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HMS Ark Royal (R09)

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HMS Ark Royal
Career RN Ensign
Ordered: Mid 1942
Laid down: 3 May 1943
Launched: 3 May 1950
Commissioned: 25 February 1955
Decommissioned: December 1978
Fate: Scrapped in 1980
Struck: February 1979
General Characteristics
Displacement: 36,800 tons (as built)
43,060 tons (1978)
Length: 245 m (804 ft) overall
Beam: 112 ft (as built)
41 m (135 ft) (1978)
Draught: 10 m (33 ft) standard
9.5 m (36 ft) deep
Propulsion: 8 Admiralty 3-drum boilers
4 Parsons geared turbines
Speed: 31.5 kt (58 km/h)
Range: 11,265 km (7000 miles) at 14 knots
5000nm at 24 knots
Complement: 2250
Armament: As built:
16 x 4.5 inch (8x2)
52 x 40 mm(6x6, 2x2, 12x1)
1969 refit: none
Aircraft: 78 initially
43 after 1969 refit
Motto: Zeal Does Not Rest

The HMS Ark Royal (R09) began construction in 1943 during World War II. She replaced the previous Ark Royal which was lost to enemy action on November 14, 1941. The Ark Royal was the Royal Navy's last conventional catapult and arrested landing aircraft carrier; later aircraft carriers of the Invincible-class were known initially as "Through Deck Cruisers" and carried vertical/short takeoff and landing aircraft. Her keel was laid down by Cammell Laird of Birkenhead on 3 May 1943. She was launched on 3 May 1950, and commissioned on 25 February 1955.

Construction and Modifications

The Ark Royal was the sister ship to HMS Eagle, initially named HMS Audacious, hence the name of the class. Both ships would be extensively upgraded throughout their lifetime. It was not until 7 years after she was laid down that she was launched, and 5 more years until completion. In this time, she underwent redesign, and when completed, she was markedly different from her sister ship. When commissioned, she had a 5.5° partially-angled flight deck, 2 steam catapults capable of launching aircraft weighing up to 30,000 pounds (14,000 kg), a deck-edge lift on the port side, modified armament, and the new mirror landing system. These innovations allowed aircraft to land and take off from the carrier at the same time. Her flight deck as built was 800 feet (240 m) long by 112 feet (34 m) wide.

About a year after commissioning, she had her forward port 4.5 inch (114 mm) guns removed to improve aircraft operations over the angled deck. Four years later, the port deck edge lift and the forward starboard 4.5 inch (114 mm) guns were also removed. The remaining 4.5 inch guns were removed in the 1964 refit. From March 1967 to February 1970, she underwent her final major refit, whicn included an 8.5° angled flight deck, new catapults taking her up to three, and arresting gear, a new island, and a partially new electronic suite (some of her original radars were retained). She was also fitted for 4 Seacat missile launchers, but they were never installed, so she emerged from this refit with no defensive armament.

Initially the ship had a complement of 78 aircraft comprising of Sea Hawks, Gannets, Skyraiders and various helicopters.

Operational History

The Ark Royal participated in many exercises as part of the British fleet and NATO squadrons, but saw no combat duty. During the Suez Crisis in 1956, about a year after commissioning, she was doing her post-refit trials, so she was not involved with this operation. In 1963, she carried out trials for a new type of Vertical/Short Take Off and Landing (V/STOL) aircraft, the Hawker P.1127, which developed into the Hawker Siddeley Harrier.

She was involved in a notorious incident in 1970 when she collided with the Soviet destroyer Kotlin while it was shadowing Ark Royal (a common practise during the Cold War) who was in the Mediterranean to participate in a NATO exercise. Ark Royal was damaged only slightly while the Soviet destroyer sustained significant damage.

By 1970, the Ark Royal now had a complement of 43 aircraft, comprising of F-4 Phantoms (added in 1970) and Buccaneers (added in 1963). In July 1976, she represented Great Britain at the United States Bicentennial Celebration in New York City. Originally intended to be removed from service in the mid 1970s, she was kept operational only by cannabalizing parts from her now-decommissioned sister.

In the late 1970s, a major BBC television documentary series, Sailor was made tracking life on board HMS Ark Royal. The theme tune for the programme was "Sailing" by Rod Stewart - a song that came to be associated with the ship and her successor.

The scrapping of the Ark Royal in 1980, two years after the Eagle had been scrapped, marked the end of fixed-wing naval operation aboard Royal Navy carriers. She had borne so many new inventions, and yet, was never replaced by a new carrier with them. There was some discussion about preserving her as a museum ship, and some private funds were raised; however, the Ministry of Defence would not sanction these efforts.

Ironically the Falklands War took place only two years after the Ark Royal was scrapped; had the carrier still been in service for the conflict the Argentine Air Force would have had a considerably tougher time launching attacks on the Royal Navy.

See HMS Ark Royal for other ships of the same name.

Aircraft and squadrons

References

  • Roger Chesneau, Aircraft Carriers of the World, 1914 to the Present; An Illustrated Encyclopedia (Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, 1984)
  • Robert Gardiner, ed., Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947-1982 (Conway Maritime Press, London, 1983)


See also

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