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| 1942-mar-19 | Ordered |  R09 HMS Ark Royal from Cammell Laird as HMS Irresistible | |
| 1942-may-19 | Ordered | R05 HMS Eagle | |
| 1942-oct-24 | Laid down | R05 HMS Eagle as HMS Audacious, Yard No. 1220 | |
| 1943-may-3 | Laid down | R09 HMS Ark Royal as Yard No. V.1119 | |
| 1946-mar-19 | Launched | R05 HMS Eagle as HMS Eagle | |
| 1950-mar-3 | Launched | R09 HMS Ark Royal as HMS Ark Royal | |
| 1952-mar-1 | Commissioned | R05 HMS Eagle Deck id J until 1957, then E. First carrier to complete with Catapult Aircraft Line-up Equipment (CALE). | |
| 1952-sep-14 | | R05 HMS Eagle Exercise Mainbrace | |
| 1953-jun-15 | Deployment | R05 HMS Eagle  Fleet Review: Coronation Review of the Fleet as Flagship of the Heavy Squadron, Home Fleet | |
| 1953-jul | Aircraft | R05 HMS Eagle Assigned Dragonfly HR.3 WN497 as SAR Flt Jul 1953, crashed off Barra Head 6 Oct 1953. | |
| 1954-jun | Refit | R05 HMS Eagle until 1955 to be fitted with 5.5 degree angled flight deck | |
| 1955-feb-26 | Commissioned | R09 HMS Ark Royal Deck id O until 1957, then R | |
| 1955-jul | Aircraft | R05 HMS Eagle assigned Dragonfly HR.3 to SAR Flt WG669/901-J until Nov 1955 | |
| 1955-aug | Aircraft | R05 HMS Eagle until Sep 1955, Whirlwind HAS.22 of 845 NAS embarked. | |
| 1955-sep | Aircraft | R05 HMS Eagle until c Dec 1955, Dragonfly VX597/902-J assigned to SAR Flt | |
| 1955-dec | Aircraft | R09 HMS Ark Royal SAR Flt Dragonfly HR.3 assigned WG752 / 970-O and WG718 / 971-O, until Apr 1956. | |
| 1956-apr-30 | Refit | R09 HMS Ark Royal at HMD Devonport to remove port-forward 4.5" gun interfering with aviation operations, until Nov 1956 | |
| 1956-may | Aircraft | R05 HMS Eagle assigned SAR Flt Whirlwind HAR.3 XJ399/974-J, until c Mar 1957 | |
| 1956-jun | Aircraft | R05 HMS Eagle assigned Whirlwind HAR.3 XG581 as SAR Flt / 973-J | |
| 1956-nov-1 | Deployment | R05 HMS Eagle Operation Musketeer Participated in Suez Canal fixed wing operations. | |
| 1956-nov-6 | Aircraft | R05 HMS Eagle while returning to HMS Theseus, 845 NAS Whirlwind HAR.3 XJ400/Z ran out of fuel and ditched off Port Said during Operation Musketeer. | |
| 1957-feb | Refit | R09 HMS Ark Royal repairs to steam turbines at HMD Devonport, until mid-May | |
| 1957-may-27 | Deployment | R09 HMS Ark Royal Took part in the Royal Review of the Home Fleet in the Cromarty Firth. | |
| 1957-jun-8 | Port Visit | R09 HMS Ark Royal International Fleet Review, Virginia 1957 Visited Virginia, USA for the International Naval Review | |
| 1957-sep | Aircraft | R05 HMS Eagle Whirlwind HAR.3 XG585 / 973-J assigned as SAR Flt, which became 701 NAS / 713-E in Nov 1957 | |
| 1957-oct | Aircraft | R05 HMS Eagle until Sep 1958, Dragonfly of 701 NAS A Flight embarked | |
| 1957-dec | Aircraft | R09 HMS Ark Royal until Sep 1958, Dragonfly HR.5 of 701 NAS B Flight embarked. Included Whirlwind HAR.3 XG577 | |
| 1958-jan-24 | Deployment | R09 HMS Ark Royal departed UK for Mediterranean, with embarked units and at least S-55 WV223 for delivery to 728 NAS C Flt at Hal Far. | |
| 1958-may | Aircraft | R05 HMS Eagle 6 Whirlwind HAS.7 of 820 NAS embarked, until Jun 1958 | |
| 1958-jun | Aircraft | R09 HMS Ark Royal 6 Whilrwind HAS.7 of 820 NAS embarked for Mediterranean operations until Aug 1958 | |
| 1958-jul-21 | Refit | R09 HMS Ark Royal  air search radar Type 965 Refit at HMD Devonport, removed deck edge lift, added Type 965 radar (replacing Type 293). Fire broke out 9 Apr 1959 during the refit, delaying completion to 28 Dec 1959. | |
| 1959-feb | Aircraft | R05 HMS Eagle until Mar 1959 the grounded Whirlwind HAS.7 of 824 NAS lightered aboard from HMS Victorious in the Mediterranean, for transport back to UK for rectification. | |
| 1959-may-16 | Port Visit | R05 HMS Eagle Ship Open to Visitors at HMNB Devonport for Navy Days 1959. | |
| 1959-may-16 | Port Visit | R09 HMS Ark Royal at HMNB Devonport for Navy Days 1959. | |
| 1959-oct-30 | Refit | R05 HMS Eagle air direction radar Type 984 at HMD Devonport until May 1964, major refit to have flight deck angle increased to 8.5 degrees, 2 new steam catapults, a Type 984 radar installed and her guns replaced with 6 (not 4) Seacat missiles. 1st Carrier to fire a Seacat in 1964. | |
| 1960-mar-4 | Aircraft | R09 HMS Ark Royal until Oct 1960, Whirlwind HAS.7 of 820 NAS B Flight embarked | |
| 1960-mar-4 | Aircraft | R09 HMS Ark Royal until Feb 1961, Whirlwind HAS.7 of 824 NAS embarked | |
| 1960-apr-6 | Aircraft | R09 HMS Ark Royal Whirlwind HAS.7 XL851/331 of 824 NAS ditched and sank, off Malta. | |
| 1960-may | Aircraft | R05 HMS Eagle until Jun 1960, Whirlwind HAS.7 of 820 NAS embarked. | |
| 1960-may-18 | Aircraft | R09 HMS Ark Royal 824 NAS Whirlwind HAS.7 XK938/335 ditched and sank off Malta. (Replaced on unit strength by XL879 as /335 by Jul). | |
| 1960-jun-11 | Aircraft | R09 HMS Ark Royal Whirlwinds of 820 and 824 NAS detached to Toulon, while a FN Aquillon unit deployed to the ship for 2 days. | |
| 1960-aug | Deployment | R05 HMS Eagle present at Plymouth Navy Days 1960 | |
| 1960-aug-11 | Aircraft | R09 HMS Ark Royal 824 NAS Whirlwind HAS.7 XK910/331 ditched and sank off Malta. | |
| 1960-nov-30 | Deployment | R09 HMS Ark Royal joint US-UK exercise in Western Mediterranean, including HMS Hermes, HMS Victorious, USS Independence, USS Intrepid and USS Saratoga. | |
| 1960-dec-3 | Deployment | R09 HMS Ark Royal exercising in Mediterranean with HMS Hermes and HMS Victorious | |
| 1961-jan | Trials | R09 HMS Ark Royal cold weather trials off Greenland, until 9 Feb. | |
| 1961-aug-5 | Deployment | R05 HMS Eagle present at Plymouth Navy Days 1961 | |
| 1961-aug-5 | Deployment | R09 HMS Ark Royal present at Plymouth Navy Days 1961 | |
| 1961-oct-9 | Aircraft | R09 HMS Ark Royal assigned Whirlwind HAS.7 XK911 as SAR Flt / 918-R, until c Nov/Dec 1963. | |
| 1961-nov-13 | Aircraft | R09 HMS Ark Royal until Dec 1963, Wessex of 815 NAS embarked. | |
| 1961-nov-13 | Deployment | R09 HMS Ark Royal departed HMNB Devonport for 3 month Mediterranean work up, returning Jan 1962 | |
| 1961-dec-16 | Port Visit | R09 HMS Ark Royal to Grand Harbour, Malta, until 5 Jan 1962 | |
| 1962-jan-16 | Refit | R09 HMS Ark Royal damaged propellors when ran aground in Plymouth Sound, en route HMD Devonport dry dock for post-workup repairs and refit, until 2 Mar 1962 | |
| 1962-mar-9 | Deployment | R09 HMS Ark Royal departed HMNB Devonport and embarked Wessex HAS.1 of 815 NAS on 10 Jan, for 4th Commission in Far East, until early Jan 1964 | |
| 1962-mar-19 | Aircraft | R09 HMS Ark Royal Lost Wessex HAS.1 XM929/304-R of 815 NAS while operating en route Malta to Suez. | |
| 1962-mar-27 | Deployment | R09 HMS Ark Royal relieved HMS Centaur in Aden as East of Suez carrier | |
| 1962-apr-12 | Deployment | R09 HMS Ark Royal arrived on Far East Station at Singapore | |
| 1962-jul-21 | Deployment | R09 HMS Ark Royal Exercise FOTEX 62 departed Singapore for show of force off Pulau Tioman island, before participating in Exercise FOTEX 62 | |
| 1962-oct-25 | Deployment | R09 HMS Ark Royal departed Singapore for UK via Aden, arrived HMNB Devonport on 16 Dec. | |
| 1963-mar | Deployment | R09 HMS Ark Royal Konfrontasi departed HMNB Devonport for duty in the Far East with Wessex of 815 NAS embarked. Relieved HMS Hermes on station, in Jul 1963. Returned early Jan 1964. | |
| 1964-jan-4 | Refit | R09 HMS Ark Royal at HMD Devonport until Nov 1964, fittings for 4x Seacat launchers added and equipped for Buccaneer operations. Fire broke out while circuit testing on 13 Oct, during refit. | |
| 1964-jul | Aircraft | R05 HMS Eagle Wessex of 820 NAS embarked for post-refit trials | |
| 1964-aug-1 | Port Visit | R05 HMS Eagle Ship open to visitors at Plymouth Navy Days 1964. | |
| 1964-aug-1 | Port Visit | R09 HMS Ark Royal present at Plymouth Navy Days 1964. | |
| 1964-oct-1 | Port Visit | R05 HMS Eagle visit to Brest for 3 days during autumn work up, departing 3 Oct | |
| 1964-nov | Aircraft | R09 HMS Ark Royal embarked Wessex HAS.1 of 819 NAS, until c May 1965. | |
| 1964-dec | Aircraft | R05 HMS Eagle until Oct 1968, Wessex HAS.1 of 820 NAS embarked. | |
| 1964-dec-1 | Deployment | R05 HMS Eagle departed HMNB Devonport for 6 month Far East deployment, returning 24 May 1965. | |
| 1965-mar-10 | Port Visit | R09 HMS Ark Royal to Bergen for short visit, with other NATO warships after Exercise Pilot Light | |
| 1965-mar-15 | Deployment | R05 HMS Eagle Exercise FOTEX 65 Exercising off Singapore in multi-national Naval Force | |
| 1965-mar-24 | Aircraft | R05 HMS Eagle 820 NAS Wessex HAS.1 XS123/291-E ditched and sank in the Malacca Strait, while operating from HMS Eagle | |
| 1965-mar-25 | Aircraft | R05 HMS Eagle recovered wreck of 820 NAS Wessex HAS.1 XS121/295-E after ditching in the Malacca Strait. | |
| 1965-apr-30 | Port Visit | R05 HMS Eagle Visited Aden, departed 2 May | |
| 1965-jun | Aircraft | R09 HMS Ark Royal until Sep 1966, Wessex HAS.1 of 815 NAS embarked | |
| 1965-aug-24 | Deployment | R05 HMS Eagle departed HMNB Devonport for 13 month Far East deployment, leaving Far East on 20 Apr 1966 and returning on 22 Aug 1966 | |
| 1965-sep | Deployment | R05 HMS Eagle Departed Malta to assist with deteriorating security situation in Aden, in company with HMS Lowestoft, RFA Tidesurge and RFA Reliant, arriving off Aden on 1 Oct. | |
| 1965-oct-30 | Refit | R09 HMS Ark Royal Fire in boiler room while undergoing routine repairs in Singapore, delayed for 3 weeks. | |
| 1965-nov-25 | Deployment | R05 HMS Eagle stood off Mozambique from mid Nov to discourage Rhodesian AF and provide initial air defence following Rhodesian UDI. Wessex of 820 Sq embarked. Relieved by HMS Ark Royal in Jan 1966. | |
| 1965-dec-6 | | R09 HMS Ark Royal Berth Fremantle Harbour, Western Australia. Australia until 28/29 December 1965. | |
| 1966-jan | Deployment | R09 HMS Ark Royal took up station off Mozambique after HMS Eagle had departed in Dec 1965. Wessex HAS.1 of 815 NAS embarked. Withdrew Mar 1966. | |
| 1966-feb-18 | Port Visit | R09 HMS Ark Royal alongside in Mombasa, until 3 Mar | |
| 1966-mar-6 | Deployment | R09 HMS Ark Royal Beira Patrol Beira Patrol, off Mozambique to enforce UN sanctions against Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) | |
| 1966-mar-15 | Deployment | R05 HMS Eagle Beira Patrol Beira Patrol, off Mozambique to enforce UN sanctions against Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). Relieved HMS Ark Royal and in turn was relieved by HMS Ark Royal on 4 May. | |
| 1966-may-10 | Deployment | R09 HMS Ark Royal Beira Patrol Beira Patrol, off Mozambique to enforce UN sanctions against Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). Relieved HMS Eagle and operated until 25 May. | |
| 1966-aug-27 | Deployment | R05 HMS Eagle present at Plymouth Navy Days 1966 | |
| 1966-sep | Refit | R05 HMS Eagle until Aug 1967, added a waist catapult and DAX II arrestor wires, suitable for the F-4 Phantom (which never happened operationally, although 3 weeks trials were held c Jun 1969) and full squadron helicopter operations | |
| 1966-oct-5 | Refit | R09 HMS Ark Royal air direction radar Type 982 until Dec 1969, strengthening the flight deck and angling at 8.5 deg, water-cooled Jet Blast Deflectors, perforated cylinder Direct Acting Gear for the arrests, installation of Type 982/3 radars, replacement of the Type 963 radar by the SPN-35 CCA radar, Corvus chaff and fitting the Seacat missile launchers. Re-commissioned on 25 Feb 1970. | |
| 1967-aug-15 | Deployment | R05 HMS Eagle departed HMNB Devonport for 10 month Indian Ocean and Far East deployment, returning via Cape of Good Hope (Suez Canal closed) on18 Jun 1968 | |
| 1967-aug-17 | Aircraft | R05 HMS Eagle embarked 820 NAS Wessex HAS.1 XS869/064-E ditched, and was recovered same day. | |
| 1967-aug-26 | Deployment | R09 HMS Ark Royal present at Plymouth Navy Days 1967 | |
| 1967-nov | Deployment | R05 HMS Eagle until 28 Nov 1967, part of Task Force 318 to cover the British withdrawal from Aden during Operation Magister. | |
| 1968-may-31 | Port Visit | R05 HMS Eagle 4 day visit to Cape Town, departed on 4 Jun | |
| 1968-sep | Port Visit | R05 HMS Eagle docked at Leith for 4 day visit to Edinburgh | |
| 1968-oct | Refit | R05 HMS Eagle at HMD Devonport, Plymouth, completed around Feb 1969. | |
| 1968-dec | Aircraft | R05 HMS Eagle assigned Wessex HAS.1 XM845 / 146-E for SAR Flt. Damaged c Sep 1970. | |
| 1969-mar-5 | | R05 HMS Eagle final re-commissioning at HMB Devonport. | |
| 1969-apr | Aircraft | R05 HMS Eagle until Jun 1970, Wessex HAS.3 of 826 NAS embarked. | |
| 1969-apr | Aircraft | R05 HMS Eagle assigned Wessex HAS.1 XM326 / 147-E as Eagle SAR Flt until Jan 1972 | |
| 1969-jun-12 | Refit | R09 HMS Ark Royal during refit, fire broke out while in HMD Devonport. Subsequently recommissioned on 25 Feb 1970. | |
| 1969-jun-16 | Deployment | R05 HMS Eagle departed HMNB Devonport for one month deployment to North Atlantic and eastern USA, returning 20 Jul. | |
| 1969-jul-26 | Deployment | R05 HMS Eagle Fleet Review: Ships of the Western Fleet Present at Ships of the Western Fleet review in Torbay. | |
| 1969-sep-4 | Deployment | R05 HMS Eagle departed HMNB Devonport for 3 month Mediterranean deployment, returning on 5 Dec. | |
| 1969-sep-9 | Aircraft | R05 HMS Eagle lost 826 NAS Wessex HAS.3 XS126/142-E, c 48nm SW of Skomer | |
| 1969-oct-31 | Port Visit | R05 HMS Eagle fortnight maintenance period in Malta until 13 Nov | |
| 1969-nov-25 | Aircraft | R05 HMS Eagle lost 826 NAS Wessex HAS.3 XP153/143-E off Portugal, while operating from RFA Olmeda. | |
| 1970-jan-6 | Aircraft | R09 HMS Ark Royal Ark Royal SAR Flt reformed with two Wessex HAS.1 at RNAS Culdrose. | |
| 1970-jan-12 | Deployment | R05 HMS Eagle departed HMNB Devonport for 2 month Home Waters and W Mediterranean deployment, including 3 weeks Harrier trials, returning 25 Mar. | |
| 1970-feb | Aircraft | R09 HMS Ark Royal until Dec 1978, Sea King HAS.1 of 824 NAS embarked, included XV656 / 052-R, XV657 / 053-R, XV658 / 054-R and XV659 / 055-R. | |
| 1970-feb-27 | Port Visit | R05 HMS Eagle visited Liverpool, until 4 Mar. | |
| 1970-jun | Aircraft | R05 HMS Eagle until Jan 1972, Sea King HAS.1 of 826 NAS embarked. | |
| 1970-aug-29 | Port Visit | R09 HMS Ark Royal Ship open to visitors at Plymouth Navy Days 1970. | |
| 1970-aug-29 | Port Visit | R05 HMS Eagle present at Plymouth Navy Days 1970. | |
| 1970-oct-26 | Port Visit | R09 HMS Ark Royal visited Valetta in preparation for Exercise Lime Jug. Departed for Phase 1 exercise area on 29 Oct, in company with other ships. | |
| 1970-nov-2 | Deployment | R09 HMS Ark Royal Exercise Lime Jug struck by Russian Kotlin class vessel Bravvy on 9 Nov while shadowing HMS Ark Royal during Mediterranean Exercise Lime Jug, off Crete. | |
| 1970-dec-3 | Port Visit | R09 HMS Ark Royal visit to Naples, until 8 Dec. | |
| 1970-dec-18 | Refit | R09 HMS Ark Royal until 15 Apr 1971 in refit at HMD Devonport, including repairs to holes above waterline from damage by Kotlin in Mediterranean collision. | |
| 1971-jun-2 | Deployment | R09 HMS Ark Royal departed HMNB Devonport for 2 month Caribbean and North Atlantic deployment, returning 30 Jul | |
| 1971-aug | Deployment | R05 HMS Eagle received distress call from ss Steel Vendor which was breaking up after running aground, west of the Philippines following Typhoon Elaine. Four 826 NAS Sea Kings winched the crew of 40 in high sea state and strong winds. | |
| 1971-aug-4 | Port Visit | R05 HMS Eagle visited Wellington, NZ | |
| 1971-aug-28 | Port Visit | R09 HMS Ark Royal Ship open to visitors at Plymouth Navy Days 1971. | |
| 1971-sep-27 | Deployment | R09 HMS Ark Royal participated in Royal Knight in Norwegian Sea and off North Cape, with USS Independence and USS Intrepid carrier groups and USS Newport News (CA-148), until 4 Oct. | |
| 1971-oct-7 | Aircraft | R05 HMS Eagle 4 Sea Kings from 826 NAS rescued crew of Steel Vendor which was breaking up in the South China Sea. | |
| 1971-oct-30 | Deployment | R09 HMS Ark Royal departed from HMNB Portsmouth for a 5 week Mediterranean deployment, returning to HMNB Devonport 7 Dec | |
| 1971-oct-31 | Deployment | R05 HMS Eagle departed Singapore for the last time, ending the permanent Royal Navy presence in the Far East | |
| 1971-dec | Port Visit | R05 HMS Eagle Christmas visit to Durban, departed on 4 Jan 1972 | |
| 1972-jan-20 | Deployment | R09 HMS Ark Royal departed HMNB Devonport for 6 week Caribbean and North Atlantic deployment, returning 9 Mar | |
| 1972-jan-23 | Aircraft | R05 HMS Eagle 826 NAS Sea Kings disembarked to RNAS Culdrose | |
| 1972-jan-26 | Decommissioned | R05 HMS Eagle decommissioned after decision taken that conversion for F-4K Phantom operations would be too expensive | |
| 1972-jan-26 | Deployment | R09 HMS Ark Royal detached from exercise with US Navy and ordered towards British Honduras, together with HMS Bacchante as escort. On 26 Jan she launched 4x Buccaneers of 809 NAS at extreme range to overfly the capital to deter Guatemalan ambitions. | |
| 1972-nov | Deployment | R09 HMS Ark Royal participated in Exercise Corsica 72 off W coast of Corsica with HMS Bulwark, HMS Fearless and HMS Intrepid. | |
| 1972-dec | Aircraft | R09 HMS Ark Royal assigned Wessex HAS.1 XM845 / 056-R for SAR Flt until c mid 1973. | |
| 1973-feb-23 | Port Visit | R09 HMS Ark Royal maintenance period alongside in Malta. | |
| 1973-jul-18 | Port Visit | R09 HMS Ark Royal visit to Rosyth until 23 Jul, after recent return from WESTLANT 73 deployment. | |
| 1973-jul-26 | Port Visit | R09 HMS Ark Royal to/from Plymouth Sound C buoy for a Families Day at sea | |
| 1974-mar | Aircraft | R09 HMS Ark Royal Wessex HAS.1 XP112 assigned as SAR Flt/046-R until c Jun 1975. | |
| 1974-sep-4 | Aircraft | R09 HMS Ark Royal SAR Flt Wessex XS875/047-R crashed on deck, while off Lyme Bay | |
| 1974-sep-4 | Aircraft | R09 HMS Ark Royal Wessex HAS 1 XS875 suffered complete engine failure due to shedding a blade in the 7th stage of the compressor. It was in the English Channel, about 60 miles West of the Isle of White in a storm force 9. It had launched to rescue the crew of a small coastal ship carrying gravel which had shifted in the heavy seas and capsised, the crew of 5 had taken to the life raft. I know this because I was the pilot involved! | |
| 1974-sep-7 | Aircraft | R09 HMS Ark Royal SAR Flt Wessex HAS.1 XS875 / 047-R crashed on deck on take-off, while off Scotland. Wreck air-lifted to RAF Lossiemouth by Sea King. | |
| 1975-aug | Aircraft | R09 HMS Ark Royal Wessex HAS.1 XP112 assigned as SAR Flt/047-R until 17 Sep 1975. | |
| 1975-sep-17 | Aircraft | R09 HMS Ark Royal Wessex XP112 ditched c 32nm S of Plymouth and sank during recovery attempt. | |
| 1976-feb-5 | Deployment | R09 HMS Ark Royal departed HMNB Devonport on Western Atlantic deployment with 824 NAS Sea Kings embarked, returning on 16 Jul. | |
| 1976-mar-1 | Port Visit | R09 HMS Ark Royal 3 day visit to Puerto Rico, departing 3 Mar | |
| 1976-jun-30 | Port Visit | R09 HMS Ark Royal Present for week of 200th Anniversary Independence Day celebrations, until 6 Jul. | |
| 1976-aug-28 | Port Visit | R09 HMS Ark Royal Ship open to visitors at Plymouth Navy Days 1976. | |
| 1976-oct | Refit | R09 HMS Ark Royal refit at HMD Devonport, with works on catapults and focus on sub-surface improvements, until Feb 1977 | |
| 1977-jun | | R09 HMS Ark Royal Royal Fleet Review - HM Queen Elizabeth Silver Jubilee
Tasked with manning the side, as the Royal Yacht Britannia and escort reviewed the line, Ark Royal was the last in that line.
I reported to the bosun who said, we ve no more space on the flight deck, just go and stand on the cable deck mate...
The cable deck was two decks below the flight deck (2A0) and I was the only person assigned to that deck, not sure where I should stand, I decided it was probably neat and appropriate to stand on the anchoring platform that jutted out of the stem of the ship, accessed by a deck portal in the stem. I was standing on a 4 x3 grating held in place by its hinges and two chains, the view down the ships stem to the Solent below. I decided I could not remove my cap, (as every other rating was doing above me, due to the limited space and concerns over losing my cap in the drink, so as the Britannia hove into view and passed, I stood to attention and decided to just salute instead.
I would have been the only rating to salute the monarch as they passed, on any of the ships present.
Somewhere, someone probably has a picture of this and maybe wondering who that chap was on the nose of the ship - appearing as her figurehead . Well it was Radio Operator First Class D.B West. 6J2 Mess, HMS Ark Royal - 1976 to 1979, My final job being destore team , prior to joining the Silent Service where I finally left the RN in 1981. | |
| 1977-jun-25 | Deployment | R09 HMS Ark Royal Fleet Review: Silver Jubilee of HM The Queen Flag Ship at Silver Jubilee Fleet Review off Ryde Sand | |
| 1977-aug-27 | Deployment | R09 HMS Ark Royal present at Plymouth Navy Days 1977 | |
| 1978-apr-5 | Deployment | R09 HMS Ark Royal left HMD Devonport for North Atlantic and Mediterranean, her final deployment, returning 4 Dec 1978 | |
| 1978-sep-4 | Fate: scrapped | R05 HMS Eagle left HMD Devonport under tow on 4 Sep 1978 for Cairnryan, Scotland. Scrapping complete by 1980 | |
| 1978-dec | Decommissioned | R09 HMS Ark Royal | |
| 1979-feb-13 | Struck | R09 HMS Ark Royal Paid off | |
| 1980-sep-22 | Fate: scrapped | R09 HMS Ark Royal departed HMD Devonport under tow for Cairnryan, scrapped from Oct 1980 | |
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