Facts & Figures

When she was built, Ark Royal was the largest ship in the Royal Navy, being fractionally longer than her sister ships and recognizable by her more steeply angled flight deck ramp.

Listed below are the facts and figures relating to Ark Royal V, please let us know of any errors.

HMS Ark Royal

Invincible Class Aircraft Carrier

Pennant Number -	R07
Motto -	Zeal Does Not Rest
Builders -	Swan Hunter Shipbuilders Ltd
Sponsor -	Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother
Keel Laid -	9th December 1978
Launched -	2nd June 1981
Accepted Into Service -	1st July 1985
Commissioned -	1st November 1985
Decommissioned -	11th March 2011

Specifications in 1985

Displacement -	20,600 tons.
Length -	210 metres (689 ft).
Beam -	35 metres (114 ft).
Propulsion -	4 Rolls Royce Olympus Gas Turbines developing a total of 97,000 shp. The gas turbines drive 2 shafts through 2 reversing gear boxes.
Speed -	28+ knots.
Electrical Power -	12MW installed capacity provided by 8 Paxman Valenta diesel generators.
Armament -	1x Seadart area defence missile system.
	3x Phalanx close-in weapon systems.
	2x 20mm BMARC guns.
Air Group -	8 Sea Harrier FRS Mk1 armed with air to air missiles, air to surface missiles, bombs and cannons.
	9 Sea King HAS Mk5 armed with anti submarine torpedoes and depth charges.
	3 Sea King AEW

Specifications in 2001

Displacement -	22,000 tons.
Length -	210 metres (689 ft).
Beam -	36 metres (118 ft).
Propulsion -	4 Rolls Royce Olympus Gas Turbines developing a total of 97,000 shp. The gas turbines drive 2 shafts through 2 reversing gear boxes.
Speed -	28+ knots
Electrical Power -	12MW installed capacity provided by 8 Paxman Valenta diesel generators.
Armament -	3x Phalanx close-in weapon systems.
	2x 20mm GAM-BO1 guns.
Air Group -	up to 24 aircraft - a combination of:
	FA2 Sea Harriers / GR7 Harriers
	Merlin Mk1
	Sea King Mk7 AEW