Britain's greatest warship : HMS Ark Royal IV

Without a doubt the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal launched in 1950 was the most famous Royal Navy warship of the post-war era. The fourth ship to bear the name, the "Ark" owes much of this fame to the BBC TV series "Sailor" screened in the early 1970s and its distinctive theme tune "Sailing" by the gravel-voiced Rod Stewart. This book recounts the story of Ark Royal and her "people", from the laying down of her keel in 1943 and her first commission in 1955, through to her decommissioning in 1979 and her scrapping in 1980. The Ark Royal played a crucial role in the development of Royal Naval fixed-wing aviation and pioneered the concept of carrier-borne VSTOL aircraft. It saw extensive service during the 1960s and 70s, a time which witnessed many significant changes in Navy life and the way in which seapower was used as a means of projecting national influence worldwide. Painting a vivid picture of life on board a class of Royal Navy warship that now has gone forever, the author brings the story of the "Ark" alive using interviews and first-hand accounts. These range from former officers and crew, including admirals, captains and ship's company, to aircrew of the embarked Fleet Air Arm squadrons and the shipyard workers who built the "Ark". The book is fully illustrated throughout with black and white photographs - many of which are previously unpublished - and includes an 8pp colour plate section. img005.jpg......Page 2 img001.jpg......Page 1 img005.jpg......Page 0 img006.jpg......Page 3 img007.jpg......Page 4 img008.jpg......Page 5 img009.jpg......Page 6 img010.jpg......Page 7 img011.jpg......Page 8 img012.jpg......Page 9 img013.jpg......Page 10 img014.jpg......Page 11 img015.jpg......Page 12 img016.jpg......Page 13 img017.jpg......Page 14 img018.jpg......Page 15 img021.jpg......Page 16 img022.jpg......Page 17 img023.jpg......Page 18 img024.jpg......Page 19 img025.jpg......Page 20 img026.jpg......Page 21 img027.jpg......Page 22 img028.jpg......Page 23 img029.jpg......Page 24 img030.jpg......Page 25 img031.jpg......Page 26 img032.jpg......Page 27 img033.jpg......Page 28 img034.jpg......Page 29 img035.jpg......Page 30 img036.jpg......Page 31 img037.jpg......Page 32 img038.jpg......Page 33 img039.jpg......Page 34 img040.jpg......Page 35 img041.jpg......Page 36 img042.jpg......Page 37 img043.jpg......Page 38 img044.jpg......Page 39 img045.jpg......Page 40 img046.jpg......Page 41 img047.jpg......Page 42 img048.jpg......Page 43 img049.jpg......Page 44 img050.jpg......Page 45 img051.jpg......Page 46 img052.jpg......Page 47 img053.jpg......Page 48 img054.jpg......Page 49 img055.jpg......Page 50 img056.jpg......Page 51 img057.jpg......Page 52 img058.jpg......Page 53 img059.jpg......Page 54 img060.jpg......Page 55 img061.jpg......Page 56 img062.jpg......Page 57 img063.jpg......Page 58 img064.jpg......Page 59 img065.jpg......Page 60 img066.jpg......Page 61 img067.jpg......Page 62 img068.jpg......Page 63 img069.jpg......Page 64 img070.jpg......Page 65 img071.jpg......Page 66 img072.jpg......Page 67 img073.jpg......Page 68 img074.jpg......Page 69 img075.jpg......Page 70 img076.jpg......Page 71 img077.jpg......Page 72 img078.jpg......Page 73 img079.jpg......Page 74 img080.jpg......Page 75 img081.jpg......Page 76 img082.jpg......Page 77 img083.jpg......Page 78 img084.jpg......Page 79 img085.jpg......Page 80 img086.jpg......Page 81 img087.jpg......Page 82 img088.jpg......Page 83 img089.jpg......Page 84 img090.jpg......Page 85 img091.jpg......Page 86 img092.jpg......Page 87 img093.jpg......Page 88 img094.jpg......Page 89 img095.jpg......Page 90 img096.jpg......Page 91 img097.jpg......Page 92 img098.jpg......Page 93 img099.jpg......Page 94 img100.jpg......Page 95 img101.jpg......Page 96 img102.jpg......Page 97 img103.jpg......Page 98 img104.jpg......Page 99 img105.jpg......Page 100 img106.jpg......Page 101 img107.jpg......Page 102 img108.jpg......Page 103 img109.jpg......Page 104 img110.jpg......Page 105 img111.jpg......Page 106 img112.jpg......Page 107 img113.jpg......Page 108 img114.jpg......Page 109 img115.jpg......Page 110 img116.jpg......Page 111 img117.jpg......Page 112 img118.jpg......Page 113 img119.jpg......Page 114 img120.jpg......Page 115 img121.jpg......Page 116 img122.jpg......Page 117 img123.jpg......Page 118 img124.jpg......Page 119 img125.jpg......Page 120 img126.jpg......Page 121 img127.jpg......Page 122 img128.jpg......Page 123 img129.jpg......Page 124 img130.jpg......Page 125 img131.jpg......Page 126 img132.jpg......Page 127 img133.jpg......Page 128 img134.jpg......Page 129 img135.jpg......Page 130 img136.jpg......Page 131 img137.jpg......Page 132 img138.jpg......Page 133 img139.jpg......Page 134 img140.jpg......Page 135 img141.jpg......Page 136 img142.jpg......Page 137 img143.jpg......Page 138 jimg002.jpg......Page 139 Changing Times -- Passing The Baton -- In Search Of The Pilgrims -- Icebergs Ahead! -- A Glimpse Into The Future? -- The Battle Of Beira -- The Wind Of Change -- The Kotlin Incident -- Fame At Last -- The Final Curtain -- A Stay Of Execution? -- The Ark's Aircraft -- Ark Royal - The Details -- The Ark Royal Legend -- Dinosaur Or Phoenix? Richard Johnstone-bryden ; Foreword By Michael Pollock. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 255-256) And Index. The aircraft carrier H.M.S. Ark Royal is the most famous Royal Navy warship of the postwar era. This book recounts her story, from the laying down of her keel in 1943 and her first commission in 1955, to her scrapping in 1980. Includes interviews and first-hand accounts from former officers and crew, and rare black and white photographs. This is "a fine tribute to a fine ship" (Admiral of the Fleet Sir Michael Pollock).