Hms illustrious

[LimaDelta]

I have a photo of me at the tender age of 3 months with my old man standing at the mouth of the tyne watching a brand new HMS Illustrious set sail in 1978. There is also a photo in the same place with me and my son around the same age when she visited the Tyne for the last time in early 2012. Quite poignant I thought. One whole generation in the service life of the vessel.

[wildcat45]

LimaDelta said:

I have a photo of me at the tender age of 3 months with my old man standing at the mouth of the tyne watching a brand new HMS Illustrious set sail in 1978. There is also a photo in the same place with me and my son around the same age when she visited the Tyne for the last time in early 2012. Quite poignant I thought. One whole generation in the service life of the vessel.

I like stuff like that. Circle of life and all that. Lusty didn't leave the Tyne until 1981 on sea trials. Her delivery trip - when Swans finished her ahead of schedule was June 18 1982.

[wildcat45]

T66ORA said:

Sad news coming out today, via the Illustrious association that the ship will be scrapped. Apparently a deal with Turks is just about complete.
We await official conformation, sad, but not unexpected news.

Edit to add, they are now saying no such decision has yet been made, time will tell?

Edited by T66ORA on Thursday 11th February 20:56

Edited by T66ORA on Thursday 11th February 20:57

But what's to be done with her? Saving Lusty is just not practical. I think if RN warships should perform one last act for their nation it is that they are scrapped in the UK and therefore give local economies here a little boost.

I also like the way it is done in the UK. Compare the utterly professional dismantling of HMS Cornwall in a dock in Swansea to ship breaking around the world. Cornwall was effectively de-built not just torn apart. Google the pictures, it's actually quite fascinating in a sad way. To anyone who knows warships, seeing the power train laid out on the dock floor was like seeing a living diagram.

I shall shed a tear when Lusty goes. Lots of happy memories of her.

[LimaDelta]

wildcat45 said:

I like stuff like that. Circle of life and all that. Lusty didn't leave the Tyne until 1981 on sea trials. Her delivery trip - when Swans finished her ahead of schedule was June 18 1982.

I guess I was older than 3 months then! I'll ask my folks to dig out the photo when I'm next home.

[wildcat45]

LimaDelta said:

I guess I was older than 3 months then! I'll ask my folks to dig out the photo when I'm next home.

You were probably 3 months when she was launched in December '78?

[hidetheelephants]

I'm quite sure A&P or Able would have been delighted to dismantle her, A&P might even have done it more or less in the place she was built.

[wildcat45]

hidetheelephants said:

I'm quite sure A&P or Able would have been delighted to dismantle her, A&P might even have done it more or less in the place she was built.

Which would be a fitting end. The first dry dock she used to get her launch skegs removed, also her last. In my world it would be so.

[T66ORA]

Looks like its definitely the end this time. 24th October is the provisional date for her final voyage under tow to Turkey, it was rather inevitable really.

[lufbramatt]

We had a fantastic tour around 'Lusty when she visited Hamburg in December 2012. Got chatting to an RAF officer who recognised our British accents and offered us to take us round later that day. True to his word he was waiting for us on the jetty and took us round all the good bits- radar rooms, flight control, the bridge, engine rooms etc. Made a good weekend really memorable. Sad to see her end her days in another country.

There's a song by Mark Knopfler called "So far from the Clyde", always brings a tear to my eye.

[wildcat45]

Me too.

Seeing as he is a Georldie and has no problem with writing about the North East it really should be so far from the Tyne.

It would fit dear old Lusty's predicament perfectly.

[T66ORA]

New date 2nd November.

[wildcat45]

By next summmer she'll be a smear on the sand.

[mungral]

andy97 said:

My first RN ship. I'm listed in the Commissioning book but sadly don't have a copy. Good memories of my time as an apprentice WAFU in her - 814 Squadron 1984.

My first ship too! apprentice WAFU 820 Squadron 1983

[forks]

My first ship too. 1995 to 1997 on 801 sqn. Great memories of the Ocean Wave trip to the far east :-)

Edited by forks on Wednesday 21st December 10:31

[gkw90]

Sad to see! I was lucky enough to re-fit the captains' chair back in 2012. It was fantastic being taken around the ship and talking to the Captain/Admiral (I have no understanding of rank in the Navy, so have probably got the title wrong) after, along with members of his crew. Viewing the harbour and the rest of the ship from the bridge was amazing whilst listening to tales of the ship and life on board.

For those interested; the seat is taken from a Series II Phantom and has all of the adjustment motors in place, so the final job was using a portable piece of kit that powered all these solenoids etc to adjust him to his most comfortable position. Not something I ever thought I'd do in life.

[wildcat45]

I heard that to re-adjust the seat, they nicked a battery out of the Captain''s Jag which used to live in the hangar.

The captain was probably Jerry Kydd. - a great guy who commanded Lusty, Ark Royal and the first captain of QE.

[gkw90]

Quite possibly so! We were sent directly from Rolls-Royce to do the initial fitting, but were not asked back for any adjustments later on. The electronics of it were not beyond the means of the Royal Navy though! Although we would have gone back at the drop of the hat if requested, the coffee and food was top notch in the wardroom (is that what it's called??)! .

I think you're right, the name definitely rings a bell. I don't know what I was expecting but the professionalism, warmth and humour of all we met was second to none. They were all just very decent human beings and nothing was a problem. Being left on the bridge with the other tech and the manager to 'crack on with it and let us know if you need any help', was awesome. Hang on, guys? Guys? You don't want to hang around and oversee us? Guys???

[wildcat45]

I've had many a great trip in Lusty and her two sisters.

Only right she should have a RR seat in the bridge with 4 Rolls Royce Olympus gas turbines down by n the machinery spaces. They really could make her shift. Did you get to stand on the quarter deck (Up 'S' ladder chain from the wardroom). When all four Olys were running? Quite spectacular.

Sounds like you were well llooked after in the wardroom. I used to ask for a mess number so I could buy drinks back. Settled my account with the chief steward on my day of departure.

On a couple of occasions it was: 'It's been taken care of Sir.'

[donutsina911]

RO7, but will make hairs tingle for anyone who served in the class.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAYjZPneasQ

Begrudging WAFU respect

[gkw90]

wildcat45 said:

I've had many a great trip in Lusty and her two sisters.

Only right she should have a RR seat in the bridge with 4 Rolls Royce Olympus gas turbines down by n the machinery spaces. They really could make her shift. Did you get to stand on the quarter deck (Up 'S' ladder chain from the wardroom). When all four Olys were running? Quite spectacular.

Sounds like you were well llooked after in the wardroom. I used to ask for a mess number so I could buy drinks back. Settled my account with the chief steward on my day of departure.

On a couple of occasions it was: 'It's been taken care of Sir.'

It definitely was a sight to see! We were docked in Portsmouth at that point, and it was only a day job to get finished, so unfortunately I didn't get to witness that! I can imagine that was pretty special! My one overriding memory was how empty and melancholy the hanger bay looked with its' helicopter attachment gone. I think at that point they were no longer assigned to ship? Happy to be proven otherwise though.

Oh certainly, that sounds like you had a fantastic experience. May I ask what brought you onto the ship? Or were you part of the crew? Am always fascinated by the work that goes on in the RN.