HMS Invincible (R05)
HMS Invincible in 2005
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History | |
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United Kingdom | |
Name | Invincible |
Ordered | 17 April 1973 |
Builder | Vickers Shipbuilding Limited, Barrow-in-Furness , England |
Laid down | July 1973 |
Launched | 3 May 1977 |
Sponsored by | Queen Elizabeth II |
Commissioned | 11 July 1980 |
Decommissioned | 3 August 2005 |
Stricken | 10 September 2010 |
Homeport | HMNB Portsmouth |
Identification |
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Nickname(s) | "Vince"[1] |
Fate | Scrapped 2011[2] |
Badge | |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Invincible-class aircraft carrier |
Displacement | |
Length | 689 ft (210 m) |
Beam | 118.1 ft (36.0 m) |
Draught | 28.9 ft (8.8 m) |
Propulsion | |
Speed | 28 knots (52 km/h; 32 mph) max |
Range | 7,000 nmi (13,000 km; 8,100 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) |
Complement | 1,051 total, including 726 ship's company and 384 Air Group personnel |
Armament |
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Aircraft carried |
HMS Invincible was the Royal Navy's lead ship of her class of three light aircraft carriers. She was launched on 3 May 1977 as the seventh ship to carry the name. She was originally designated as an anti-submarine warfare carrier, but was used as an aircraft carrier during the Falklands War, when she was deployed with HMS Hermes. She took over as flagship of the British fleet when Hermes was sold to India. Invincible was also deployed in the Yugoslav Wars and the Iraq War. In 2005, she was decommissioned, and was eventually sold for scrap in February 2011.[5]
Design
As built, Invincible was 677 feet (206 m)
Invincible's flight deck was 550 ft (168 m) long and 55 ft (16.8 m) wide. It was connected to the ship's hangar by two lifts, with dimensions of 54 ft 8 in (16.66 m) × 31 ft 8 in (9.65 m) and rated to carry aircraft with a weight of 35,000 pounds (16,000 kg). The hangar itself was 500 ft (150 m) long, with width varying between 74 and 40 ft (23 and 12 m) and a height of 20 ft (6.1 m).[7] An upward-curved ski-jump ramp at an angle of 6.5 degrees was fitted at the forward end of the ship's flight deck. This allowed the carrier's Sea Harriers to take off with a higher disposal payload, while shortening the take-off run, leaving more space for helicopter operations.[8] The ship had a design air wing of ten Westland Sea King anti-submarine helicopters and eight British Aerospace Sea Harrier STOVL jet fighters.[9]
As built, defensive armament consisted of a twin
Modifications
In September 1982, after returning from the Falklands War, Invincible had her close-in armament supplemented by two
During 1986–1989, she underwent a major refit, with several changes to increase the ship's aircraft operating efficiency. The angle of the ship's ski-jump was increased to 12 degrees. Her hangar was modified to allow more aircraft (nine Sea Harriers and twelve Sea Kings) to be accommodated below.[13][15] The ship's overall length increased to 685.8 feet (209.0 m). Additional command facilities were fitted and accommodation for another 120 people (aircrew and command staff) was added.[16] The ship's magazines were enlarged, allowing Sea Eagle anti-ship missiles for the carrier's Sea Harriers to be carried, while also increasing the number of torpedoes carried for the ship's helicopters. Three Thales 30 mm Goalkeeper CIWS replaced the Phalanxes. Type 996 air-sea search radar replaced the Type 992 radar, with Type 2016 sonar replaced the Type 184.[13][15]
In 2000, Invincible was subject to further modifications to allow her to operate Harrier GR.7s in a ground-attack role. The Sea Dart launcher was removed and the ship's flight deck was enlarged.[16]
History
Invincible was ordered from
Invincible's initial air wing consisted of 801 Naval Air Squadron, equipped with five Sea Harriers and 820 Naval Air Squadron, equipped with Sea King anti-submarine helicopters.[18] In August–September 1981, Invincible took part in the NATO naval exercises "Ocean Venture" and "Ocean Safari".[7][19]
Proposed sale and Falklands War
On 25 February 1982, after several months of negotiations, the Australian government announced that it had agreed to buy Invincible for £175 million (285 million
On 2 April 1982, however, Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands. Three days later, a naval task force headed by Invincible and Hermes left HMNB Portsmouth bound for the South Atlantic. On 20 April, the UK government formally ordered its defence forces to bring the islands back under British control. Along with eight Sea Harriers, Invincible's air group included twelve Sea King helicopters that were slightly larger than the ship had originally been designed to accommodate. Small machine guns were added around the flight deck and island for close-in defence.
On 23 April, while en route from Ascension Island to the Falklands, Invincible mistakenly locked her Sea Darts on a VARIG Brazilian Airlines DC-10 rather than on the Argentine Air Force Boeing 707 that had been monitoring the fleet's movements.[23] The previous day, Task Group Commander Rear Admiral Sandy Woodward had sought permission from Commander-in-Chief Admiral Sir John Fieldhouse to shoot down the 707[24] as he believed its activity indicated a raid would be launched from the Argentine aircraft carrier ARA Veinticinco de Mayo. As the 707 would be no direct threat to the fleet, Woodward ordered Weapons Tight[24] and the continued tracking of the aircraft's course while a Sea Harrier was dispatched to investigate. The Harrier pilot reported that "it was a Brazilian airliner, with all the normal navigation and running lights on."[23]
On 30 May, two Dassault-Breguet Super Étendards, one carrying Argentina's last remaining air-launched Exocet, accompanied by four A-4C Skyhawks each with two 500 lb (230 kg) bombs, took off to attack Invincible.[25][26] Argentine intelligence had sought to determine the position of the carriers from analysis of aircraft flight routes from the task force to the islands.[25] However, the British had a standing order that all aircraft conduct a low level transit when leaving or returning to the carriers to disguise their position.[27] This tactic compromised the Argentine attack, which focused on a group of escorts 40 miles south of the main body of ships.[28] When one of the Super Étendards detected a large target on radar, the Exocet was launched, and the Super Étendards turned for Argentina, while the Skyhawks followed the Exocet, which soon passed out of sight.[26] Two of the attacking Skyhawks[28] were shot down by Sea Darts fired by HMS Exeter,[25] with HMS Avenger claiming to have shot down the missile with her 4.5" gun (although this claim is disputed).[29] No damage was caused to any British vessels.[25] During the war, Argentina claimed to have damaged the ship and continues to do so to this day,[30] although no evidence of any such damage has been produced or uncovered.[31][32]
On 1 June, the Australian Prime Minister, Malcolm Fraser, advised the British government that the sale of Invincible to Australia could be cancelled if desired. In July 1983, a year after the end of the Falklands conflict,[33] the Ministry of Defence announced that it had withdrawn its offer to sell Invincible so it could maintain a three-carrier force.[34]
1983–2005
In December 1983, Invincible was refused the use of dry dock facilities in Sydney when the Royal Navy declined to divulge to the Australian authorities whether or not the ship was carrying nuclear weapons.[35] Invincible was accompanied by other ships, including Achilles, during this deployment. She then visited Auckland and Wellington in New Zealand.[citation needed]
Between 1993 and 1995, Invincible was deployed in the
In 2003, Invincible featured in a skit of the BBC show Top Gear involving The Stig racing a white Jaguar XJS on the deck in an attempt to reach 100 mph and stop before the end of the runway. The attempt failed, resulting in The Stig and the Jaguar ending up in the sea.
2005–2011
On 6 June 2005, the British Ministry of Defence announced that Invincible would be inactive until 2010 but available for reactivation at eighteen months' notice. She was decommissioned on 3 August 2005, twenty months after an extensive refit that had been intended to give her ten more years of service.
In March 2010, Invincible was tied up and minimally maintained with other decommissioned ships up-river of HMNB Portsmouth. On 10 September 2010, she was struck off the Naval Reserve List
A month later, in February 2011, BBC News reported that the Ministry of Defence had announced the sale of Invincible to Leyal Ship Recycling in Turkey. She was towed out of Portsmouth on 24 March[41] and arrived at Leyal's Aliağa yard on 12 April 2011 for scrapping.[42]
Weapons and aircraft
Invincible initially lacked any close-in weapon systems. As one of the lessons from the Falklands War Invincible had two 20 mm
After the various refits, the carrier's air group grew from the original planned 5 Sea Harriers and 9 Sea Kings to nine Sea Harrier or Harrier GR7/9s and twelve helicopters (usually all Sea Kings, either
Commanding officers
- 1979–1982: Captain Michael Livesay RN
- 1982–1983: Captain Jeremy Black RN
- 1983–1984: Captain the Hon. Nicholas Hill-Norton RN
- 1984–1986: Captain Christopher Layman RN
- 1988–1990: Captain Michael Gretton RN
- 1990–1992: Captain John Tolhurst RN
- 1992–1993: Captain Fabian Malbon RN
- 1993–1995: Captain Richard Hastilow RN
- 1995–1996: Captain Ian Forbes RN
- 1996–1997: Captain Roy Clare RN
- 1997–1999: Captain James Burnell-Nugent RN
- 1999–2001: Captain Rory McLean RN
- 2002–2004: Captain Trevor Soar RN
- 2004–2005: Captain Neil Morisetti RN
Notes
- ^ Invincible was the first ship fitted with Type 1022 radar.[6]
- ^ This sum, which was to be payable to two instalments, £90 million in 1982 and the remaining £85 million in 1983, was the direct purchase cost for the ship itself. Spare parts, support costs and a pre-sale refit were expected to push total costs to £295 million.[20]
References
- ^ "Sea Harriers still in business". Navy News. Retrieved 1 July 2008.
- ^ a b c "Sale By Tender – HMS Invincible". Disposal Services Authority. Archived from the original on 10 July 2011. Retrieved 30 November 2010.
- DE&S. Retrieved 29 January 2013.
- ^ The Big Interview: Admiral Sir Alan West
- ^ "HMS Invincible sold for scrap to Turkish ship recyclers". BBC News. 2 August 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
- ^ a b c d Gardiner & Chumbley 1995, p. 501
- ^ a b c d Hobbs 1996, p. 125
- ^ Brown & Moore 2012, pp. 69–70
- ^ a b Moore 1979, p. 594
- ^ Brown & Moore 2012, p. 68
- ^ Couhat & Baker 1986, p. 180
- ^ Couhat & Baker 1986, pp. 180–181
- ^ a b c Hobbs 1996, p. 126
- ^ Moore 1985, p. 620
- ^ a b Prézelin & Baker 1990, p. 696
- ^ a b Saunders 2002, p. 770
- S2CID 253161552.
- ^ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, pp. 130, 198, 393
- ISSN 0015-3710.
- ^ ISSN 0015-3710.
- ^ "Sea Harrier Down Under". Archived from the original on 12 December 2010. Retrieved 27 May 2008.
- ^ Bloom, Bridget; Newby, Patricia (26 February 1982). "Protest as Australia buys UK carrier". Financial Times. The Financial Times Limited. p. 4.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-415-41911-6), p. 223–224.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-00-713467-0), p. 143–145. The aircraft had been nicknamed "the Burglar". Woodward believed he had been given permission to shoot it down if came within a certain distance of the task force and could be positively identified, although this course of action had not been confirmed.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7146-5207-8.
- ^ a b Burden et al. 1986, pp. 37, 113
- ISBN 978-1-84884-556-5.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7538-2199-2.
- ISBN 978-1-4738-3513-9.
- ^ "- Fuerza Aérea Argentina" (in Spanish). www.fuerzaaerea.mil.ar. Archived from the original on 28 April 2009. Retrieved 26 February 2009.
- ^ "Argentine Airpower in the Falklands War: An Operational View". Air and Space Power Journal. Federal Information and News Dispatch, Inc. 20 August 2002.
- ^ "Argentine Aircraft in the Falklands". Archived from the original on 23 February 2009. Retrieved 25 February 2009.
- ^ The UK formally declared an end to hostilities on 20 June 1982 ("United Kingdom: Falklands Conflict – A Brief History". United Kingdom Ministry of Defence. 14 November 2006.).
- ^ "Invincible Sale Offer Withdrawn". Aviation Week & Space Technology. McGraw-Hill, Inc. 19 July 1982. p. 19.
- ^ "Australia turns back British carrier". United Press International. 9 December 1983.
- ^ "Carrier Group Ordered Home". Navy News. June 1999. p. 4.
- ^ Ingham, John (2 August 2005). "Invincible docks for the last time". The Express. Express Newspapers. p. 15.
- ^ North West Evening Mail Archived 13 September 2014 at the Wayback Machine Barrow-built Invincible thrown out of the Navy
- ^ "Ex-Navy ship HMS Invincible in website auction". BBC News Online. 30 November 2010. Retrieved 30 November 2010.
- OCLC 60623878. Retrieved 10 January 2011.
- ^ "HMS Invincible makes final journey to Turkish scrapyard". BBC News. 24 March 2011. Retrieved 28 March 2011.
- ^ "Crowds gather to see Invincible towed out". Navy News. 24 March 2011. Retrieved 28 March 2011.[permanent dead link]
Bibliography
- Brown, David K.; Moore, George (2012). Rebuilding the Royal Navy: Warship Design Since 1945. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-150-2.
- Burden, Rodney A.; Draper, Michael I.; Rough, Douglas A.; Smith, Colin R.; Wilton, David (1986). Falklands: The Air War. British Aviation Research Group. ISBN 0-906339-05-7.
- Childs, N. (2009). The Age of Invincible. Barnsley, UK: Pen & Sword Books Ltd. ISBN 978-1-84415-857-7.
- Couhat, Jean Labayle; Baker, A. D., eds. (1986). Combat Fleets of the World 1986/87. Annapolis, Maryland, USA: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-85368-860-5.
- Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen, eds. (1995). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. Annapolis, Maryland, USA: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-132-7.
- Hobbs, David (1996). Aircraft Carriers of the Royal and Commonwealth Navies. London: Greenhill Books. ISBN 1-85367-252-1.
- Moore, John, ed. (1979). Jane's Fighting Ships 1979–80. London: Jane's Yearbooks. ISBN 0-354-00587-1.
- Moore, John, ed. (1985). Jane's Fighting Ships 1985–86. London: Jane's Yearbooks. ISBN 0-7106-0814-4.
- Prézelin, Bernard; Baker, A. D., eds. (1990). The Naval Institute Guide to the Combat Fleets of the World 1990/91: Their Ships, Aircraft, and Armament. Annapolis, Maryland, USA: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-250-8.
- Saunders, Stephen, ed. (2002). Jane's Fighting Ships 2002–2003. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group. ISBN 0-7106-2432-8.
- Sturtivant, Ray; Ballance, Theo (1994). The Squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-223-8.
External links
- HMS Invincible: Aircraft Carrier
- Invincible class Aircraft Carrier Information Archived 19 June 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- Maritimequest HMS Invincible photo gallery
- HMS Invincible Down Under Archived 12 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine
- Argentina's claim to have damaged HMS Invincible.