i was lucky to serve on the ark till the end , as a young lad best 2.5 years of my life i was on 809 squadron in 6 Golf Starboard mess im now 63 and thinking of retiring soon
What a proud ship... I have a mate and he flew Sea Hawks from the Ark Royal ... HMS Eagle came to NZ once in the early 70s and I been interested ever since... thanks from NZ 👍🇳🇿
Forty one years ago, only seems like yesterday. She gave 23 years service, the QE class will have taken that long to design, build and bring back modern carrier strike capability to the RN. The title should have gone on to one of the new carriers in my opinion, the history, prestige & pedigree HMS Ark Royal has built over almost a century is sadly only in history books for the time being.
I remember her on her last visit to the States in 78. I was serving on Fife when we all met up at Norfolk Virginia before we did the Northern Wedding exercise.
when they were deciding which carrier to keep they should of kept eagle instead of ark royal since eagle was in far better shape hjaving just come out of a major refit . so we could of have a aircraft carrier in the falklands
technically you're quite correct, however, having sailed on Ark from 76-78 I am glad they kept her as long as they did, I had the fucking best time of my life, altho she was about to sink...I sailed R06 to Port Stanley....
served on Eagle and Ark, anyone who served on them both would say Eagle was the better ship. they were complex tho, 3000 crew, 8 boilers in 4 boiler rooms, 4 engine rooms, 4 gear rooms,plus they were worked hard, Me i'm fed up with Ark Royal as a name, W e need the Name Eagle back in the fleet.
i was lucky to serve on the ark till the end , as a young lad best 2.5 years of my life i was on 809 squadron in 6 Golf Starboard mess im now 63 and thinking of retiring soon
I'm not thinking about retiring, I am looking forward to it. Not long to go, like you.
What a proud ship... I have a mate and he flew Sea Hawks from the Ark Royal ... HMS Eagle came to NZ once in the early 70s and I been interested ever since... thanks from NZ 👍🇳🇿
Forty one years ago, only seems like yesterday. She gave 23 years service, the QE class will have taken that long to design, build and bring back modern carrier strike capability to the RN. The title should have gone on to one of the new carriers in my opinion, the history, prestige & pedigree HMS Ark Royal has built over almost a century is sadly only in history books for the time being.
There's always been an Ark Royal - high time we have another one.
I agree Prince Of Wales is not a name with happy associations for RN should have been Ark Royal V.
Eagle and Ark Royal should have been the names of the new ships
I was lucky anough to visit her while in our homework in Malta back in1972, lovely ship she was, nicer then the new ones, nice memories.
I was lucky enough to spend around 3 years sailing the oceans on HMS Ark Royal
I remember her on her last visit to the States in 78. I was serving on Fife when we all met up at Norfolk Virginia before we did the Northern Wedding exercise.
I remember Northern wedding, it gets quite a mention in Part Two of the audio book video I have just posted
My Dad's last sea duty in RN - Chief Petty Officer Tony Chambers, supply branch.
I was a cook.
when they were deciding which carrier to keep they should of kept eagle instead of ark royal since eagle was in far better shape hjaving just come out of a major refit . so we could of have a aircraft carrier in the falklands
technically you're quite correct, however, having sailed on Ark from 76-78 I am glad they kept her as long as they did, I had the fucking best time of my life, altho she was about to sink...I sailed R06 to Port Stanley....
@@Super8Rescue when i was in the middle east i meta PO who retired when ark royal was retired . he told me back then it was a massive mistake
My dad was on the Ark during the 60s and 70s he said the bow was full of concrete and the ship wasn't viable to be kept
served on Eagle and Ark, anyone who served on them both would say Eagle was the better ship. they were complex tho, 3000 crew, 8 boilers in 4 boiler rooms, 4 engine rooms, 4 gear rooms,plus they were worked hard, Me i'm fed up with Ark Royal as a name, W e need the Name Eagle back in the fleet.
@Digger Gardi and I can vouch for the potato peelers, I was night shift in the veg locker for a while.
Four years after this, we needed her...
Four years after this she would even more concrete stopping the leaks and never made it there and back....
Super 8 Rescue ....was the Ark Royal in such bad condition?
Super 8 Rescue she only needed to sail one way, after the war send the aircraft back to the UK on cargo ships.
Yes she was in bad condition @Pauljones. War time steel was not very strong.
HMS Eagle was in better condition when she was retired.
I'm not sure I agree @Mark Atkins
More than just a ship.......
Yes not just a ship, a legend.