25[16] Harbour Watch – Portsmouth Today (http:/ / www. portsmouth. co. uk/ shipping-and-travel-information/ Harbour-Watch. 1283280. jp)[19] All news : RN Live : News and Events : Royal Navy (http:/ / www. royal-navy. mod. uk/ server/ show/ ConWebDoc. 11304/ changeNav/

6568)[20] HMS Illustrious returns to Malta (http:/ / www. timesofmalta. com/ articles/ view/ 20080226/ local/ hms-illustrious-returns-to-malta)[21] HMS Illustrious reties bond with Malta before heading south (http:/ / www. britishhighcommission. gov. uk/ servlet/

Front?pagename=OpenMarket/ Xcelerate/ ShowPage& c=Page& cid=1046950049896& a=KArticle& aid=1199215721271)[22] All news : RN Live : News and Events : Royal Navy (http:/ / www. royal-navy. mod. uk/ server/ show/ ConWebDoc. 12771/ changeNav/

6568)[23] Warship Documentary : HMS Illustrious : Aircraft Carriers : Surface Fleet : Operations and Support : Royal Navy (http:/ / www. royal-navy.

mod. uk/ server/ show/ nav. 6940)[24] (http:/ / www. navynews. co. uk/ news/ 1191-life-is-breathed-back-in-lusty. aspx)[25] article in Navy News (http:/ / www. navynews. co. uk/ news/ 1253-shes-back-illustrious-raring-to-go-after-40m-refit. aspx)[28] http:/ / navynews. co. uk/ archive/ news/ item/ 3681[30] http:/ / www. flickr. com/ photos/ defenceimages/ 7136065099/ in/ photostream/[32] http:/ / www. royalnavy. mod. uk/ News-and-Events/ Latest-News/ 2013/ June/ 11/

130611-HMS-Illustrious-takes-part-in-operational-sea-training[33] https:/ / www. gov. uk/ government/ news/ royal-navy-set-for-cougar-13

External links• HMS Illustrious (http:/ / www. royalnavy. mod. uk/ The-Fleet/ Ships/ Assault-Ships/ HMS-Illustrious) - Royal

Navy website

Article Sources and Contributors 8

Article Sources and ContributorsHMS Illustrious (R06)  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=572023845  Contributors: 1deano1, 28421u2232nfenfcenc, 737900er, A. B., A. Carty, ALR, Abc30, Acsian88, AidanJennings, Akradecki, Alphacatmarnie, Andrew Gray, AndrewHowse, AndrewvdBK, Andy Marchbanks, Antarctic-adventurer, Anthony Appleyard, Anypodetos, Ascorbic, Beetstra, Bellhalla,Benea, Betakittymolly, Bideford1, BilCat, Bjmullan, Bobbis, Bobblewik, Brad101AWB, Britmax, Bryan Derksen, Buckshot06, Burto88, C628, CVarley, Centrepull, Chris the speller, Chrislk02,Colt9033, Dainamo, David Biddulph, David Newton, David Underdown, Deipnosophista, Deville, Diannaa, Dormskirk, Dpaajones, Dreadstar, Dricherby, Emoscopes, Farragut79, Filing Flunky,Fireaxe888, Foxhound66, Funkychinaman, Gaius Cornelius, Gdr, Gene Nygaard, Geoff janes, George.Hutchinson, Gosciu555, GraemeLeggett, Greenshed, H1523702, HJ32, Hammersfan, Haus,Hibernian, Hirokun, Hut 8.5, Ian Dunster, Icairns, Intrepid11, J Slaughts, Jakewh92, John, John Smith's, John w4, JonEastham, KTo288, Kablammo, Kalmbach, Katherine, Kilon22, Kkmurray,Kvkc039, LanceBarber, Letdorf, Lightmouse, LordHarris, MBK004, MIDCC015, Mark83, Mauls, Max rspct, Michael Pocock, Michael Zimmermann, Miyagawa, Mjb1981, Morganson691,Moroboshi, Motacilla, Neddyseagoon, Niceguyedc, Nick-D, Nickshanks, Njan, Nstokes, Nunquam Dormio, OOODDD, ObscureReality, Orenburg1, Phd8511, Pol098, Premeditated Chaos,Quebec99, R.Walker, Rama, RedWolf, Reenem, Rettetast, Ring modulator, Rjanag, Rjwilmsi, Rupert Nichol, RupertMillard, Rwendland, Ryan4314, Saberwyn, Shem1805, Sierra-Alfa-Mike,Simonstarr, Skinsmoke, Sl1982, Sladen, Sp33dyphil, Stan Shebs, Steel city ady, Stephen Fulcher, Sully, Sunquanliangxiuhao, TCY, Tapir Terrific, Template namespace initialisation script,TheLongTone, Theresa knott, Thom2002, ThreeBlindMice, TomTheHand, Twigletmac, Vgranucci, Woody, Wwoods, 174 anonymous edits

Image Sources, Licenses and ContributorsImage:HMS Illustrious 1.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:HMS_Illustrious_1.jpg  License: unknown  Contributors: Docu, Dschwen, Evian Pepper, Gabbe,Joshbaumgartner, Makthorpe, RamaFile:Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Naval_Ensign_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors:AnonMoos, Avicennasis, Bender235, Cycn, Dancingwombatsrule, Ec.Domnowall, Fry1989, Homo lupus, Pumbaa80, Stunteltje, Xiengyod, Yaddah, 3 anonymous editsFile:HMS Illustrious badge.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:HMS_Illustrious_badge.jpg  License: unknown  Contributors: Royal NavyImage:USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) & HMS Illustrious (R 06).jpg  Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:USS_John_C._Stennis_(CVN-74)_&_HMS_Illustrious_(R_06).jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: User:W.wolnyFile:Illustrious dock-view.JPG  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Illustrious_dock-view.JPG  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Original uploader was Nstokes aten.wikipediaFile:HMS Illustrious01.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:HMS_Illustrious01.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Jay C. PughFile:MV-22 SeaKingAEW R06 2007.JPG  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:MV-22_SeaKingAEW_R06_2007.JPG  License: Public Domain  Contributors: U.S. Navyphoto by Darby AllenFile:HMS Illustrious in London in May 2013.JPG  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:HMS_Illustrious_in_London_in_May_2013.JPG  License: Creative CommonsAttribution-Sharealike 3.0  Contributors: User:HammersfanFile:HMS Illustrious-1.JPG  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:HMS_Illustrious-1.JPG  License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0  Contributors:User:George.Hutchinson

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