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.