Harbour of Amsterdam, Netherlands 27 February 2009
Of the Invincible-class wit as sister ships the Ark Royal and the Invincible. Her building at the shipyard of Swan Hunter, Tyne and Wear was ordered on 14 May 1976, laid down on 7 October, launched on 14 December 1978 by Princess Margaret and commissioned on 20 June 1982 with as homeport the HMNB Portsmouth. She is nicknamed Lusty with as motto Vox Non Incenta. International callsign GVUH. Displacement 22.000 tonnes and as dimensions 209 x 36 x 7,6 metres or 686’x 118’x 25’. The 4x-Rools Royce Olympus TM3B gas turbines supplied 97.000 hp pr 75MV allowing a speed of 18 (cruising)-30 (maximum) knots. With her cruise speed she has a range of 5.000 nautical miles. Her crew numbers 685 men extended with 366 men of the Fleet Air Arm. She can maximally transport with her 22 helicopters; in the pas 22 Harriet II/Sea Harriers. The armament consisted of 2 Goalkeepers and 2-2cm guns.
