Launched ceremony included a flypast by 3 Sea King HAS.1 from 819 Squadron
1979-may
Aircraft
AircraftLargs BayTrials in Largs Bay During trials in Largs Bay in May 1979, 819 NAS Sea King HAS.2A XV710/310-PW was first aircraft to perform a deck landing.
1980-mar-06
Aircraft
AircraftAccident During trials south of Isle of Wight, two of the embarked 820 NAS Sea Kings (XZ915 and XZ917) collided in mid-air in poor visibility.
1980-may-19
Trials
Trials first landing of Sea Harrier on an Invincible class deck
1980-jul-11
Commissioned
Commissioned at HMNB Portsmouth, fitted at this stage with Sea Dart and its Type 910 fire direction radar.
1982-apr-04
Deployment
DeploymentOperation Corporate Departed HMNB Portsmouth for Falklands Conflict first op deployment with Invincible air group configured for maximum Harrier compliment to carry out air defence of the task force and offensive operations. Returned to Portsmouth on 17 Sep.
1982-nov-05
Port Visit
Port VisitRoosevelt Roads At Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico until 11 Nov 1982
1982-nov-12
Port Visit
Port Visit At Fort Lauderdale, Florida until 19 Nov 1982
1982-nov-22
Port Visit
Port Visit At Philadelphia, Pennsylvania until 29 Nov 1982, returning to HMNB Portsmouth by 8 Dec 1982.
1983-sep-01
Deployment
Deployment departed HMNB Portsmouth for Far East and Australasian deployment, cut short by difficulties with the machinery and the nervousness with which the Australian and Japanese governments viewed offering repair facilities to a ship which might be carrying nuclear weapons
1986-may
Refit
RefitGoalkeeper CIWS upgradeGoalkeeper to HMD Devonport for an extensive refit until Nov 1988 including work on the machinery, reconfiguring the ski jump, an operations room upgrade, new sonar, 3 sets of Goalkeeper CIWS (to replace post-South Atlantic conflict Phalanx) and an increase in the air group capacity. Returned to service in 1989.
DeploymentSembawang naval baseTask Group 318.1Orient 92 deployment led Group Deployment to Far East for Orient Express 92, consisting of HMSs Boxer, Newcastle, Norfolk and RFAs Fort Austin and Olwen, returning Nov 1992. Embarked were 7 Sea King HAS.5 of 814 NAS, 2 Sea King HC.4 of 845 NAS and 3 Sea King AEW.2 of 849 NAS.
1993-jul-22
Deployment
DeploymentDalmatian coastUNPROFOR departed HMNB Portsmouth and relieved HMS Ark Royal on station in the Adriatic during Aug, assisting UNPROFOR, until Jan 1994.
DeploymentDalmatian coastUNPROFOR departed HMNB Portsmouth with 814 NAS and 849 NAS A Flt embarked, for return to the Adriatic to relieve HMS Ark Royal in Sep. On station until Feb 1995 when relieved by HMS Illustrious.
Refit alongside in HMNB Portsmouth for maintenance period after Adriatic deployment, until Mar 1996.
1996-aug
Deployment
DeploymentTask Group TG 333.01 departed from HMNB Portsmouth at end Aug 1996 in company with HMS Sheffield, RFA Oakleaf (A111) and RFA Fort Grange for exercises in Mediterranean and Persian Gulf (from Nov) before returning to Portsmouth on 19 Dec.
1997-nov-29
Port Visit
Port VisitBarcelona HarbourBarcelona visit to Barcelona, until 4 Dec 1997
Refit refit at HMD Portsmouth for removal of Sea Dart, extension of flight deck and more space for air group and its support equipment; until spring 2000
1999-may-21
Deployment
DeploymentAdriatic withdrawn from Kosovo theatre, to be replaced by RFA Argus on 1 Jun.
2001-mar-31
into extended readiness at HMNB Portsmouth until Jul 2001
2001-jul
departed HMNB Portsmouth at end of Jul for Rosyth, to prepare for refit
2001-dec
Refit
Refit refit at Rosyth, until Mar 2003, including removal of Sea Dart twin launcher.
2004-jul-04
Port Visit
Port Visit to New York, NY for Independence Day celebrations
2005-aug-03
Decommissioned
Decommissioned into low readiness reserve at HMNB Portsmouth
2010-sep-10
Struck
Struck Ended readiness reserve.
2011-apr-12
Fate: scrapped
Fate: scrappedAliagaShipbreakers March 24 2011 Invincible hull was towed from Portsmouth harbour to Leyal Ship Dismantling and Recycling in Turkey for scrapping. Completed January 2012
Roosevelt Roads At Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico until 11 Nov 1982
Sembawang naval base Task Group 318.1 Orient 92 deployment led Group Deployment to Far East for Orient Express 92, consisting of HMSs Boxer, Newcastle, Norfolk and RFAs Fort Austin and Olwen, returning Nov 1992. Embarked were 7 Sea King HAS.5 of 814 NAS, 2 Sea King HC.4 of 845 NAS and 3 Sea King AEW.2 of 849 NAS.
Dalmatian coast UNPROFOR departed HMNB Portsmouth and relieved HMS Ark Royal on station in the Adriatic during Aug, assisting UNPROFOR, until Jan 1994.
Port of Trieste Visit Trieste, Italy. Sea king XV703 onboard
Barcelona Harbour Barcelona visit to Barcelona, until 4 Dec 1997
Aliaga Shipbreakers March 24 2011 Invincible hull was towed from Portsmouth harbour to Leyal Ship Dismantling and Recycling in Turkey for scrapping. Completed January 2012
Aircraft
Royal Navy 