STATISTICS AND INFORMATION
The Royal Navy has are three Invincible Class aircraft carriers: HMS Invincible, HMS Illustrious, and HMS Ark Royal.
- Displacement: 22,000 tonnes
- Length: 210m / 686ft
- Beam: 36m / 118ft
- Speed: 30 kts
- Ship’s company: 726 Ship's company and 384 Air Group personnel
- Armament: 3 x close-in weapons systems (Phalanx/Goalkeeper CIWS), 2 x 20mm anti-aircraft guns
- Aircraft: 20 or more including Harrier GR7 and GR9s, Sea King AEW and Sea King and Chinook stores or troop-carrying helicopters and Merlin anti-submarine helicopters.
- Propulsion: 4 x Rolls Royce Olympus Gas Turbines producing 72MW COGAG (Combined Gas and Gas) providing 97,000 hp on 2 Shafts
KEY ROLES
The Invincible Class are designed to perform a variety of roles:
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- Maritime Strike – launching air operations against targets on land.
- Littoral Manoeuvre – providing support in coastal sea areas.
- Optimised Access – protecting sea lines of communication.
- Command and Control – directing and co-ordinating the naval task forces.
- Other – diplomacy, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, evacuation and peace support operations.
THE ROYAL FLEET AUXILIARY SERVICE (RFA)
Supplying Royal Navy warships with fuel, food, stores and ammunition while they’re at sea, RFA vessels are mostly crewed by civilians. In fact, the RFA is one of the biggest employers in British Shipping, employing over 2000 civilian officers and ratings.
The Ships
The RFA fleet comprises of 16 ships in total: 6 Fleet and Support tankers, 2 Dry Cargo Fleet Replenishment Ships, 2 combined fuel and stores replenishment ship, 4 Landing ship’s Dock, 1 Aviation Training Ship and 1 Forward Repair Ship.
You can distinguish a Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship by her grey colour and the RFA flag which features a union jack and an upright gold anchor.
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SHIP´S COMPANY
There can be over 1000 personnel aboard, divided into 7 departments.
The Warfare Department drives and navigates the ship, as well as operating weapons.
The Executive Department looks after education, medical needs, physical training, administration, discipline and chaplaincy.
Weapon Engineering Department maintains weapon systems, sensors, communication equipment, navigational aids and administrative computers.
Marine Engineering Department maintains and operates marine systems including propulsion, electrical generation, the hull and structure as well as the ‘hotel services’ such as lighting, plumbing and water systems.
The Logistics Department manages day-to-day matters such as food, hotels, personnel, finance as well as onboard logistic support.
Air Department operates the aircraft on-board, providing the core defensive and offensive capabilities of the ship.
Air Engineering Department provides mechanical, electrical and avionics engineering for embarked aircraft and all support services.Want to find out more about the roles on a warship? Meet the crew of HMS Illustrious and HMS Ark Royal.
JOIN THE ROYAL NAVY - WE PROMISE YOU A LIFE WITHOUT LIMITS
As well as incredible opportunities for travel, adventure, and training, a career in the Royal Navy has plenty of practical benefits like job security, good pay and an excellent pension.
- SEE THE WORLD – we operate in every part of the globe, so you’ll have the chance to explore places that your civilian friends can only dream about. Find out more about travel and adventure.
- GOOD SPORTS – We encourage everyone to take part in sport. Take a look at the huge range of sports on offer. If you have the talent and determination, we’ll help you go on to compete at national or international level, including the Olympic Games.
- EXTRAORDINARY WORKPLACES - it’s hard to imagine a more stimulating environment than an Invincible aircraft carrier. And every few years, you can move to a different ship or shore base. Take a look at where we work.
- SHIP MATES – The Royal Navy is a team. We live, work and relax together, forming friendships that can last a lifetime. There aren’t many jobs that can offer that. Find out about the social life.
- LIFELONG LEARNING – The Royal Navy is one of the UK’s largest training organizations. Whatever your role or rank, you’ll have the chance to gain new qualifications. Discover how we encourage education.
- SPONSORSHIP – Like the idea of getting paid while you study? Explore our generous sponsorship schemes.
Take a closer look at Royal Navy careers – with hundreds of roles available, there really is something for anyone.
HUMANITARIAN AID
Getting involved in humanitarian efforts can be one of the most rewarding experiences of a Naval career. In fact, some of the Royal Navy’s most important operations involve helping others in a crisis, such as the Asian tsunami in 2004, the refugee evacuation in Lebanon in 2006, and the more recent hurricanes in the Caribbean.
The Royal Navy has a long-standing reputation for humanitarian relief, dating back to the suppression of the slaving industry in the 1800’s. These days, the royal navy is still actively preventing people trafficking and other illegal uses of the high seas, such as piracy and the transportation of narcotics.
TRAINING
Preparing men and women for the challenges of life at sea in the 21st century requires well-coordinated, high-quality training.
The Royal Navy has a number of top-rate training institutions which feature dedicated teams of experts and fully operational equipment, identical to what you’ll find aboard vessels in the fleet. In fact, the standard of our training is so high that foreign navies and British industry request bespoke courses and apprenticeships.
Training doesn’t end on your first day as a fully-fledged rating or officer of the Royal Navy. Your education continues throughout your career. Training ranges from basic courses to post graduate degrees, recognized by professional bodies throughout the UK.
Take a closer look at the Royal Navy Training establishmentsGLOBAL OPERATIONS
The Royal Navy operates right around the globe, protecting the political and economic interests of the UK and our treaty partners.
It is important the Royal Navy continues to take a global approach/view. The UK has 13 Overseas Territories and 10 million UK citizens live and work abroad. We also have many treaties and other related obligations to provide support and security overseas. Our economy is founded on global trade and we depend on foreign countries for many crucial supplies. Above all, the UK has a responsibility to act as a force for peace and justice in the world, tackling challenges like drugs, terrorism and international crime.
See where the Royal Navy is currently deployed worldwide
HISTORY OF THE INVINCIBLE CLASS AIRCRAFT CARRIER
Three Invincible Class aircraft carriers have been developed – HMS invincible (launched in 1977), HMS Illustrious (1982), and HMS Ark Royal (1985). Their original function was “sea control”, with particular emphasis on anti-submarine warfare. But since the end of the Cold War, the role of the Invincible Class has evolved, and the fleet has undergone a series of modifications.
The Invincible Class fleet has become highly versatile, launching Harrier aircraft as well as Sea King and Merlin helicopters. A ski-ramp with a steeper angle was added to the end of the flight deck to allow the Sea Harriers to take off with a large payload.
The Royal Navy has always been at the forefront of aircraft carrier development. HMS Hermes (launched in 1919) was the first ship in any navy to be designed and built as an aircraft carrier.
Find out more about the heritage of Royal Navy aircraft carriers
ROYAL NAVY OF THE FUTURE
We are entering a new and exciting era. To meet the challenges of a changing and uncertain world, the Royal Navy is becoming increasingly flexible - able to respond rapidly and effectively, whenever and wherever required.
The Royal Navy is working more and more closely with the Army and the RAF. Together, we must be ready to join other nations in a coalition, as well as countering any threat at home. And what does this mean for the Royal Navy? Our expeditionary force will be based upon strike power from aircraft carriers, amphibious capability and a nuclear submarine force.
The Royal Navy will continue to have one of the most modern fleets in the world. The next generation of vessels will be highly capable and versatile, with fewer personnel and innovative technology such as computer automation. Our people will continue to be the key to our future success, and the Royal Navy will continue to be a top class employer with top class training.
Learn more about the future of the Aircraft Carriers
THE STORY OF HMS INVINCIBLE
Launched by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II in May 1977, HMS Invincible was the very first Invincible Class aircraft carrier.
She served with distinction in the Falklands Campaign in 1982, in the Adriatic in 1993 and in Bosnia in 1995. More recently, her Sea Harriers enforced the No-Fly Zone over Southern Iraq in 1998 -1999. This was followed by a deployment in the Balkans for Operation "ALLIED FORCE."
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