Commission of 1970/1973

Under Construction (892 Sqn activity to be added)

From the archive of Lt. Cdr. Ian Pratt RN. , who served as a Gunnery officer (G2) on HMS Ark Royal 1969/1972. Ian flew in a Phantom F4k of 892 Sqn with the Squadron Commander Officer prior to the very first embarkation.

HMS Ark Royal 1966 to 1973

• May 1^st to 15thFlying Trials. Lyme Bay/Plymouth Areas
• 15^th to 11^th JuneDevon port. Post Flying trials rectification
• 14^th to 20^th JuneFirst Work Up in the Moray Firth
• 20^th to 22nd June At anchor off Lossiemouth
• 22^nd to 25^th JuneFirst Work Up Moray Firth continued
• 27^th to 30^th JuneAt Liverpool
• 1^stto 9^th JulySecond Work Up Bristol Channel
• 10^th to 20^th JulyDevonport for SMP
• 20^th to 27^th JulyThird Work Up Bristol Channel
• 28^th to 29^th JulyOperational Readiness Inspection (ORI)
• 31^st July to 3^rd SeptemberDevonport Assisted Maintenance Period (AMP)
• 3^rd to 5^th SeptemberFlyex in Plymouth Areas
• 5^th SeptemberFamilies Day
• 7^th to 17^th SeptemberFlyex and Workup Bristol Channel and Irish Sea. 8^th to 9^th Sept on standby for burning freighterSt Brenden off Lundy island
• 20^th to 26^th SeptemberExercise "Northern Wedding"
• 28^th September to 2nd OctoberAt Oslo. Exercise Northern Wedding. Post Exercise Debrief (PED) at Kolsas
• 4^th to 10^th OctoberDevonport. Repair defects on Catapult and Arrester Gear
• 11^th to 14^th OctoberCatapult and Arrester Gear Trials. Lyme Bay and Plymouth Areas
• 19^th to 29^th OctoberAt Malta. SMP.
• 29^th to 14^th NovemberExercise "Lime Jug" 1970
• 9^th NovemberCollision with Surveillance Russian Navy Kotlin Class (Side Number 365) South of Greece
• 9^th to 10^th NovemberSearch and Rescue Operations
• 14^th NovemberStandby for HMS Fife with major fire
• 16^th to 25^th NovemberAt Malta. SMP.
• 26^th to 30^th NovemberFlyex. Malta Areas
• 29^th NovemberHot Air Balloon Launch to Malta
• 1^st DecemberFilming of "MedPatrol"
• 3^rd to 8^th DecemberAt Naples
• 8^th to 10^th DecemberFlyex. Sardinia Areas
• 12^th to 14^th DecemberAt Gibraltar
• 18^th to December to 15^th April 1971Devonport Dockyard Refit
• 9^th MarchCaptain J. O. Roberts. RN. Assumes Command
• 15^th to 18^th AprilPost Refit Trials. Plymouth/Portland/Clyde Areas
• 19^th to 29^th AprilWork Up Moray Firth
• 30th April to 3rd MayAt Rosyth
• 4^th to 18^th MayWork Up and Harrier Deck Trials. Moray Firth
• 9^th to 10^th MayAt anchor off Lossiemouth
• 11^th to 19^th May Work Up and Harrier Trials. Moray Firth
• 16^th MayAt anchor off Lossiemouth
• 21^st May to 2^nd JuneDevonport. SMP.
• 2^nd to 11^th JunePassage to West Indies. Flyex on Passage
• 11^th JuneAt anchor off Puerto Rico
• 12^th to 15^th JuneExercise "Rimex/Barex" Atlantic Fleet Weapons Range (AFWR)
• 16^th to 19^th JuneExercise "Opredex" with USS America at the AFWR and transit to Bermuda.
• 22^nd to 29^th JuneAt Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades)
• 30^th June to 7^th JulyAt Mayport. SMP)
• 11th to 18^th JulyFlyex and Phantom Hot Weather Trials.(AFWR)
• 19^th to 21^st JulyAt St Thomas Virgin Isles
• 21^st to 30^th JulyOn passage to Plymouth28^th July meet yacht "British Steel" 200 nm south west of Lands End
• 30^th July to 2^nd AugustAt "Charlie Buoy" Plymouth Sound
• 2^nd to 4^th AugustOperation "Lymelight". Lyme Bay
• 5^th AugustFamilies Day (Up Harbour)
• 5^th August to 14^th SeptemberDevonport. AMP
• 17^th to 25^th SeptemberFlyex. Moray Firth.
• 27^th September to 4^th OctoberExercise "Royal Knight". Norwegian Sea/North Cape/North Sea
• 4^th to 7^th OctoberPXD at Rosyth for Exercise "Royal Knight"
• 7^th to 8^th OctoberExercise "Magic Sword IV". North Sea
• 9^th to 29^th OctoberAt Portsmouth. SMP.
• 30^th October to 2^nd NovemberFlyex South West Approaches
• 4^th NovemberMemorial Service for the third HMS Ark Royal 3. East of Gibraltar.
• 5^th to 9^th NovemberAt Palma
• 11^th to 14^th NovemberExercise "Med Passage" with USS Independence. Ionian Sea.
• 15^th to 18^th NovemberFlyex. Malta Areas.
• 19^th to 24^th NovemberAt Malta SMP.
• 25^th NovemberFlyex. Sardinia Areas.
• 26^th November to 2^nd DecemberFlyex. Gibraltar Areas.
• 2^nd to 4^th DecemberAt Gibraltar
• 7^th December to 20^th January 1972Devonport. AMP.
• 20^th JanuarySail for Virginia Capes Area
• January 26^thDiverted to British Honduras. HMS Ark Royal Aircraft overflew Belize.
• 30^th January to 1^st FebruaryFlyex. Key West Areas.
• 4^th to 11^th FebruaryAt New York
• 14^th to 18^th FebruaryFlyex. Puerto Rico Areas (AFWR)
• 19^th to 20^th FebruaryAt Virgin Gorda
• 22^nd to 27^th FebruaryExercise "Lantreadex" with USS F. D. Roosevelt. (AFWR).
• 29^th FebruaryAt Roosevelt Roads
• 1^st to 9^th MarchPassage to Devonport. Flyex on passage.
• 9^th March to 6^th JuneDevonport. (DED)
• 6^th to 11^th JunePost DED trials. Plymouth Portland Areas.
• 12^th to 16^th JuneFlyex South West Approaches.
• 19^th to 23^rd JuneFlyex Cape Wrath/Moray Firth
• 26^th to 29^th JuneFlyex SW Approaches
• 30^th June to 10^th JulyAt Portsmouth. SMP. "Meet the Navy"
• 11^th to 12^th JulyFlyex SW Approaches
• 13^th to 16^rd JulyExercise "West Hoe" off W. Ireland.
• 17^th JulyOperation Readiness Inspection. (ORI).
• 18^th to 31^st AugustDevonport AMP.
• 22^nd AugustCaptain A. D. Cassidi RN assumes command.
• 3^rd SeptemberAnchor off Lossiemouth
• 4^th to 11^th SeptemberFlyex Moray Firth.
• 14^th to 28^th SeptemberExercise "Strong Express". Norwegian Sea/North Cape
• 29^th September to 5^th OctoberAt Rosyth. PXD.
• 5^th to 10^th OctoberFlyex. North Sea. Moray Firth
• 12^th to 17^th OctoberAt Oslo
• 20^th October to 7^th NovemberAt Portsmouth. SMP.
• 7^th to 14^th NovemberFlyex SW Appraches
• 17^th to 22^nd NovemberAt Barcelona
• 25^th to 26^th NovemberExercise "Corsica 72"
• 27^th November to 4^th DecemberFlyex Sardinia Areas
• 6^th to 8^th DecemberAt Gibraltar
• 12^th December to 25^th January 1973Devonport. AMP/
• 26^th January to 2nd FebruaryFlyex SW Approaches
• 4^th to 8^th February Exercise "Sunny Seas" off Portugal
• 9^th to 12^th FebruaryAtGibraltar
• 14^th to 22^nd FebruaryExercise "Sardex" off Sardinia
• 23^rd February to 6^th March At Malta AMP
• 6^th to 11^th MarchExercise "Ruler". Western Mediterranean West of Gibraltar
• 15^th March to 30^th AprilDevonport AMP
• 1^st to 5^th MayFlyex Plymouth Areas
• 5^th to 14^th MayPassage to West Indies. Ex "Passex" with French Carrier Group
• 14^th MayAt Roosevelt Roads
• 15^th to 24^th MayFlyex AFWR
• 25^th to 27^th MayAt St Thomas Virgin isles
• 31^st May to 6^th JuneExercise "Lantreadex" with USS F.D. Roosevelt. AFWR.
• 8^th to 14^th JuneFort Lauderdale. Port Everglades.
• 15^th to 19^th JuneFlyex. Jacksonville Areas.
• 19^th to 30^th JuneAt Mayport. SMP.
• 30^th June to 9^th JulyPassage to North of Scotland. Flyex on passage.
• 9^th to 13^th JulyExercise "JMC 148". (Joint Maritime Cooperation)
• 14^th to 17^th JulyFlyex. North Sea.
• 18^th to 23^rd JulyAT Rosyth. Fleet Gathering.
• 23^rd to 24^th JulyExercise "Sally Forth". North Sea.
• 26^th July Families Day
• 26^th JulyArrive Devonport. Prepare for refit.
• 25^th October 1973

HMS Ark Royal awarded the freedom of the City of Leeds