HMD RosythAccident While under tow in the North Sea, heading for Rosyth, was in collision with mv Maystone which sank with loss of life, leaving hole in port side. Reached Rosyth on 19 Oct for repairs and planned bottom scrape.
1954
Port Visit
HMAS KuttabulSydney visited Sydney, while on maiden deployment to Far East and Australia
1954-may-27
Commissioned
Deck id Z until 1957, then A. First carrier to be completed with an angled deck (5 deg) and a deck landing mirror sight (DLMS).
1954-sep
Aircraft
assigned Dragonfly HR.3 to SAR Flt WG669/902-Z until c Jun 1955
1956-jan
Deployment
departed UK on maiden deployment to Far East, returning in May.
1956-aug
Aircraft
SAR Flt assigned Whirlwind HAR.3 to SAR Flt XG577 / 979-Z and XG578 / 980-Z, until c Sep 1957
after rapid work installing tie down points, departed UK with 42 Commando RM and HQ 19 Infantry Brigade with its kit and vehicles embarked, for Malta to augment the garrison in case intervention in the Iraqi Revolution was required.
1958-aug
Aircraft
Whirlwind HAS.7 of 820 NAS embarked for Far East operations, until May 1959
1958-oct-23
Aircraft
Accident 820 NAS Whirlwind HAS.7 XL871/324 /W ditched and sank off Cadiz
1959-may
Port Visit
visited Madagascar, while returning to UK from Far East and Australasian deployment.
1959-aug
Refit
Refit at HMD Portsmouth until c Nov 1959
1960-feb-9
Aircraft
Accident While en route to Far East with 815 NAS embarked, Whirlwind HAS.7 XL850/302-A ditched and sank in western Mediterranean.
1960-mar-26
Port Visit
Piraeus Three day visit to Piraeus. Anchored in Piraeus Bay, until 29 Mar.
1960-apr-10
Aircraft
Accident Whirlwind HAS.7 XL897815 NAS/302-A ditched and sank while operating dunking sonar on 10 Apr 1960
1960-aug-10
Aircraft
Accident Whirlwind HAS.7 XL880/306-A damaged blades and tail in deck accident while operating with 815 NAS in the Far East
1960-aug-22
Deployment
off Hong KongEmergency assisted injured crewman on ss Twinhorse, c 60 nm SSE of Hong Kong. Launched two Whirlwind from 815 Sq, including XL883/308.
Sembawang naval base Offloaded a number of helicopters to AHU at RAF Tengah (including XL880) while at Singapore.
1961-jan
Refit
Commando Carrier refit until 1962, conversion to Commando Carrier and recommissioned on 1 Aug 1962
1962-nov-2
Deployment
off Brunei BayOld Grey Ghost of the CoastKonfrontasi Embarked 846 NAS with its 6 Whirlwind HAS.7 and 845 NAS with 12 Wessex HAS.1 from RNAS Culdrose for Far East deployment. Disembarked on 14 Dec 1962 for operations from Borneo (846 to Seria, 845 to Brunei). After time on station, relieved by HMS Bulwark, departed Feb 1964 for UK and arrived back in HMNB Portsmouth on 15 Apr 1964.
1962-nov-26
Aden HarbourAccident sunk a tug following collision in Aden
1962-dec-14
Deployment
Konfrontasi Stood off Labuan in South China Sea and launched Whirlwind HAS.7 of 846 Sq and Wessex of 845 Sq to support the ejection of Indonesian backed troops from Brunei
Old Grey Ghost of the CoastKonfrontasi Delivered RAF No 38 Group Spine Force reinforcement for the Far East Air Force to support operations in Sarwak, Brunei and Sabah (Borneo) during the Indonesian Confrontation. Included three Belvedere and a Whirlwind and arrived initially in Singapore on 20 Nov.
1964-mar-28
Aircraft
Aden Harbour embarked 4x Khormaksar SAR Flt Sycamore (including XL829) for return to UK, after they were in process of being replaced by Whirlwind HAR.10. Part of HMS Albion return leg to UK, begun on 2 Nov 1962.
Left HMNB Portsmouth for sea trials after dry-docking for several months, following recommissioning ceremony.
1965-mar-12
Deployment
off Brunei BayOld Grey Ghost of the CoastKonfrontasi departed HMNB Portsmouth, 848 Sq embarked with 12 Wessex HU.5 plus the Sioux of 40 Commando Air Troop, for 18 month Far East and Borneo deployment, via Suez Canal. Transported detachment of 815 NAS Wessex HAS.1 to Sibu, from May to Jul 1965. Returned to UK Sep 1966
1965-nov-25
Aircraft
departed Aden for Singapore with remaining 4 ex 26 Squadron Belvedere, including XG474, for 66 Squadron and arrived 4 Dec.
1965-dec
Deployment
While returning to Singapore from Labuan, rammed and sank Indonesian patrol boat which had attacked her. Damaged bow, which was repaired during the Feb-Apr 1966 docking period in Singapore.
1966-aug
Deployment
Red Sea returned a number of Whirlwind HAS.7 back to the UK from Sembawang. Relieved as the Far East station carrier by HMS Bulwark in the Red Sea
1966-sep
Refit
Refit at HMD Portsmouth, having left Singapore in Aug 1966. Completed c Mar 1967.
1967-jun
Deployment
off Lagos during Nigerian Civil War, to support possible evacuations. Arrived back in UK by early Jul 1967
1967-oct
Deployment
off AdenTF 945 until 29 Nov 1967, part of Task Force 318 to cover the British withdrawal from Aden during Operation Magister.
Operation Charlotte deployed off Cambodia to prevent arms smuggling.
1969-aug
Refit
Refit until c Feb 1970
1970-mar
Aircraft
embarked Wessex HU.5 of 848 Sq for post-refit work up.
1971-feb
Aircraft
disembarked Wessex of 845 Sq in mid Feb (following participation in Exercise Clockwork 71 in the Lofoten Islands), before returned to HMNB Portsmouth.
1971-mar
Deployment
departed HMNB Portsmouth for 9 month Far East and South Pacific deployment, staging around Singapore. Returned to Portsmouth on 24 Jan 1972.
1971-mar
Aircraft
embarked 12 Wessex of 848 Sq near end of Mar, some in HMNB Portsmouth and some en route near Portland. 848 NAS disembarked to HMS Simbang on 22 May
1971-jul-1
Port Visit
Visited Kobe, Japan during Far East deployment, departed on 8 Jul.
1971-aug-9
Port Visit
Fremantle Harbour Visited Fremantle, Australia during Far East deployment, departed on 17 Aug.
1971-oct-29
Aircraft
Sembawang naval baseWithdrawal from Singapore re-embarked 848 NAS from HMS Simbang after they had flown past during the bases handover ceremony, then to Masirah (and 40 CDO RM to be dropped at Gan), prior to departing for the Indian Ocean. 848 NAS disembarked in the UK to RNAS Culdrose, on 20 Jan 1972.
1971-nov-14
Port Visit
Port Mombasa week visit to Mombasa, with maintenance
1971-nov-23
Deployment
Bay of BengalIndo-Pakistan war contingency stood off East Pakistan (before Bangladesh was formed) in the Bay of Bengal to support British nationals during the conflict. 22 Wessex HU.5 of 848 NAS and 4 Sea King of 826 NAS embarked.
1971-dec
Aircraft
disembarked 826 Sq Sea King detachment back to HMS Eagle off Durban, after Christmas 1971, before the new year.
1971-dec-15
Deployment
Gan Anchorage arrived Gan, disembarked 40 Commando RM, (to be flown home for Christmas).
HMAS Kuttabul Sydney visited Sydney, while on maiden deployment to Far East and Australia
Grand Harbour / il-Port il-Kbir / Valletta Arrived in Malta, covertly preparing for Op Musketeer. SAR Flt equipped with Whirlwind HAR.3 XG573 / 979 (temporary assignment) & XG578 / 980.
Operation Musketeer Participated in Suez Canal fixed wing operations and remained on patrol for c a month following the cease fire.
Piraeus Three day visit to Piraeus. Anchored in Piraeus Bay, until 29 Mar.
Victoria Harbour Ten day visit to Hong Kong, departed 1 Sep.
Sembawang naval base Offloaded a number of helicopters to AHU at RAF Tengah (including XL880) while at Singapore.
off Brunei Bay Old Grey Ghost of the Coast 
Aden Harbour Accident sunk a tug following collision in Aden
Port Mombasa week visit to Mombasa, with maintenance
Gan Anchorage arrived Gan, disembarked 40 Commando RM, (to be flown home for Christmas).
Simon Town Naval Dockyard spent New Year in Simonstown, departed 5 Jan 1972
Swan Hunter (Wallsend), Wallsend 
