HMS Ark Royal under construction at Swan Hunters Shipyards

HMS Ark Royal was the former flagship of the Royal Navy. One of three Invincible class aircraft carriers she was affectionately known as The Mighty Ark. Her keel was laid by Swan Hunter at Wallsend on 7th December 1978, she was launched on 20th June 1981 and completed in 1985. Major deployments included the Bosnian war (1993) and the invasion of Iraq (2003). More recently, she assisted in the repatriation of air travellers stranded by the 2010 volcanic eruption.

Most photographs in this set are taken from the Swan Hunter Collection held by Tyne and Wear Archives Service.





HMS Ark Royal construction - 13th March 1979.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums.




HMS Ark Royal construction - 7th July 1980.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums.




HMS Ark Royal construction - 20th October 1980.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums.




HMS Ark Royal construction - 10th March 1981.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums.




HMS Ark Royal construction - 6th May 1981.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums.




HMS Ark Royal Launch - 20th June 1981.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums.




HMS Ark Royal Fitting out - 27th September 1983.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums.




HMS Ark Royal - 30th January 1984.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums.




HMS Ark Royal - 27th April 1984.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums.




HMS Ark Royal - 1st Sea Trials 19th October 1984.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums.




HMS Ark Royal - 16th March 1985.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums.




HMS Ark Royals - Final sea trial 13th April 1985.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums.






HMS Ark Royal R07 outbound from the Port of Tyne 28th February 2010.

From Steve Ellwood's YouTube Channel.





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