The best days of my life...she was the prettiest ship..& she properly had a heart & soul..as a stoker I knew every inch, nut & bolt of her..much loved memories of all my ship mates..Great times...👍🏻❤️
My late Dad "Roger" YORKIE "Council", served on HMS ARK ROYAL R09 MK4 1958 to demob July 1959. He was also a Devonport Field Gunner and Lord Mountbattens favourite in 1955. He called her lots of naughty names when I was little, watching the Royal Tournament a treat. BUT I saw the other side of Dad when talking to him weeks before he crossed the bar, he recalling the Escapades of 1949, fishing with depth charges HMS DARING, all true tales of navy life. He loved the Mighty Ark. Only time he'd not turn off Rod Stewart was when SAILOR was on TV.
Accustomed in seeing her in and out of port with the ships complement in procedure Alpha flags flying radar antennas rotating its quite a sad sight, seeing an empty hulk being led to the breakers. Since their construction I have enjoyed every visit by the 3 ships to my home port of Gibraltar. Thanks to all those that have served on her and her sister ships . The legend will continue. Greetings and respect from Gibraltar, a home away from home for the Royal Navy.
Why didn’t they keep her. Could accommodate F35’s on it or even the harrier still today like the USMC do. Crazy. I’m ex RAF, worked on Harriers, insane decision to scrap them. Could still out perform most Aircraft today. Avionics on them was world class.
When Cameron announced it, her sister Illustrious had already been put into refit. They were determined to lower us down to only one carrier. In the end it was decided that it was cheaper to continue with the refit of Illustrious and have her out of it in January 2011 and just sadly put Ark Royal down despite being younger than Lusty. Had good times on Lusty as well, sadly no Harriers though.
After their early 2000s refits the invincibles were meant to serve until the following dates Invincible: 2013-2014 (the announcement of her inactivation came in my birthday {fuck you tony Blair worst present ever}) Illustrious: 2015-2016 Ark royal: 2016-2018 (2018 was when the harrier was due to be retired
Nowhere near as many tears than when Ark Royal R09 slipped out of Devonport in 1980… first time I had witnessed grown men cry like babies - 40 years later I completely understand why!
My Dad was on R09 MK4 from 1958 to demob 1959 after ten years of serving King George and Queen Elizabeth.To me as a child and 100%Daddys Girl she was,is and always will be the only ship the navy ever had.And Devonport Command Field Gun are NIL NISI OPTIMA,AD INFINITUM.Sorry to rambling etc, I just miss my Dad Seeing navy posts help.
@@jeanettecouncil8299 she’d have been shiny and new as she was commissioned in ‘55 - practically identical to her sister - then changed to the deck / islands on both ships made their final ‘looks’ so different. I grew up with Eagle laying stripped off Empacombe and then Ark occupied her spot until ‘80. Today, I paddle over that area and try to imagine these 2 massive old girls being there. Always in my thoughts 🤔
I’ve seen 2 Ark Royals go now. I’ve often wondered if the TDC’s were designed by the same people who came up with the T42? Their superstructure / island layout are essentially identical albeit with an additional funnel! 😔
Such a great shame to see a ship like her go, I actually own one of the last flags that was used on her, got it of a family friend. She served Britain well, but never got the privilege of being a museum
I'm not British, don't know all the details, but it seemed that some officials at the time thought this ship was retired too early, along with Illustrious; is that true? Just asking.
totally agree built by true ship builders swan hunter on the river tyne yet another kick in the teeth of british craftmanship well done cameron but we had the last laugh scuppering your EU plans WE WANTED OUR COUNTRY BACK AND WE GOT IT BACK !!!!!!
What ? It was dinky compared to real Carriers ! STOVL was good but CATOBAR Carriers could carry both & the Tory government made the QE class Carriers STOVL because of defence cuts
WHY did Britain not keep the Ark Royal at home, do their OWN scrapping and in doing so provide more jobs for their own people? None of this makes any sense but then, it is Britain......
The best days of my life...she was the prettiest ship..& she properly had a heart & soul..as a stoker I knew every inch, nut & bolt of her..much loved memories of all my ship mates..Great times...👍🏻❤️
6 modern versions of these better than the 2 we have now
My late Dad "Roger" YORKIE "Council", served on HMS ARK ROYAL R09 MK4 1958 to demob July 1959. He was also a Devonport Field Gunner and Lord Mountbattens favourite in 1955. He called her lots of naughty names when I was little, watching the Royal Tournament a treat. BUT I saw the other side of Dad when talking to him weeks before he crossed the bar, he recalling the Escapades of 1949, fishing with depth charges HMS DARING, all true tales of navy life. He loved the Mighty Ark. Only time he'd not turn off Rod Stewart was when SAILOR was on TV.
Thanks for sharing your memories of your Dad.🙂
Accustomed in seeing her in and out of port with the ships complement in procedure Alpha flags flying radar antennas rotating its quite a sad sight, seeing an empty hulk being led to the breakers. Since their construction I have enjoyed every visit by the 3 ships to my home port of Gibraltar. Thanks to all those that have served on her and her sister ships . The legend will continue.
Greetings and respect from Gibraltar, a home away from home for the Royal Navy.
Served on her in 1991. It's sad to see her go. All the ships I served on have now gone.
Served on it in 93 myself beautiful ship so sad to see her go
Served upon her 2008-09. Brilliant ship and crew. Very upset when I heard Cameron was sending her to the scrapyard. She’ll never be forgotten.
Why didn’t they keep her. Could accommodate F35’s on it or even the harrier still today like the USMC do. Crazy. I’m ex RAF, worked on Harriers, insane decision to scrap them. Could still out perform most Aircraft today. Avionics on them was world class.
When Cameron announced it, her sister Illustrious had already been put into refit. They were determined to lower us down to only one carrier. In the end it was decided that it was cheaper to continue with the refit of Illustrious and have her out of it in January 2011 and just sadly put Ark Royal down despite being younger than Lusty. Had good times on Lusty as well, sadly no Harriers though.
After their early 2000s refits the invincibles were meant to serve until the following dates
Invincible: 2013-2014 (the announcement of her inactivation came in my birthday {fuck you tony Blair worst present ever})
Illustrious: 2015-2016
Ark royal: 2016-2018 (2018 was when the harrier was due to be retired
I visited HMS Eagle at Istanbul in 1958. I enjoyed that visit and still correspond with the sailor I met.
Always sad to see a great ship scrapped.
If only one could be a museum
She was a good ship but her name will go on forever in the fleet of Royal Navy.
Nothing last forever, but that sight is heart breaking. Invincible class were superb.
Nowhere near as many tears than when Ark Royal R09 slipped out of Devonport in 1980… first time I had witnessed grown men cry like babies - 40 years later I completely understand why!
My Dad was on R09 MK4 from 1958 to demob 1959 after ten years of serving King George and Queen Elizabeth.To me as a child and 100%Daddys Girl she was,is and always will be the only ship the navy ever had.And Devonport Command Field Gun are NIL NISI OPTIMA,AD INFINITUM.Sorry to rambling etc, I just miss my Dad Seeing navy posts help.
@@jeanettecouncil8299 she’d have been shiny and new as she was commissioned in ‘55 - practically identical to her sister - then changed to the deck / islands on both ships made their final ‘looks’ so different.
I grew up with Eagle laying stripped off Empacombe and then Ark occupied her spot until ‘80.
Today, I paddle over that area and try to imagine these 2 massive old girls being there. Always in my thoughts 🤔
I stood by this fine ship for 2 years at Swan Hunter Shipbuilders Walker yard and served on her at sea for 32 months
Old ships! Served 03-05 6F1 Stokers mess. Great ship and great memories.
So sad, she's gone now, and illustrious is going as well as we speak...
i served on her on in 1994 during the Bosnia conflict and broke my heart the day she was towed away for scrap
Thats almost as sad as my life
My Home for many years in early 90s. Sold for razor blades, scrapped in Turkey.
I’ve seen 2 Ark Royals go now. I’ve often wondered if the TDC’s were designed by the same people who came up with the T42? Their superstructure / island layout are essentially identical albeit with an additional funnel!
😔
Such a great shame to see a ship like her go, I actually own one of the last flags that was used on her, got it of a family friend. She served Britain well, but never got the privilege of being a museum
My favourite navy ship
Its a shame that ark royal was scrapped she was an icon
There will never be another ark royal!
I'm not British, don't know all the details, but it seemed that some officials at the time thought this ship was retired too early, along with Illustrious; is that true?
Just asking.
Both retired too early and left us without carriers
oh by the way im a former royal navy sailor so can comment farewell ark
Why do the RN always scrap
(most of) their ships after
only a few years of service ?
Sounds expensive.
Tbf these served 30 years. But they had a few left in them
totally agree built by true ship builders swan hunter on the river tyne yet another kick in the teeth of british craftmanship well done cameron but we had the last laugh scuppering your EU plans WE WANTED OUR COUNTRY BACK AND WE GOT IT BACK !!!!!!
How’s that gone?
My uncle done full service on ark Royal rip pat twell
As a nation we waste money-the hull and machinery were in great condition and we knew how to operate this type of ship….gone way too early !
Massive that thing
What ? It was dinky compared to real Carriers ! STOVL was good but CATOBAR Carriers could carry both & the Tory government made the QE class Carriers STOVL because of defence cuts
Love a flat-top no matter the size
@@Then.72 it looks absolutely massive to me. Must be the biggest in the world next to our carriers.
@@Then.72 I’m ex usn the Royal Navy has an incredible reputation at building world class ships. The greatest navy in history not so long ago.
@@2sqnbandit379 smaller than the audacious class carriers plus no angled deck
WHY did Britain not keep the Ark Royal at home, do their OWN scrapping and in doing so provide more jobs for their own people? None of this makes any sense but then, it is Britain......
Yes it does seem to be madness. The governments for years now have been clueless. Every department you look at is broken.
Saludos desde Chile
Why defence cuts because we are giving money to the stupid EU !!!!!
Paul Jones was this ship really ready to be scrapped . we should have at least waited for replacement carriers
yeah she has gone to Turkey like HMS INVINCIBLE, HMS ILLUSTRIOUS to be cut up
Paul Jones it's sad our navy was ones great now it's declining. it's halved in the past decade we only have six destroyers that's insain
Paul Jones Now I hate myself
Im 25 percent turkish btw
Spasten Tv not your fault mate it’s the British Government I have lots of Turkish friends
That is not Ark Royal. That is HIS illustrious. Very different
Dylan Young i am pretty sure this is ark royal since hms illustrious was scrapped in 2014 and royal ark in 2013 this video was uploaded in 2013
Its ark lusty had her funnel covers strapped to the flight deck aft of the island
it's Ark Royal..biggest give away is the SKYNET antenna stub mast aft of the funnel
should of scrapped david cameron and his tory party
What a waste.
Rosyth docks new 1 New ship proud
this design is copied by korea and japan
Such A Waste