The Final Commission 1978

April 1978

• HMS Ark Royal sets sail from Devonport Dockyard for her final Westlant deployment.
• Her sister ship at anchor,HMS Eagle, awaits the breakers yard. She will provide spares for HMS Ark Royals' final Commission.
• Above, a beautiful calm day in the Hamoaze of the River Tamar at Plymouth, Devonshire, England.
• Cornwall is on the left, Devonshire is on the Right. The Torpoint ferry can be seen almost midway to the back of the photograph. There was little clearance in crossing the heavy chains of the ferry. This had to be done on spring flood tides.

archive Lt. Dave Brocklebank RN.

Commission of 1977/1978

• HMS Ark Royal Sails from Devonport for Post Refit Acceptance Trials the Air group including 892 Sqn Phantom F4K's conduct DLP's.
• 19^th June, trials complete sailed for the Queens Silver Jubilee at Spithead June 28^th 1977.
• Rehearsals and much painting at Spithead 20^th/28^th June 1977.
• 30^th June Plymouth Sound. Embark mini CAG (Carrier Air Group) including 3 Phantom F4k's of 892 Sqn for pre-final deployment flying trials
• Navy Days at Devonport followed by leave and modification refit.
• 1^st Sept 1977, sailed from Devonport after refit. For her final deployment.
• Passage off West Coast of Ireland. Air group embark 5^th September.
• Workup 5^th/15^th September in Moray Firth. Visit Leith 15^th/20^th September, then second workup in Moray Firth 20^th/28^th including night flying.
• HRH Prince Charles visits 21^st September 1977. He experiences a catapult shot, courteously of 809 Buccaneer Sqn.
• Visit Hamburg 30^th September/5^th October.
• 7^th/14^th October Third Phase Workup in the Moray Firth and ORI.
• Cdr M.H.G. Layard relieves Cdr R.J. Northard as Cdr (Air)
• Passage West Coast Ireland
• Ex Ocean Safari 17^th/28^th October 1977, starting in Bristol Channel areas progressing through the bay of Biscay, off Lisbon and back to UK waters.11 ships of 8 countries participate. 400 hours of continuous flying operations.
• Passage to Gibraltar 28^th October to 1^st November.
• Gibraltar1^st/2^nd November
• Flyex off Sardinia 4^th November
• Malta5^th/12^th November
• 12^th November passage to Toulon an Ex Isles D'or 15^th/26^th November. 7 nation exercise including USN CVA Saratoga.
• Naples28^th November 5th December
• Flyex enroute and at Gibraltar 5^th/10^th December
• Air Group disembark Bay of Biscay 12^th December
• Plymouth"C" buoy 15^th December 1977. Fog delayed entry. Berthed 16^th December at Devonport for leave and DAMP. (Dockyard Assisted Maintenance Period) until February 1978
• 24834 Nautical miles steamed during deployment
• 21^st February sailed post DAMP sea acceptance sea trials. Lyme Bay, Portland.
• 22^nd Feruary/5^th March air group on board.
• Sea Inspection 27th February
• 5^th March at Plymouth for Families day.
• Final leave given before the final deployment 5^th April 1978 sail Devonport for Westlant deployment 1978. The Final One.
• 6th April, Air group embarked.
• 12^th April, position off the Azores
• 17^th April, Air group disembark and ship berths at Roosevelt Roads Puerto Rico
• Sail from Roosevelt Roads
• 20^th April/8^th May, Work Up and Atlantic Fleet Weapons Range. Live Missile firing.892 Sqn fire Sparrow and Sidewinders at drone aircraft.
• 9^th/15^th May visit the US Virgin Islands, anchored off Charlotte Amalie
• 15^th/30^th May 1978 Passage to and work up in the Jacksonville sea areas.
• Ex Solid Shield. Strike USS John F. Kennedy 23^rd/24^th May
• 30^th May/14^th June 1978. Visit Fort Lauderdale
• 14^th/23^rd June Jacksonville Sea areas for private flyex
• 14^th June, 1000^th Cat shot and Deck Landing 1978 recorded.
• 22^nd June Air group disembark prior ships visit to Mayport 23^rd June/8^th August
• 8^th/13^th August passage to Norfolk Virginia area and flyex
• 14^th August/21^st August visit Norfolk
• 23^rd August leave USA and sail eastward to the Azores, Ex Common Effort until 31^st August.
• 4^th/19^th September, Ex Northern Wedding.Position 61N20W. 200 ships, nine nations, including USS Forrestal
• 19^th September enter Moray Firth
• Passage to Gibraltar 20^th September/2^nd October
• 2^nd October leave Gibraltar for last time flying the 450ft Paying Off Penant
• 2^nd/16^th October Ex Display Determination. Ships of 6 nations and USN carriers Forrestal and J.F. Kennedy. 2000 cat shots and arrested landings recorded
• 16^th/21^st October 1978 visit Naples
• 21^st/27^th November Flyex south east of Sicily
• 27^th October/6^th November visit Athens
• 2^nd/6^th November Flyex south east of Sicily, exercise with USS Saratoga
• 6^th/16^th November Malta. 10,000 people line the grand harbour so see the final farewell.
• 16^th/18^th November private flyex south of Sardinia.
• 18^th November 1978, the last fixed wing recoveries are made on board HMS Ark Royal.
• 20^th/25^th November visit Palma, Mallorca
• 27^th November 1978, the last fixed wing catapult launches in Royal Navy aviation occur as the squadrons disembark off the south coast of Spain.
• 28^th Nov/4^th December. Passage to Devonport
• Monday 4^th December 1978. Ark enters Plymouth sound in procedure Alfa flying the 450 ft paying off pennant. Thousands of people lined the vantage points of Plymouth Sound.
• 0850 hrs. Captain Anson orders "Ring off main Engines" The reply came so "Engines rung off for the last time, Sir".
• 42255 Nautical Miles steamed on this final deployment.

Commission of 1973/1976

HMS Ark Royal 1974-1976

• November 1973. Captain Gerard-Pearse assumed command while the ship was in Dry Dock in Devonport Dockyard
• Sailed Devonport in July 1974 in the role of "To maintain NATO's Maritime Force in the North Atlantic".
• Captain Graham assumes Command
• Ship deploys and participates in Ex Northern Merger 1974 off Norway. Ex Springtrain1975 off Gibraltar and private flyex's visiting Gibraltar and Malta
• Further deployment to the West Atlantic and participation in Ex Safepass 1976 off Virginia and private flyex's visiting Norfolk, Mayport and Fort Lauderdale for the American bi-centennial celebrations.
• Further private flyex's in the Caribbean. The Phantom F4K's of 892 Sqn conducted Missile Firings in the Atlantic Fleet Weapons Range off Puerto Rico.
• Visits to Virgin Gorda and St Thomas followed the Missile firings and the ship then sailed for official ceremonial visits to Barbados and Rio de Janerio.
• Deployment complete the Royal Navy's largest ship returned to Devonport for leave.
• Ex Ocean Safari 1976 off Norway. Change of ships command 25^th September 1976 off Scotland. Captain E.R. Anson assumes command.
• Passage to Lisbon. Full divisions in tropical whites.
• Visit Gibraltar and Ex Display Determination with USN Carriers Nimitz and America, and French Carrier Clemenceau
• FONAC. Admiral Eberle transfers to USS America by Phantom F4K of 892 Sqn. Pilot Lt Martyn H. Dean. Returns to HMS Ark Royal by same method after exercise briefings.
• Visit Toulon French Navy Base 13^th/18^th October 1976
• 18^th October sail Toulon. Air group disembarks to home bases. With the loss of their historical home base RNAS Yeovilton, 892 Squadron's Phantom F4K's return to RAF Leuchars in Fife.
• Ship immediately commences preparation for the refit in Devonport. Dockyard maintenance crews are embarked to commence work on the catapults during passage.
• Refit at Devonport October 1976 to June 1977
• 13^th December 1976 ship is moved from Outer Wall to Number 10 Dry Dock
• Sub Surface refit complete she is floated 28^th February 1977