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HMS Ark Royal (R07)


Light Aircraft Carrier


United Kingdom | 1981



"HMS Ark Royal was original set to be named HMS Indomitable but public outcry at the scrapping of the WW2-era carrier saw to it that she was properly named."

Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one sea-going vessel design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for HMS Ark Royal (R07).
4 x Rolls-Royce Olympus TM3B gas turbines developing 97,000 horsepower; 8 x Paxman Valenta diesel generators.
Propulsion
30.0 kts
34.5 mph
Surface Speed
4,345 nm
5,000 miles | 8,047 km
Range
Structure
The bow-to-stern, port-to-starboard physical qualities of HMS Ark Royal (R07).
1,580
Personnel
Complement
689.0 ft
210.01 meters
O/A Length
118.0 ft
35.97 meters
Beam
25.0 ft
7.62 meters
Draught
20,600
tons
Displacement
Armament
Available supported armament and special-mission equipment featured in the design of HMS Ark Royal (R07).
2 x 20mm GAM-B01 guns
3 x Mark 15 Phalanx CIWS
1 x Sea Dart SAM missile launcher (later removed)
22 x Sea Dart missiles (no longer used)
Air Arm
Available supported fixed-wing / rotary-wing aircraft featured in the design of HMS Ark Royal (R07).
Complement of 60 aircraft of various types which can include Sea Harrier GR.7 or Sea Harrier GR.9 series aircraft, Sea King AsaC helicopters and Merlin HM Mk 1 helicopters.
Ships-in-Class (3)
Notable series variants as part of the HMS Ark Royal (R07) family line as relating to the Invincible-class group.
HMS Invincible (R05); HMS Illustrious (R06); HMS Ark Royal (R07)
Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 03/26/2020 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

HMS Ark Royal (originally to be called HMS Indomitable) represented a fitting addition to British naval power at the end of the century, considering the name had been in use for decades in other forms including an aircraft carrier used in World War 2. This new carrier came at a time when the fleet carrier program was all but gone from Royal Navy consideration and a new initiative was put forth for a carrier to operate an air group of the Sea King type helicopters. Later in development, it became apparent that the Royal Air Force's Harrier jump jet aircraft would also be a prime candidate for consideration for use on the carrier (known in the Royal Navy inventory as the Sea Harrier) and the Ark Royal's role was officially defined.

Classified was a "light" carrier and part of the Invincible class of British carriers, the Ark Royal sports an aircraft complement of various types that include the Sea Harrier jump jet aircraft (fighter and bomber versions), Sea King and Merlin type helicopters with a standard group consisting of 5 Harriers and 10 Sea Kings. Her most notable characteristic was the sloped ramp at the extreme edge of her flight deck, which sat to the port side with a superstructure at the starboard. Self-defense was accomplished through a layout of 3 x Phalanx CIWS anti-missile systems and additional 2 x 20mm cannons for anti-aircraft defense. Additionally, the class can mount 1 x twin launchers for Sea Dart surface-to-air missiles (later removed in 1999), shoring up the defense of what use to be a weakness in the design.

After a decade of refits for herself and her sister ships, the Ark Royal took part in the 2003 invasion of Iraq which put to good use her offshore jump jets and helicopters. Though hardly a perfect yet still successful design in any regard, she is set to be officially replaced by the new and more capable HMS Prince of Wales by 2016. There have been many faces under the Ark Royal name in British naval history and this particular face continues the pride and progression of earlier forms. This modernized version of the Ark Royal was first ordered in late 1978 and laid down that same year. She was launched in 1981 and officially commissioned in 1985 and has been in active service ever since.

On January 22nd, 2011, HMS Ark Royal was formally bid farewell by thousands of British personnel and civilians. HMS Ark Royal was decommissioned to coincide with recent "austerity" measures across the country amid a tough economic environment. The Queen herself made a final visit to the vessel in November of 2010, marking its 25th year anniversary for service to the Royal Navy. HMS Ark Royal was retired some three years earlier than originally planned.

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Operators
Global operator(s) of the HMS Ark Royal (R07). Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national naval warfare listing.
National flag of the United Kingdom

[ United Kingdom ]
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Image of the HMS Ark Royal (R07)

Going Further...
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