RO-5 Invincible
After three commissions Invincible was decommissioned from her third in August 2005, as her period of operational tasking ended. This is part of a long-standing plan that will see the oldest CVS held at a low level of readiness. This process is often mistaken for being withdrawn from service but she is still very much "part of the fleet". In fact Invincible remained available to the Navy until 2010. This again forms part of a long-term plan to assist with the introduction of the new CVF Aircraft Carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince Of Wales
The present Invincible, is the sixth ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name and the first of the Invincible Class of Anti-Submarine Warfare Carriers, was laid down at the Barrow-in-Furness yard of Vickers Shipbuilders Limited in July 1973 and was launched by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II on 3 May 1977.
She served with distinction in the Falklands Campaign in 1982, in the Adriatic Operation 'DENY FLIGHT' between 1993 and 1995 and in the bombing campaign 'DELIBERATE FORCE' in Bosnia in 1995. More recently, in 1998 and 1999, her FA2 Sea Harriers flew air combat patrols to enforce the No-Fly Zone over Southern Iraq during Operation 'BOLTON'. This was followed by a short notice Operational deployment to the Balkans to take part in Operation 'ALLIED FORCE' where, once again, the FA2 Sea Harriers provided protection for NATO air forces whilst her helicopters supported the aid programme to refugees during the height of the Crisis.
Following a brief period in her Base Port for the de-embarkation of stores, victuals and engineering spares, and the reduction in crew from over 650 to approximately 200, the ship sailed in July 2001 to commence a major refit and equipment overhaul in the privately owned Rosyth Royal Dockyard, which is located on the north side of the River Forth beside the Scottish capital city of Edinburgh.
The planned remaining life of Invincible, in line with the Government's Strategic Defence Review, and its capability to conduct its operational role as a front line Carrier were factors in determining the size and shape of the work package, which was subsequently contracted to Babcock Support Services Limited (BSSL). This process allowed the contracted work to be prioritised to meet an available budget and Smart Procurement Initiatives along with an early Partnering Charter with the local MOD Overseer, Superintendent Fleet Maintenance (Rosyth) (SFM(R)), and Ship's Staff (SS) cemented commercial relationships by using joint team working with common objectives.
The main elements of the work package include replacement of the main gearwheel in one of the Ship's gearboxes, upgrading the Operations Room (Ops Room) to include colour TFT screens and new software, major work in the hangar to accommodate the support for the new to service Merlin Helicopter, which will embark with HMS INVINCIBLE initially in an Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) role. The aviation magazine has also been extensively re-worked and the galleys have undergone significant upgrade. INVINCIBLE will also benefit from improvements to the computing facilities networked throughout the Ship.
Work steadily progressed on HMS INVINCIBLE's tailored refit through November 2002. In spite of the reduction in manpower due to many members of the ship's company assisting in the provision of tri-service emergency fire cover in the event that there is a national fire-fighter strike, the acceptance trials of a variety of ship equipment fits continues.
On Wednesday 6 November 2002 HMS INVINCIBLE was visited by Vice Admiral Sir Peter Spencer KCB ADC, Second Sea Lord and Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command, in order to witness progress on the tailored refit. This was part of Vice Admiral Spencer's visit to the Royal Navy ships which were undergoing maintenance work in Rosyth Royal Dockyard.
The First Invincible
The 'Invincible' line began with the French 74-gun L'Invincible, captured off Finisterre in 1747. She was commissioned into the Royal Navy the following year and was the first purpose built 74 gun ship of the line to serve. Her design provided much information to British Naval architects.
The Second Invincible
The second was a third-rate 74-gun ship launched at Deptford in 1765 and commissioned in Portsmouth in 1776. She had an illustrious career including action in the great naval battles of Cape St Vincent against the Spanish Fleet, and St Kitts and "The Glorious First of June" against the French Fleet. She was also involved in the capture of St Lucia, Trinidad and Surinam from the French. Sadly, she was wrecked off the Norfolk coast in 1801 with the loss of 400 lives, including her captain.
The Third Invincible
Number three was again a 74-gun third-rate, launched at Woolwich in 1808. She saw action in the Peninsular wars in support of Wellington's troops. She was paid off in 1814 ending her days as a depot ship in Plymouth and broken up in 1861.
The Fourth Invincible
The fourth Invincible, an armour plated "broadside battleship" could be powered by either sail or steam, and was built by Napier on the Clyde in 1869. She saw action in the Egyptian War of 1882 bombarding forts ashore at Meks and landing a Naval brigade. She was relegated to depot ship duties in Portsmouth and foundered undertow off Portland in 1914.
The Fifth Invincible
The fifth Invincible a battlecruiser was built by Armstrong Whitworth on the Tyne in 1907 and launched in 1909. She had an armament that included eight 12 inch guns. She was involved in the First World War battles of Heligoland and the Falkland Islands, during which Invincible and Inflexible sank the Scharnhorst and Gneisnau. She was again involved in leading the fleet into action at the battle of Jutland in 1916. Invincible came under heavy fire, one shell piercing a gun turret and igniting the magazine below. She broke in two and sank in a matter of seconds, with the loss of all but 6 of her crew of 1,000.
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