Dates: 1976 -

She was laid down at Swan Hunter on the River Tyne in 1976, and launched in 1981. As the ship neared the end of its fitting out period, the Falklands War broke out. As a consequence, work on Illustrious was greatly sped up.

The war was won before Illustrious could be finished, but she did perform a useful service in the aftermath. Until the RAF airfield on the Falkland Islands was repaired, an aircraft carrier was required on station to protect the area from possible Argentine attack.

Invincible had been on station for many months when Illustrious steamed to its relief. However, Illustrious was needed so quickly that the ship was actually commissioned underway. After the RAF airfield was repaired, Illustrious returned to the UK for a full shakedown cruise and workup period, with a formal commissioning on 20 March 1983.

Memories of HMS Illustrious

RNAS Ford HMS Peregrine/HMS Illustrious in 1947
Written by peter shearston
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"718 Sqdn. CTU Various aircraft, Seafires,Sea Furies, Fireflies, Avengers,Barracudas, Mosquitos, Sea Hornets, etc and anyone remember the Sturgeon that bought it whilst on trials on HMS Illustrious."


HMS Illustrious, in 1948
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"I am one of the lucky ones who missed the liberty boat taking the men back to lusty on that night of October 17th 1948 where 29 men lost their lives in that awful storm."

Forces Reunited Forum Posts involving HMS Illustrious

" Monday August 1, 01:23 PM   HMS Invincible sails out of service One of the Royal Navy’s three aircraft carriers is to be retired amid concerns that it will leave the senior service overstretched. The navy’s flagship HMS Invincible will sail into Portsmouth Naval Base for the last time before it ..."

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"hms illustrious 53 [H M S Ilustrious 1953.jpg]"

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" says that the demise of the Military Medical Services go back further than John Major and to that wonderful Lady Maggie Thatcher and her short sighted and dim Minister of Defence John Knott MP. Slim Train was the buzz word at that time. In the middle of the the Falklands War the Medical Services ..."

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" I came to the RAN in 1981 on the promise that Australian Navy were getting Lynx Helicopters and the thru deck cruiser HMS Illustrious...... We have helicopters of an American design (still not fully operational) and still no carrier and also no fixed wing aircraft to operate from the carrier. ..."

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" Alright Peter, You asked for some gen on the Berwick (1940) I hope this helps Noteable events involving Berwick include: 2 Mar, 1940 HMS Berwick (Capt I.M. Palmer, DSC, RN)intercepts the German merchant Wolfsburg (6201 GRT) north of Iceland in position 67º50’N, 22º45’W. However ..."

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