The Last Commission

Index

The last commission of HMS ARK Royal has been as active and demanding as any that went before. The ship has been the Flagship of the Silver Jubilee Review, has taken part in five major international exercises and has been thrust more into the limelight than ever before by a successful television series. Moreover, being the last commission of the last CVA, the ship has attracted more interest from both the media and the public than any other ship in the Fleet. 

It is a tribute to every man on board that wherever she has been, whatever she has done, ARK ROYAL has emerged with credit. 

This is a welcome opportunity for me to say well done and thank you to the Ship’s Company for keeping the ship fully operational right up to the end of the commission; not forgetting the support that we have all had from our wives and families. They also deserve a big thank you. 

CAPTAIN E.R. ANSON, Royal Navy

The Beginning of the end: September to October 1976

Refit: October 1976 to June 1977

Sea Acceptance Trials: June 1977

The Silver Jubilee Preparations: 20-28June 1977

The Silver Jubilee Fleet review: 28June 1977

Fleet Steam Past: 29June 1977

Mini CAG and Summer Leave: 30 June to 31 August 1977

Work Up Phase 1 & Firth of Forth: 1-20 September 1977

Work Up Phase 2: 20-28 September 1977

Hamburg: 30 September to 5 October 1977

Work Up Phase III: 7-14 October 1977

Ocean Safari: 17-28 October 1977

Passage to Gibraltar:  28 October to 1 November 1977

Gibraltar and Beyond: 1-5 November 1977

Malta:  5-12 November 1977

Passage to Toulon & Exercise Isle D'OR: 12-18 Nov 1977

Naples: 28 November  to 5 December 1977

Passage to Gibraltar & Gibraltar: 10-16 December 1977

Homeward Bound: 10-16 December 1977

The Damp & Work Up: 16 December 1977 to 4 April 1978 new GALLERY

Westlant Deployment: 1978

On passage: 5-17 April 1978

Roosevelt Roads: 17-20 April 1978

Atlantic Fleet Weapon Ranges: 20 April  to 8 May 1978

St Thomas, US Virgin Islands: 9-15 May 1978

Jacksonville Seas: 15-30 May 1978

Fort Lauderdale: 30 May to 13 June 1978

Jacksonville Seas: 14-23 June 1978

Mayport Naval Base: 23 June to 8 August 1978

Norfolk: 8-21 August 1978

Eastlant: 21 August to 19 September 1978

Queen Mother's Visit:  20 September 1978

Gibraltar: 20 Sept to 2 Oct 1978 new GALLERY

On Passage & Exercise Display Determination: Oct 1978

Naples & On Passage: 16-27 October 1978

Athens & On Passage: 27 October to 6 November 1978

Malta & On Passage: 6-20 November 1978

Mallorca and CAG Disembarkation:  November 1978

Homeward Leg: 28 November to 4 December1978

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