|
HMS Illustrious |
| Career |
|
| Name: |
HMS Illustrious |
| Ordered: |
14 May 1976 |
| Builder: |
Swan Hunter, Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom |
| Laid down: |
7 October 1976 |
| Launched: |
14 December 1978 |
| Sponsored by: |
Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon |
| Commissioned: |
20 June 1982 |
| Homeport: |
HMNB Portsmouth |
| Identification: |
Pennant number: R06Deck code: L
International callsign: GVUH |
| Motto: |
Vox Non Incerta
(Latin: No Uncertain Sound) |
| Nickname: |
"Lusty" |
| Status: |
in active service, as of 2013 |
|
|
| General characteristics |
| Class & type: |
Invincible-class aircraft carrier |
| Displacement: |
22,000 tonnes |
| Length: |
686 ft (209 m) |
| Beam: |
118 ft (36 m) |
| Draught: |
25 ft (7.6 m) |
| Propulsion: |
4 × Rolls-Royce Olympus TM3B gas turbines providing 97,000 hp (75 MW)
8 Paxman Valenta diesel generators |
| Speed: |
30 knots (56 km/h), 18 knots (33 km/h) cruising |
| Range: |
5,000 nautical miles at 18 knots (9, 300 km at 33 km/h) |
| Complement: |
685 crew
366 Fleet Air Arm |
| Armament: |
3 × Goalkeeper CIWS
2 × GAM-B01 20 mm close-range guns |
| Aircraft carried: |
Up to 22 helicopters with the combination of:
- Chinook
- Apache
- Merlin
- Lynx
- Sea King
- Before their retirement, HMS Illustrious could operate up to 22 Sea Harriers/ Harrier II
|
