Commissioned at sea, underway. Formally commissioned on 20 Mar 1983, after her maiden deployment.
1982-aug-02
Deployment
DeploymentSouth Atlantic Departed HMNB Portsmouth on her 1st operation with 814 NAS Sea Kings embarked, to relieve HMS Invincible on 27 Aug in the South Atlantic, following Operation Corporate. Joined en route by HMS Amazon as escort. Returned to UK 8 Dec.
1984-jul-16
Trials
Trials trials for Sea Harrier launched Sea Eagle missile system culminated in sinking of HMS Devonshire as a target.
1986-apr-03
Refit
RefitAccident departed HMNB Portsmouth on 2 Apr for GLOBAL 86 deployment. On 3 Apr, coming up to full revolutions, an explosion of gear box oil vapour led to a serious fire. Returned to Portsmouth and repairs to starboard gearbox and forward gearing room lasted until mid Jul.
1986-jul-14
Aircraft
Aircraft Sea Kings of 814 NAS HQ Flt embarked for pre-deployment work-up.
1986-jul-21
Deployment
Deployment to Far East and Australia for the GLOBAL 86 deployment with 814 NAS HQ Flt and 849 NAS A Flt embarked, returning to Portsmouth on 18 Dec 1986.
1986-aug-18
Deployment
DeploymentSembawang naval baseGLOBAL 86 caught up with GLOBAL 86 Task Group at Singapore, after a 4 month delay in Portsmouth
1986-aug-26
Deployment
DeploymentGLOBAL 86 departed Singapore to meet RFA Olmeda in the South China Sea and recover the 2 Sea Kings of 814 NAS detached to her.
1986-oct-04
Port Visit
Port VisitFleet Review: 75th anniversary of RAN participated in celebrations for 75th anniversary of Royal Australian Navy at Sydney, during GLOBAL 86 deployment.
1986-nov-14
Port Visit
Port Visit visited Bombay (Mumbai) during GLOBAL 86 deployment.
1991-sep
Refit
RefitGoalkeeper update refitGoalkeeper until Sep 1993 at HMD Devonport.
DeploymentDalmatian coastIFOR (implementation force) relieved HMS Invincible, on station as Flagship of UK Adriatic Task Force supporting IFOR, until Feb 1996 when she returned to the UK.
Deployment departed HMNB Portsmouth for a Persian Gulf deployment, returning, after diversions on 14 Jun.
2000-may-08
Deployment
DeploymentFreetown PortSierra LeoneOperation Palliser from standing off Lisbon, ordered off Freetown Sierra Leone to support Operation Palliser, arriving on 12 May with seven Sea Harriers, six Harriers and five Sea Kings embarked.
Deployment departed HMNB Portsmouth for Persian Gulf and exercise Saif Sareea II. Remained in area following 9/11 attacks in the US as a contingency but relieved by HMS Ocean in Jan 2002.
2002-dec
Refit
RefitHMD RosythMerlin upgrade refit Refit at Babcock Rosyth until Nov 2004 to convert for Merlin operations and remove Sea Dart twin launcher with its Type 909 fire direction radar.
2006-mar-29
Deployment
DeploymentAquila 06 departed HMNB Portsmouth (814 NAS Merlin and 849 NAS A Flt Sea King embarked), leading the Aquila 06 deployment to the Persian Gulf, escorted by HMS Gloucester and supported by RFA Brambleleaf, RFA Diligence and RFA Fort Victoria. Gloucester and Illustrious were later detached and ordered back to Beirut, Lebanon.
2006-jul
Deployment
Deploymentoff LebanonOperation Highbrow assisted in evacuation of British nationals from Beirut, during Israel-Lebanon war
2006-nov-10
Port Visit
Port VisitGreenwich Reach moored on the Thames at Greenwich Reach. Eventually departed 15 Nov.
2007-jul-07
Aircraft
AircraftUSMC Osprey first landing on a non-US ship
2008-feb
Deployment
DeploymentEx Orion 08 left HMNB Portsmouth after some false starts due to defects, as flagship of Task Group 328.01, for the Orion 08 deployment. Embarked 6 Merlin HM.1 of 814 NAS, plus 849 NAS A Flt. Until 31 May
Port VisitEx Orion 08 four day visit to Instanbul, to host HM The Queen and President of Turkey on 15 May. On 14 May, a fault with an aircraft tug almost dragged 814 NAS Merlin ZH835 / (2)70 over the side. The tug and driver were recovered. Departed 18 May.
2008-jul-25
Port Visit
Port VisitHMNB PortsmouthMeet Your Navy 2008 At HMNB Portsmouth, 25-27 Jul for Meet Your Navy 2008
2009-may-06
Port Visit
Port VisitGreenwich Reach visited London for Fly Navy 100 (celebrating 100 years of the Fleet Air Arm), moored at Greenwich Reach on the River Thames. Departed 10 May 2009.
Refit after entering Crombie for de-storing, HMS Ilustrious began a 16 month refit at Babcock in Rosyth, departing 20 Jun 2011.
2011-dec
Port Visit
Port Visit visited Hamburg, following completion of post refit training
2012-feb-03
Deployment
Deployment departed HMNB Portsmouth for 8 week cold weather work up off northern Norway
2012-feb-29
Port Visit
Port Visit visited North Shields for 4 day visit to Tyneside, departed on 3 Mar.
2012-mar-09
Harstad collided with tug in Harstad (Norway) and holed twice above waterline. Returned to HMNB Portsmouth on 18 Mar for repairs.
2012-sep
Trials
Trials first of type trials for Merlin HM.2 ZH826 for 12 day performance assessment period, off Plymouth
2012-oct-01
Deployment
Deployment departed HMNB Portsmouth for 3 month Cougar 12 deployment in the Mediterranean, with a detachment of Apache from 656 Sq AAC, Merlins from 814 NAS, 2x ASaC Sea Kings from 854 NAS and a mixed detachment of 845 NAS and 846 NAS Commando Sea Kings. Also deployed were HMS Bulwark, HMS Montrose and HMS Northumberland, with RFA Mounts Bay and mv Hartland Point in support.
DeploymentPersian Gulf transit through the Strait of Hormuz, escorted by HMS Montrose, as part of Cougar 13 deployment. Attached to CTF-150. Ordered to Philippines on 14 Nov.
Port Visit departed Rosyth in early hours of 18 July
2014-jul-22
Homeport
Homeport Returned to HMNB Portsmouth for final time
2014-aug-28
Decommissioned
Decommissioned decommissioned at HMNB Portsmouth
2016-dec-07
Fate: scrapped
Fate: scrappedAliagaShipbreakers departed Portsmouth for final time under tow for Turkey and scrapping. Arrived at Aliaga on 27 Dec; scrapping completed by 22 Jun 2017.