Invincible-class Carrier

Invincible-class Carrier
- V/STOL Carrier -

ORIGIN: (Real World):
United Kingdom

GAMES FEATURED IN:
Ace Combat 2

OPERATORS:
Usean Rebel Navy

WEAPONS:
* Three Mark 15 Phalanx CIWS Automated Anti-Missile/Aircraft Defenses (Ark Royal)
* Three Thales Nederland Goalkeeper CIWS Automated Anti-Missile/Aircraft Defenses (Invincible and Illustrious)
* Two GAM-B01 20mm guns

AIRCRAFT CAPACITY:
Up to 24 aircraft

OVERVIEW:
The first-of-class HMS Invincible aircraft carrier was built by Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering (now BAE Systems Marine) at Barrow-in-Furness. The ship was commissioned in July 1980. The two sister ships HMS Illustrious and HMS Ark Royal, both built at the Swan Hunter Shipbuilders yard in Wallsend, were commissioned in 1982 and 1985.

Since the end of the Cold War, the primary role of the 20,600t aircraft carriers has changed from sea control to maritime force projection, to include maritime strike, littoral manoeuvrings and command and control of land operations. The vessels now embark a Tailored Air Group (TAG), consisting of Joint Force Harrier (JFH) aircraft and Sea King and Merlin helicopters.

The ship accommodates over 1,000 crew, including 350 air crew with 80 officers. It also has capacity for an additional 500 marines.

The vessels were armed with a Sea Dart twin launcher, installed on the forecastle of the ship near the ski ramp. However, the missile system has been removed from all three carriers and the flight deck extended, to provide more capacity for aircraft and enable take-off for RAF Harrier GR.7/9 aircraft.

In March / April 2003, HMS Ark Royal was deployed as part of the UK task force in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. On board were Merlin HMA1 and Sea King ASaC Mk 7 helicopters, the first operational deployment of these aircraft.

Ark Royal completed a refit in September 2006 which included the fitting of better aviation facilities, an enhanced communications mast, SCOT 5 satellite communications system, Bowman command and control communications system, electronic charting and towed sonar decoy system. The refit allows the vessel to take on additional commando and helicopter carrier roles as well as maritime strike, and command and control platform.

Ark Royal can now carry up to 400 troops and RAF Chinook helicopters, as well as Army Apaches and Navy Sea King and Merlin helicopters. Ark Royal officially rejoined the fleet in December 2006 and began a two-month period of sea training in January 2007 before returning to active service.

HMS Invincible completed a refit in March 2003. Illustrious completed refit at Babcock's Rosyth yard in November 2004. HMS Invincible was decommissioned in August 2005. However, she has not been withdrawn from service and will remain available to the Navy until 2010.

SOURCES:
Ace Combat 2 (In-game Data)
More Info: Naval-Technology.com

*Original Article by Ribbon-Vermilion*