Illustrious

Through the mist and haze off the coast of Ayr I managed to capture a shot of HMS Illustrious today. There are a number of naval vessels about this week for Joint Warrior 14, a multinational exercise which takes place every Spring and Autumn off the coast of Scotland.

HMS Illustrious was refitted in 2011 to take over the role of helicopter carrier for the Royal Navy until HMS Ocean has undergone a refit. Illustrious and her sister ship Ark Royal (decommissioned in March 2011) used to carry the Royal Navy’s fleet of Harriers until these were decommissioned in 2010.

Illustrious is likely to be retired this year when HMS Ocean returns to service, resulting in the end of the Navy’s Invincible fleet. This will leave a gap until the completion of the first of the new Queen Elizabeth class carriers due to enter service in 2016.