HMS Ark Royal
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The Last Commission |
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| 1976 to 1978 | ||
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The Beginning of the end September to October 1976 |
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Nowadays in the Royal Navy it is difficult to say when one commission ends and the next one begins. As far as HMS ARK ROYAL is concerned, Captain E. R. Anson, the ship’s last Commanding Officer arrived on board off Scotland on the 25th September as the ship headed south to the warmer climates of Lisbon. On assuming command on the 28th September from Captain Graham who left to take up his new appointment as Flag Officer Portsmouth, the new “Father” was soon seen by most of the ship’s company when Ceremonial Divisions were held in whites at Lisbon
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While at Lisbon, 824 Squadron were once again able to demonstrate their
skill in times of need when they transferred a sick rating from the
Portuguese submarine BAARACUDA, 75 miles out in the Atlantic, to a
hospital ashore for an operation The visit to Lisbon was short, and despite the fact that the jelly fish of the River Tagus used the ship’s underwater openings as a sanctuary, ARK ROYAL managed to sail on the 2nd October and head straight into the Mediterranean for exercise “Display Determination”. |
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| The various ships made a fine sight as some of them passed through the Straits of Gibraltar in formation. ARK ROYAL was one of the four carriers which took part in the exercise, the others being US Ships NIMITZ and AMERICA, and the French Ship CLEMENCEAU. ARK ROYAL and AMERICA operated off the coast of Sardinia and the opportunity was taken for the interchange of squadron personnel between the two ships during the latter stages of the exercise. The Americans “Tomcats” certainly brought a lot of sailors to the goofing positions. | |
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Divisions at Lisbon
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| On completion of the exercise, Ark went to Toulon on the French Mediterranean coast on the 13th October for a 5 day visit. While at Toulon a team of planners and workmen arrived from Devonport Dockyard to start preparing for the refit that was to take place once the ship reached Devonport. | |
| The ship bade farewell to Toulon on the 18th, and the same day, the fixed wing element disembarked to their bases in the UK and, despite unfavourable weather , and minor problems with the catapults, all the aircraft were launched and safely reached their destinations. Two helicopters of 824 Squadron also returned home via France leaving the remainder to help with the vast de-storing effort. |
At Lisbon |
| Finally, after a popular overnight stop at Gibraltar on the 20th/21st October, Ark set off on the final leg of the journey to home. En route a massive back-RAS of ammunition. Stores and fuel to the accompanying RFA’s was successfully completed. The ship entered Plymouth Sound early on the morning of the 25th October and secured at 0700A – a unique event because the whole entry was completed in the dark. For some it was goodbye to their home of recent months, while for the remainder and the grand old lady herself, the refit lay ahead. | |
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