Aircraft 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
Port Visit Ship Open to Visitors at HMNB Devonport for Navy Days 1959.
1959-oct-30
Refit
RefitSLEP Refitair 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.
Deployment 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
DeploymentAden Harbour 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-nov-25
Deployment
DeploymentMozambique Channel 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.
1966-mar-15
Deployment
DeploymentMozambique ChannelBeiraBeira 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-aug-27
Deployment
DeploymentHMD DevonportNavy Days 1966 present at Plymouth Navy Days 1966
1966-sep
Refit
Refit 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
1967-aug-15
Deployment
Deployment 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
AircraftAccident embarked 820 NAS Wessex HAS.1 XS869/064-E ditched, and was recovered same day.
1967-nov
Deployment
Deploymentoff AdenTF 945 until 28 Nov 1967, part of Task Force 318 to cover the British withdrawal from Aden during Operation Magister.
1968-may-31
Port Visit
Port Visit 4 day visit to Cape Town, departed on 4 Jun
1968-sep
Port Visit
Port Visit docked at Leith for 4 day visit to Edinburgh
1968-oct
Refit
Refit at HMD Devonport, Plymouth, completed around Feb 1969.
1968-dec
Aircraft
Aircraft assigned Wessex HAS.1 XM845 / 146-E for SAR Flt. Damaged c Sep 1970.
AircraftAccident lost 826 NAS Wessex HAS.3 XP153/143-E off Portugal, while operating from RFA Olmeda.
1970-jan-12
Deployment
Deployment departed HMNB Devonport for 2 month Home Waters and W Mediterranean deployment, including 3 weeks Harrier trials, returning 25 Mar.
1970-feb-27
Port Visit
Port Visit visited Liverpool, until 4 Mar.
1970-jun
Aircraft
Aircraft until Jan 1972, Sea King HAS.1 of 826 NAS embarked.
1970-aug-29
Port Visit
Port VisitHMD DevonportNavy Days 1970 present at Plymouth Navy Days 1970.
1971-aug
Deployment
DeploymentRescue from ss Steel Vendor 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.