• Military

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space
• Public Eye

RO-6 Illustrious
"Lusty"

HMS Illustrious is the second of three Invincible class aircraft carriers and the fifth ship of the name. Illustrious or “Lusty” as she is fondly know to her crew was built at Swan Hunter on the Tyne and subsequently commissioned in her base port of Portsmouth in 1982.

HMS Illustrious was built at Swan Hunters on the Tyne and was launched in 1982 by HRH Princess Margaret. She is affiliated to the City of Newcastle and the City of Dover. She is very proud of her 10 battle honours ranging from Genoa in 1795 to Okiniwa in 1945, including her assistance in the defence of Malta in 1941.

The ship's motto is "Vox Non Incerta" meaning "No Uncertain Sound" After a much welcomed leave period from the ships extended deployment in the fight against terrorism, “Lusty” formally handed over the prestigious role of Fleet Flagship to her younger sister HMS Ark Royal in July 2002 and reduced her crew from 700 to approximately 200 who worked hard to de-store the ship of spares and equipment in readiness for the ships much deserved refit and upgrade package which should enhance her capabilities in line with current defence policy.

As part of the multi million pound refit and upgrade package the ship will be fitted out to be able to operate and support the Royal Navy’s latest helicopter asset “Merlin”. She will also build on lessons from her last deployment in support of the fight against terrorism where she was at the forefront in deploying troops into Afghanistan by upgrading facilities onboard to enable her to re-role at short notice from a ship which can deploy fighters, bombers, anti submarine and airborne early warning helicopters to embarking, deploying and sustaining Royal Marine and multi national forces ashore in any area of the world.

“Lusty” finally sailed to Rosyth in bonny Scotland at the end of September 2002. Her reduced crew of 200 spent a final month working hard to de-store the ship of spares and equipment before she was formally handed over to Babcocks Support Services Limited (BSSL) on 11 Nov 02. The ship herself is now in dry dock and rapidly being engulfed in the world’s supply of scaffolding! She is not expected to return to the Fleet until early 2005.

The crew has reduced to 45 personnel, mainly engineers who will play an active part in overseeing the refit and ensuring Illustrious emerges ready to meet the challenges of the 21st century. They have moved into a nearby office block and are living at RNSE Caledonia, just outside the dockyard gates.

As part of the multi million pound refit and upgrade package the ship will be fitted out to be able to operate and support the Royal Navy’s latest helicopter asset “Merlin”. She will also build on lessons from her last deployment in support of the fight against terrorism where she was at the forefront in deploying troops into Afghanistan by upgrading facilities onboard to enable her to re-role at short notice from a ship which can deploy fighters, bombers, anti submarine and airborne early warning helicopters to embarking, deploying and sustaining Royal Marine and multi national forces ashore in any area of the world.

The First Illustrious

The first HMS Illustrious, a "third-rate" 74-gun frigate, was launched at Buckler's Hard in 1789 and saw action against the French off Toulon in 1793 and at Genoa in 1795. She was severely damaged in later action and driven ashore by a violent storm while being towed home for repair. She was set ablaze and abandoned.

The Second Illustrious

Launched in Rotherhithe in 1803, the second HMS Illustrious was also a 74-gun frigate. She had a long career, winning battle honours at Basque Roads and Java before becoming a training ship in 1854. She was broken up in Portsmouth in 1868.

The Third Illustrious

The third HMS Illustrious was launched in 1896. A battleship with 12 and 6 inch guns, she was already obsolete by 1914 and spent most of the Great War as an ammunition store ship. She was scrapped in 1920.

The Fourth Illustrious

The fourth Illustrious was one of the most distinguished ships of the Second World War. She was the first of a new class of Aircraft Carrier and was commissioned in 1940. Her first theatre of action was the Mediterranean in defence of the Malta convoys and where, on 11 November 1940, twenty Swordfish aircraft attacked the Italian Naval Base at Taranto. They inflicted severe damage on the Italian Fleet and helped to tip the balance of Mediterranean Sea power in favour of the Allies. Early in 1941, she suffered extensive damage and many casualties in a relentless attack by Stuka dive-bombers. After emergency repairs, she managed to escape to the United States where she was refitted and returned to active service in late 1941. After playing a major role in operations off Diego Suarez, Salerno and Sumatra, she supported the US landings at Okinawa. This was to be her final action of the war. After hostilities had ended, she returned to home waters as a training and trials ship before being laid up in 1954 and finally scrapped in 1957.