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| Career | |
|---|---|
| Ordered: | |
| Laid down: | 7 December 1978 |
| Launched: | 20 June 1981 |
| Commissioned: | 1 November 1985 |
| Fate: | in service |
| General Characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 20,600 tons |
| Length: | 210 metres |
| Beam: | 36 metres |
| Draught: | 7.5 metres |
| Propulsion: | four Rolls-Royce Olympus TM3B gas turbines |
| Speed: | 28+ knots |
| Range: | 5000 miles at 18 knots |
| Complement: | 685 crew, 366 Fleet Air Arm |
| Aircraft: | Sea Harrier fighter/bomber "jump jets", Sea King helicopters |
| Motto: | Zeal Does Not Rest |
HMS Ark Royal (R07), the last Invincible-class aircraft carrier, is the fifth ship of the Royal Navy named in honor of the flagship of the English fleet that defeated the Spanish Armada. Her keel was laid by Swan Hunter at Wallsend on 7 December 1978. She was launched on 20 June 1981 sponsored by Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother and commissioned on 1 November 1985. Her name was expected to be Indomitable to be compatible with her sister ships (HMS Invincible and HMS Illustrious), but the Royal Navy revived the tradition of always having an Ark Royal.
In May 1999 Ark Royal put into Rosyth for refitting, including the removal of the Sea Dart missiles and the replacement of the Phalanx CIWS with Goalkeeper CIWS. She recommissioned in 2001.
Ark Royal took part in the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
Ark Royal is expected to remain in service until 2015.