The Last Commission

Sea Acceptance Trials

June 1977

At last the ship was ours, and each department set about its preparations for sailing. A new evolution for ARK ROYAL was carried out on the 8/9 June with the introduction of a Fast Cruise. The ship remained alongside but we went through the various motions of being at sea, testing men as well as machinery

Despite the fact that most of us were comparatively new to HMS ARK ROYAL, and were still trying to find our way around the mighty vessel, to sea we had to go and to sea we went when we slipped and proceeded from the comforts of 5/6 Berth at 1145 on 9^th June. The Captain guided us down the Hamoaze, into the Sound, and out into the English Channel to begin our post refit acceptance trials. Of course problems arose, but they were soon corrected and the infamous stern gland incident gave us an unexpected ‘C’ Buoy day inside Plymouth Breakwater on the 13^th but no leave.

FOCAS with Badgers

The W. E. Department tried and tested all the equipment and carried out radio and radar checks with the aid of Hunters and Canberras from FRADU based at RNAS Yeovilton.

The Air Department embarked three Sea Kings of 824 Squadron from 13-17^th June to assist in their trials. These included Deck Landing Practice (DLP’s) and Carrier Controlled Approaches (CCA’s). Then the fixed wing took over, with DLP’s and CCAS’s by Phantoms (892) Buccaneers (809) and Gannets (849B0, leaving their marks on our nice clean flight deck

While all the various trials were taking place, the ship continued to function with the Seaman Department having manoeuvres and numerous other exercises, RAS’s and all the usual daily tasks. The HDS continued to provide our link with the mainland and mail, stores and visitors were the usual loads. The most important visitor of this phase was Flag Officer Carriers and Amphibious Ships, Rear Admiral Staveley who spent Tuesday 14^th on board touring the mess decks and machinery spaces and making a number of presentations.

We had our lighter moments too, The Potted Sports, on a beautiful sunny Sunday afternoon, helped a lot to relax and was won by the Air Department. Meanwhile the ship continued to transit the measured mile off Looe Bar.

Potted Sports Team

The initial trials came to an end on Sunday 19^th when the civilians disembarked at ‘C’ Buoy, and we then proceeded to Portsmouth for the Silver Jubilee Review.

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