Editing HMS Invincible (R05)

{{Short description|1980 Invincible-class light aircraft carrier}}
{{other ships|HMS Invincible}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2016}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin
}}
{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image = HMS Invincible During T200 Celebrations MOD 45144681 (cropped).jpg
| Ship caption = HMS ''Invincible'' in 2005
}}
{{Infobox ship career
| Hide header = 
| Ship country = United&nbsp;Kingdom
| Ship flag = {{shipboxflag|United Kingdom|naval}}
| Ship name = ''Invincible''
| Ship namesake = 
| Ship owner = 
| Ship operator = 
| Ship registry = 
| Ship route = 
| Ship ordered = 17 April 1973
| Ship awarded = 
| Ship builder = [[Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd|Vickers Shipbuilding Limited]], [[Barrow-in-Furness]], England
| Ship original cost = 
| Ship yard number = 
| Ship way number = 
| Ship laid down = July 1973
| Ship launched = 3 May 1977
| Ship sponsor = [[Queen Elizabeth II]]
| Ship christened = 
| Ship completed = 
| Ship acquired = 
| Ship commissioned = 11 July 1980
| Ship recommissioned = 
| Ship decommissioned = 3 August 2005
| Ship maiden voyage = 
| Ship in service = 
| Ship out of service = 
| Ship renamed = 
| Ship reclassified = 
| Ship refit = 
| Ship struck = 10 September 2010
| Ship reinstated = 
| Ship homeport = [[HMNB Portsmouth]]
| Ship identification = *{{IMO Number|8949551}}
*[[Pennant number|Pennant]]: R05
*[[Pennant number#Deck codes|Deck code]]: N
| Ship motto = 
| Ship nickname = "Vince"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.navynews.co.uk/articles/2004/0412/0004123001.asp |title=Sea Harriers still in business |work=[[Navy News]] |access-date=2008-07-01 |archive-date=8 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080908083839/http://www.navynews.co.uk/articles/2004/0412/0004123001.asp |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| Ship honours = 
| Ship honors = 
| Ship captured = 
| Ship fate = Scrapped 2011<ref name="sale"/>
| Ship notes = 
| Ship badge = [[File:HMS Invincible badge.gif|100px|Badge of HMS Invincible (R05)]]
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
| Hide header = 
| Header caption = 
| Ship class = {{sclass|Invincible|aircraft carrier}}
| Ship displacement =  * {{cvt|16,000|t|LT|lk=on}} (light)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/68761/20120413_invincible_recycling_report_u.pdf |title=Invincible Recycling Report |publisher=[[DE&S]] |access-date=2013-01-29 }}</ref>
* {{convert|22000|LT|t|order=flip|abbr=on}} fully loaded
| Ship length = {{convert|689|ft|m|abbr=on}}
| Ship beam = {{convert|118.1|ft|m|abbr=on}}
| Ship height = 
| Ship draught = {{convert|28.9|ft|m|abbr=on}}
| Ship power = 
| Ship propulsion = *4 × [[Rolls-Royce plc|Rolls-Royce]] [[Olympus TM3B]] gas turbines providing {{cvt|97,000|hp|lk=in}}
*8 [[Paxman (engines)|Paxman]] [[Paxman Valenta|Valenta]] diesel generators
| Ship speed = {{convert|28|kn|lk=in}} max
| Ship range = {{cvt|7,000|nmi|lk=in}} at {{convert|18|kn}}
| Ship endurance = 
| Ship complement = 1,051 total, including 726 ship's company and 384 Air Group personnel
| Ship sensors = 
| Ship EW = 
| Ship armament = *3 × [[Goalkeeper CIWS|Goalkeeper]] [[Close-in weapon system|CIWS]]
*2 × [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|GAM-B01]] 20&nbsp;mm close-range guns
| Ship armour = 
| Ship armor = 
| Ship aircraft = 
*Until December 2010, 22 aircraft;
**''Multi Mission - Strike, [[Anti-surface warfare|ASuW]] and [[Anti-submarine warfare|ASW]]''
***12 x [[RAF Harrier II|Harrier GR.7/9]]
***10 x [[Westland Sea King ASaC7|Sea King ASaC]] and [[AgustaWestland EH101|Merlin HM Mk.1]] helicopters
** ''Multi Mission - Strike and ASuW''
***18 x [[RAF Harrier II|Harrier GR.7/9]]
***4 x [[Westland Sea King ASaC7|Sea King ASaC]]  and [[AgustaWestland EH101|Merlin HM Mk.1]] helicopters<ref>[http://www.warshipsifr.com/interview_alanWest.html The Big Interview: Admiral Sir Alan West]</ref>
| Ship aircraft facilities = 
| Ship notes = 
}}
|}

'''HMS ''Invincible''''' was the [[Royal Navy]]'s [[lead ship]] of [[Invincible-class aircraft carrier|her class]] of three [[light aircraft carrier]]s. She was launched on 3 May 1977 as the seventh ship to carry the name. She was originally designated as an [[anti-submarine warfare carrier]], but was used as an aircraft carrier during the [[Falklands War]], when she was deployed with {{HMS|Hermes|R12|6}}. She took over as [[flagship]] of the British fleet when ''Hermes'' was sold to [[India]]. ''Invincible'' was also deployed in the [[Yugoslav Wars]] and the [[Iraq War]]. During the Falklands Conflict, Argentinian media reported ''Invincible'' as sunk on several occasions. In 2005, she was decommissioned, and was eventually sold for scrap in February 2011.<ref name=BBC_HMS_Invincible_sold>{{cite news |title=HMS Invincible sold for scrap to Turkish ship recyclers |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12396523 |access-date=2 August 2011 |publisher=BBC News |date=2 August 2011}}</ref>

==Design==
As built, ''Invincible'' was {{convert|677|ft|m}} [[length overall|long overall]] and {{convert|632|ft|m}} [[Length between perpendiculars|between perpendiculars]], with a [[Beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|90|ft|m|abbr=on}} at the waterline and {{convert|115|ft|m|abbr=on}} at [[flight deck]] level, and a [[Draft (ship)|draught]] of {{convert|24|ft|m|abbr=on|1}} at full load. [[Displacement (ship)|Displacement]] was {{convert|16000|LT|t}} standard and {{convert|19500|LT|t}} full load.<ref name="conways47p501">{{Harvnb|Gardiner|Chumbley|1995|p=501}}</ref> The ship was powered by four [[Rolls-Royce Olympus]] TBM3 [[gas turbine]]s, with a maximum total continuous power of {{convert|94000|shp|kW}}. These drove two propeller shafts via reversible gearboxes, giving a maximum speed of {{convert|28|kn|mph km/h}}. The ship had a range of {{convert|5000|nmi|mi km|abbr=on}} at {{convert|18|kn|mph km/h|abbr=on}}.<ref name="hobbscomp125"/>

''Invincible''{{'}}s flight deck was {{convert|550|ft|m|abbr=on|0}} long and {{convert|55|ft|m|abbr=on|1}} wide. It was connected to the ship's hangar by two lifts, with dimensions of  {{convert|54|ft|8|in|m|abbr=on}}&nbsp;× {{convert|31|ft|8|in|abbr=on}} and rated to carry aircraft with a weight of {{convert|35000|lb|kg}}. The hangar itself was {{convert|500|ft|m|abbr=on}} long, with width varying between {{convert|74|and|40|ft|m|abbr=on}} and a height of {{convert|20|ft|m|abbr=on}}.<ref name="hobbscomp125"/> An upward-curved [[Ski-jump (aviation)|ski-jump]] ramp at an angle of 6.5 degrees was fitted at the forward end of the ship's flight deck. This allowed the carrier's Sea Harriers to take off with a higher disposal payload, while shortening the take-off run, leaving more space for [[helicopter]] operations.<ref name="brownp69-0">{{Harvnb|Brown|Moore|2012|pp=69–70}}</ref> The ship had a design air wing of ten [[Westland Sea King]] anti-submarine helicopters and eight [[British Aerospace Sea Harrier]] [[STOVL]] jet fighters.<ref name="jfs79p594"/>

As built, defensive armament consisted of a twin [[Sea Dart]] [[surface to air missile]] launcher in the ship's bows.<ref name="conways47p501"/> 22 Sea Dart missiles were carried.<ref name="brownp68">{{Harvnb|Brown|Moore|2012|p=68}}</ref><ref name="cf86p180">{{Harvnb|Couhat|Baker|1986|p=180}}</ref> A Type 1022 long-range air-search [[radar]] was mounted above the ship's bridge, with Type 909 fire control directors for the Sea Dart system mounted at the fore and aft end of the ship's superstructure. A Type 992 air-surface search radar was mounted on the ship's [[mainmast]], while a Type 1006 navigation radar was also fitted. Type 184 medium range sonar was also fitted.<ref name="conways47p501"/><ref name="cf86p180-1">{{Harvnb|Couhat|Baker|1986|pp=180–181}}</ref>{{#tag:ref|''Invincible'' was the first ship fitted with Type 1022 radar.<ref name="conways47p501"/>|group=lower-alpha}}

===Modifications===
In September 1982, after returning from the Falklands War, ''Invincible'' had her close-in armament supplemented by two [[Phalanx CIWS]] and two [[Oerlikon 20 mm]] anti-aircraft autocannons.<ref name="hobbscompp126">{{Harvnb|Hobbs|1996|p=126}}</ref><ref name="jfs85p620">{{Harvnb|Moore|1985|p=620}}</ref>

During 1986–1989, she underwent a major refit, with several changes to increase the ship's aircraft operating efficiency. The angle of the ship's ski-jump was increased to 12 degrees. Her hangar was modified to allow more aircraft (nine Sea Harriers and twelve Sea Kings) to be accommodated below.<ref name="hobbscompp126"/><ref name="cf90p696">{{Harvnb|Prézelin|Baker|1990|p=696}}</ref>
The ship's overall length increased to {{convert|685.8|ft|m}}. Additional command facilities were fitted and accommodation for another 120 people (aircrew and command staff) was added.<ref name="jfs02p770">{{Harvnb|Saunders|2002|p=770}}</ref> The ship's [[Magazine (artillery)#Naval magazines|magazines]] were enlarged, allowing [[Sea Eagle (missile)|Sea Eagle]] anti-ship missiles for the carrier's Sea Harriers to be carried, while also increasing the number of torpedoes carried for the ship's helicopters. Three [[Thales Group|Thales]] 30&nbsp;mm [[Goalkeeper CIWS]] replaced the Phalanxes. Type 996 air-sea search radar replaced the Type 992 radar, with Type 2016 sonar replaced the Type 184.<ref name="hobbscompp126"/><ref name="cf90p696"/>

In 2000, ''Invincible'' was subject to further modifications to allow her to operate [[British Aerospace Harrier II|Harrier GR.7]]s in a ground-attack role. The Sea Dart launcher was removed and the ship's flight deck was enlarged.<ref name="jfs02p770"/>

== History ==
''Invincible'' was ordered from [[Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd|Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering]] on 17 April 1973, and was [[Keel laying|laid down]] at Vickers' [[Barrow-in-Furness]] on 17 April 1973. The ship's construction was delayed by design changes and industrial action, and ''Invincible'' was not [[Ceremonial ship launching|launched]] until 3 May 1977.<ref name="jfs79p594">{{Harvnb|Moore|1979|p=594}}</ref> The ship was launched by [[Elizabeth II]].<ref name="MarinersMirror">{{cite journal |last1=Bellamy |first1=Martin |date=2022 |title=Editorial |journal=The Mariner's Mirror |volume=108 |issue=4 |pages=387 |publisher=[[The Society for Nautical Research]]|doi=10.1080/00253359.2022.2117453 |s2cid=253161552 }}</ref> She was accepted into Royal Navy service on 19 March 1980 and after trials, formally commissioned on 11 July 1980. More trials and work-up followed for the ship and her air wing followed before she was declared operational on 19 June 1981,<ref name="hobbscomp125">{{Harvnb|Hobbs|1996|p=125}}</ref> joining the fleet's other carrier [[HMS Hermes (R12)|''Hermes'']] in service.

''Invincible''{{'}}s initial air wing consisted of [[801 Naval Air Squadron]], equipped with five [[British Aerospace Sea Harrier|Sea Harrier]]s and [[820 Naval Air Squadron]], equipped with Sea King anti-submarine helicopters.<ref name="faap130,98,393">{{Harvnb|Sturtivant|Ballance|1994|pp=130, 198, 393}}</ref> In August–September 1981, ''Invincible'' took part in the NATO naval exercises "Ocean Venture" and "Ocean Safari".<ref name="hobbscomp125"/><ref>{{cite magazine|title=Anti-submarine exercise Ocean Venture successful |magazine=[[Flight International]]|date=10 October 1981|volume=120|issue=3779|pages=1046–1047|issn=0015-3710|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1981/1981%20-%203130.html}}</ref>

===Proposed sale and Falklands War===
[[File:Invincible 1982.JPG|thumb|''Invincible'' in the South Atlantic, during the Falklands War]]
[[File:HMS Invincible Returns From Falklands War.jpg|thumb|''Invincible'' returns to the [[Solent]] after the Falklands War.]]

Pursuant to the plans announced in the [[1981 Defence White Paper]], on 25 February 1982, after several months of negotiations, the Australian government announced that it had agreed to buy ''Invincible'' for £175 million (285 million [[Australian dollars|A$]]){{#tag:ref|This sum, which was to be payable to two instalments, £90 million in 1982 and the remaining £85 million in 1983, was the direct purchase cost for the ship itself. Spare parts, support costs and a pre-sale refit were expected to push total costs to £295 million.<ref name="fi81528"/>|group=lower-alpha}} as a replacement, under the name {{HMAS|Australia}}, for the [[Royal Australian Navy]]'s {{HMAS|Melbourne|R21|6}}. Australia planned to make minimal changes to the carrier, adding more fuel and replacing some of the ship's computers. Initially at least, it was planned to operate helicopters only.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.harrier.org.uk/history/history_SHARdownunder.htm |title=Sea Harrier Down Under |access-date=2008-05-27 |archive-date=12 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101212110305/http://www.harrier.org.uk/history/history_SHARdownunder.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="fi81528">{{cite magazine |title=Invincible sets sail for Australia |magazine=[[Flight International]] |date=6 March 1982 |page= 528 |volume=121| issue=3800 | issn=0015-3710 |url= https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1982/1982%20-%200554.html?search=Invincible}}</ref> The sale was confirmed by the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Bridget |last=Bloom |author2=Newby, Patricia |title=Protest as Australia buys UK carrier |work=Financial Times |publisher=The Financial Times Limited |page=4 |date=1982-02-26}}</ref>

On 2 April 1982, however, Argentina invaded the [[Falkland Islands]]. Three days later, a naval task force headed by ''Invincible'' and ''Hermes'' left [[HMNB Portsmouth]] bound for the South Atlantic. On 20 April, the UK government formally ordered its defence forces to bring the islands back under British control. Along with eight [[British Aerospace Sea Harrier|Sea Harrier]]s, ''Invincible''{{'}}s air group included twelve Sea King helicopters that were slightly larger than the ship had originally been designed to accommodate. Small machine guns were added around the flight deck and [[Aircraft carrier#Structure|island]] for close-in defence.

On 23 April, while en route from [[Ascension Island]] to the Falklands, ''Invincible'' mistakenly locked her Sea Darts on a [[Varig|VARIG Brazilian Airlines]] [[McDonnell Douglas DC-10|DC-10]] rather than on the [[Argentine Air Force]] [[Boeing 707]] that had been monitoring the fleet's movements.<ref name="Freedman">[[Lawrence Freedman]], ''Official History of the Falklands Campaign'', Volume 2 ({{ISBN|978-0-415-41911-6}}), p.&nbsp;223–224.</ref> The previous day, Task Group Commander [[Sandy Woodward|Rear Admiral Sandy Woodward]] had sought permission from Commander-in-Chief [[John Fieldhouse, Baron Fieldhouse|Admiral Sir John Fieldhouse]] to shoot down the 707<ref name="Woodward">[[Sandy Woodward|Admiral Sandy Woodward]], ''One Hundred Days'' ({{ISBN|978-0-00-713467-0}}), p.&nbsp;143–145. The aircraft had been nicknamed "the Burglar". Woodward believed he had been given permission to shoot it down if came within a certain distance of the task force and could be positively identified, although this course of action had not been confirmed.</ref> as he believed its activity indicated a raid would be launched from the Argentine aircraft carrier {{ship|ARA|Veinticinco de Mayo|V-2|6}}. As the 707 would be no direct threat to the fleet, Woodward ordered [[Weapons Tight]]<ref name="Woodward"/> and the continued tracking of the aircraft's course while a Sea Harrier was dispatched to investigate. The Harrier pilot reported that "it was a Brazilian airliner, with all the normal navigation and running lights on."<ref name="Freedman"/>

On 30 May, two [[Dassault-Breguet Super Étendard]]s, one carrying Argentina's last remaining air-launched Exocet, accompanied by four [[Douglas A-4 Skyhawk|A-4C Skyhawks]] each with two {{cvt|500|lb|kg}} bombs, took off to attack ''Invincible''.<ref name="FreedmanUK)2005">{{cite book|author1=Lawrence Freedman|author2=Lawrence (King's College London Freedman, University of London UK)|author3=Professor of War Studies Lawrence Freedman, Sir|title=The Official History of the Falklands Campaign: War and diplomacy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BEjOdVzx9UcC|year=2005|publisher=Psychology Press|isbn=978-0-7146-5207-8|page=545}}</ref><ref name="burdenp37,113">{{harvnb|Burden|Draper|Rough|Smith|1986|pp=37, 113}}</ref> Argentine intelligence had sought to determine the position of the carriers from analysis of aircraft flight routes from the task force to the islands.<ref name="FreedmanUK)2005"/>  However, the British had a standing order that all aircraft conduct a low level transit when leaving or returning to the carriers to disguise their position.<ref name="Pook2008">{{cite book|author=Jerry Pook|title=RAF Harrier Ground Attack: Falklands|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xuskCwAAQBAJ|date=15 June 2008|publisher=Pen and Sword|isbn=978-1-84884-556-5|page=132}}</ref> This tactic compromised the Argentine attack, which focused on a group of escorts 40 miles south of the main body of ships.<ref name="Morgan2007">{{cite book|author=David Morgan|title=Hostile Skies|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wDtxAAAACAAJ|year=2007|publisher=Phoenix|isbn=978-0-7538-2199-2|page=240}}</ref> When one of the Super Étendards detected a large target on radar, the Exocet was launched, and the Super Étendards turned for Argentina, while the Skyhawks followed the  Exocet, which soon passed out of sight.<ref name="burdenp37,113"/> Two of the attacking Skyhawks<ref name="Morgan2007"/> were shot down by Sea Darts fired by {{HMS|Exeter|D89|6}},<ref name="FreedmanUK)2005"/> with HMS ''Avenger'' claiming to have shot down the missile with her 4.5" gun (although this claim is disputed).<ref name="Southby-Tailyour2014">{{cite book|author=Ewen Southby-Tailyour|title=Exocet Falklands: The Untold Story of Special Forces Operations|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kY_PBQAAQBAJ&pg=PT238|date=2 April 2014|publisher=Pen and Sword|isbn=978-1-4738-3513-9|pages=238–}}</ref>  No damage was caused to any British vessels.<ref name="FreedmanUK)2005"/> During the war, Argentina claimed to have damaged the ship and continues to do so to this day,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fuerzaaerea.mil.ar/conflicto/dias/may30c.html |title=- Fuerza Aérea Argentina |publisher=www.fuerzaaerea.mil.ar |access-date=2009-02-26 |language=es |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090428105838/http://www.fuerzaaerea.mil.ar/conflicto/dias/may30c.html |archive-date=28 April 2009 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> although no evidence of any such damage has been produced or uncovered.<ref>{{cite news |title=Argentine Airpower in the Falklands War: An Operational View |work=Air and Space Power Journal |publisher=Federal Information and News Dispatch, Inc. |date=2002-08-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.britains-smallwars.com/Falklands/Exocet.html |title=Argentine Aircraft in the Falklands |access-date=2009-02-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090223051413/http://www.britains-smallwars.com/Falklands/Exocet.html |archive-date=23 February 2009 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

The aircraft carrier was carrying 10 nuclear depth bombs as part of her standard armament when she deployed for the Falklands, and was [[British nuclear weapons and the Falklands War|one of several]] Royal Navy warships so equipped during the war. The weapons were removed while she was in the South Atlantic during early May 1982.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/4625B8A4-C533-4DAD-9FA5-0BFEE58F8D69/0/op_corporate1982_nuclear_weapons.pdf|title=Operation CORPORATE 1982: The carriage of nuclear weapons by the Task Group assembled for the Falklands campaign|publisher=CBRN Policy, Ministry of Defence|location=London|date=2005|archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20121026065214/http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/4625B8A4-C533-4DAD-9FA5-0BFEE58F8D69/0/op_corporate1982_nuclear_weapons.pdf|archive-date=26 October 2012}}</ref>

On 1 June, the Australian Prime Minister, [[Malcolm Fraser]], advised the British government that the sale of ''Invincible'' to Australia could be cancelled if desired. In July 1983, a year after the end of the Falklands conflict,<ref>The UK formally declared an end to hostilities on 20 June 1982 ({{cite news |title=United Kingdom: Falklands Conflict – A Brief History |publisher=United Kingdom Ministry of Defence |date=2006-11-14}}).</ref> the Ministry of Defence announced that it had withdrawn its offer to sell ''Invincible'' so it could maintain a three-carrier force.<ref>{{cite news |title=Invincible Sale Offer Withdrawn |work=Aviation Week & Space Technology |publisher=McGraw-Hill, Inc. |page=19 |date=1982-07-19}}</ref>

===1983–2005===
In December 1983, ''Invincible'' was refused the use of dry dock facilities in Sydney when the Royal Navy declined to divulge to the Australian authorities whether or not the ship was carrying nuclear weapons.<ref>{{cite news |title=Australia turns back British carrier |publisher=United Press International |date=1983-12-09}}</ref> ''Invincible'' was accompanied by other ships, including {{HMS|Achilles|F12|2}}, during this deployment. She then visited Auckland and Wellington in New Zealand.{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}

Between 1993 and 1995, ''Invincible'' was deployed in the [[Adriatic Sea|Adriatic]] for [[Operation Deny Flight|Operation "Deny Flight"]] and then [[Operation Deliberate Force|Operation "Deliberate Force"]] during the [[Yugoslav Wars]]. In 1997, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral [[Alan West, Baron West of Spithead|Alan West]], [[Commander United Kingdom Task Group]], ''Invincible'' led <!--the Ocean Wave '97--> a deployment that included <!--the Commodore, Amphibious Warfare (COMAW) and--> [[3 Commando Brigade]] [[Royal Marines]]. During the following two years, ''Invincible'' contributed to Operation "Bolton" (part of [[Operation Southern Watch|Operation "Southern Watch"]]) in [[southern Iraq]] before she was redeployed to the [[Balkans]] to support the [[1999 NATO bombing of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|NATO action against Yugoslavia over Kosovo]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Carrier Group Ordered Home |url=http://content.yudu.com/Library/A1y4mz/199906NavyNewsJun99/resources/index.htm?referrerUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com.au%2F |publisher=[[Navy News]] |date=June 1999 |page=4}}</ref> There, while her helicopters aided refugees, her Harriers were involved in military strikes.

In 2003, ''Invincible'' featured in a skit of the BBC show ''[[Top Gear (2002 TV series)|Top Gear]]'' involving [[The Stig]] racing a white [[Jaguar XJS]] on the deck in an attempt to reach 100&nbsp;mph and stop before the end of the runway. The attempt failed, resulting in The Stig and the Jaguar ending up in the sea.

[[File:BAe Sea Harrier FA2.JPG|thumb|left|A Sea Harrier FA2 on the deck of ''Invincible'']]

===2005–2011===
On 6 June 2005, the British Ministry of Defence announced that ''Invincible'' would be inactive until 2010 but available for reactivation at eighteen months' notice. She was decommissioned on 3 August 2005, twenty months after an extensive refit that had been intended to give her ten more years of service.<ref>{{cite news |first=John |last=Ingham |title=Invincible docks for the last time |work=The Express |publisher=Express Newspapers |page=15 |date=2005-08-02}}</ref> {{HMS|Illustrious|R06|2}} succeeded her as the service's [[flagship]]. The Royal Navy maintained that ''Invincible'' could have been deployed had the need arisen and that Navy policy assumed she was still an active aircraft carrier. According to ''[[Jane's Fighting Ships|Jane's]]'', however, ''Invincible'' had been stripped of some parts for her sister ships, so operational readiness would require not only eighteen months but also the replacement or removal of systems from those other ships.

In March 2010, ''Invincible'' was tied up and minimally maintained with other decommissioned ships up-river of HMNB Portsmouth. On 10 September 2010, she was struck off the Naval Reserve List<ref name="reserve">[http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/barrow-built-invincible-thrown-out-of-the-navy-1.765422?referrerPath=home North West Evening Mail] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140913152918/http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/barrow-built-invincible-thrown-out-of-the-navy-1.765422?referrerPath=home |date=13 September 2014 }} Barrow-built Invincible thrown out of the Navy</ref> and, in December, offered for sale by the [[Disposal Services Authority]] (DSA) with tenders due by 5 January 2011.<ref name="sale">{{cite web |title=Sale By Tender – HMS Invincible |work=Disposal Services Authority |access-date=2010-11-30 |url=http://www.edisposals.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/WFS/Disposals-Public-Site/en_US/-/GBP/ViewProductDetail-Start;pgid=MieqQ4wkQg8000ArvQ_8K1sp0000FJeT3HRB?ProductUUID=38jAqBIQwVwAAAEsaApaBWLN&CatalogCategoryID=VaLAqBELPagAAAED8GeasfoP&JumpTo=OfferList |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710171131/http://www.edisposals.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/WFS/Disposals-Public-Site/en_US/-/GBP/ViewProductDetail-Start;pgid=MieqQ4wkQg8000ArvQ_8K1sp0000FJeT3HRB?ProductUUID=38jAqBIQwVwAAAEsaApaBWLN&CatalogCategoryID=VaLAqBELPagAAAED8GeasfoP&JumpTo=OfferList |archive-date=10 July 2011 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Ex-Navy ship HMS Invincible in website auction |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-11872743 |work=BBC News Online |access-date=30 November 2010 |date=30 November 2010}}</ref> The DSA tender documents confirmed that the ship's engines had been removed and that its generators and pumps were "generally unserviceable or not working".<ref name="sale"/> On 8 January 2011, the British press relayed an earlier report in the ''[[South China Morning Post]]'' that a £5-million bid had been made for the ship by the UK-based Chinese businessman Lam Kin-bong with plans to moor her at [[Zhuhai]] or [[Liverpool]] as a floating international school. In light, however, of China's re-arming of the [[Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning|''Varyag'']]{{spaced ndash}}bought under a similar pretext{{spaced ndash}}and the [[EU arms embargo on China]], doubts were raised as to whether such a sale would go ahead.<ref>{{cite news |author=Jonathan Watts |date=8 January 2011 |title=Chinese businessman bids £5m for HMS Invincible |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/jan/07/chinese-businessman-bids-hms-invincible?INTCMP=SRCH |access-date=10 January 2011 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |issn=1756-3224 |oclc=60623878}}</ref>

A month later, in February 2011, BBC News reported that the Ministry of Defence had announced the sale of ''Invincible'' to Leyal Ship Recycling in Turkey. She was towed out of Portsmouth on 24 March<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12848226 |title=HMS Invincible makes final journey to Turkish scrapyard |date=24 March 2011 |work=BBC News |access-date=28 March 2011}}</ref> and arrived at Leyal's [[Aliağa]] yard on 12 April 2011 for scrapping.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.navynews.co.uk/news/1125-crowds-gather-to-see-invincible-towed-out.aspx |title=Crowds gather to see Invincible towed out |date=24 March 2011 |publisher=Navy News |access-date=28 March 2011 }}{{dead link|date=October 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

== Weapons and aircraft ==
[[File:Sea-dart DN-SN-90-08592.jpg|thumb|right|''Invincible''{{'}}s [[Sea Dart]].]]

''Invincible'' initially lacked any close-in weapon systems. As one of the lessons from the Falklands War ''Invincible'' had two 20&nbsp;mm [[Raytheon]] Phalanx close-in weapon systems fitted but these were later replaced by three Thales 30&nbsp;mm Goalkeeper CIWS; there are also two [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon]]s. Countermeasures were provided by a Thales [[Radar jamming and deception|jamming]] system and [[Electronic countermeasures|ECM]] system, [[Seagnat]] launchers provide for [[Chaff (radar countermeasure)|chaff]] or flare [[decoy]]s. Initially the carriers were armed with a Sea Dart missile system, but this was removed to enlarge the flight deck and to allow magazine storage and deck space for [[Royal Air Force]] Harrier GR7s.

After the various refits, the carrier's air group grew from the original planned 5 Sea Harriers and 9 Sea Kings to nine Sea Harrier or Harrier GR7/9s and twelve helicopters (usually all Sea Kings, either [[Anti-submarine warfare|anti-submarine warfare (ASW)]] or [[Airborne Early Warning|Airborne Early Warning (AEW)]] variants). Alternative airgroups were occasionally tested with 16 Harriers and 3 helicopters being embarked. The carrier was equipped with flagship facilities and could provide an operational headquarters for Royal Navy task forces. The runway was {{convert|170|m|ft}} long and included the ship's characteristic ski jump (initially at an angle of 7°, but later increased to 12°).

==Commanding officers==
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
*1979–1982: Captain [[Michael Livesay]] RN
*1982–1983: Captain [[Jeremy Black (Royal Navy officer)|Jeremy Black]] RN
*1983–1984: Captain the Hon. [[Nicholas Hill-Norton]] RN
*1984–1986: Captain Christopher Layman RN
*1988–1990: Captain Michael Gretton RN
*1990–1992: Captain [[John Tolhurst]] RN
*1992–1993: Captain [[Fabian Malbon]] RN
*1993–1995: Captain Richard Hastilow RN
*1995–1996: Captain [[Ian Forbes]] RN
*1996–1997: Captain [[Roy Clare]] RN
*1997–1999: Captain [[James Burnell-Nugent]] RN
*1999–2001: Captain [[Rory McLean]] RN
*2002–2004: Captain [[Trevor Soar]] RN
*2004–2005: Captain [[Neil Morisetti]] RN
{{div col end}}

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book | last1 = Brown | first1 = David K. | last2 = Moore |first2 = George | title = Rebuilding the Royal Navy: Warship Design Since 1945 | year = 2012 | publisher = Seaforth Publishing | location = Barnsley, UK | isbn=978-1-84832-150-2 }}
* {{cite book | last1 = Burden | first1 = Rodney A. |last2= Draper |first2=Michael I. |last3=Rough |first3=Douglas A.| last4=Smith |first4= Colin R. |last5=Wilton |first5=David |title=Falklands: The Air War |year=1986 |publisher=British Aviation Research Group |isbn=0-906339-05-7}}
* {{cite book | last = Childs | first = N. |year=2009| title = The Age of Invincible | publisher = Pen & Sword Books Ltd. | location= Barnsley, UK| isbn = 978-1-84415-857-7 }}
* {{cite book |editor1-last=Couhat|editor1-first=Jean Labayle|editor2-last=Baker|editor2-first=A. D.|title=Combat Fleets of the World 1986/87|year=1986|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland, USA|isbn=0-85368-860-5}}
* {{cite book | editor1-last = Gardiner | editor1-first = Robert |editor2-last = Chumbley | editor2-first = Stephen | title = Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995 | year = 1995 | publisher = Naval Institute Press | location = Annapolis, Maryland, USA | isbn = 1-55750-132-7 }}
* {{cite book |last = Hobbs |first = David | title = Aircraft Carriers of the Royal and Commonwealth Navies | year=1996 | publisher=Greenhill Books | location = London | isbn=1-85367-252-1 }}
* {{cite book | editor-last = Moore |editor-first = John|title = Jane's Fighting Ships 1979–80 |year = 1979 | publisher = Jane's Yearbooks | location = London| isbn = 0-354-00587-1 }}
* {{cite book | editor-last = Moore |editor-first = John|title = Jane's Fighting Ships 1985–86 |year = 1985 | publisher = Jane's Yearbooks | location = London| isbn = 0-7106-0814-4 }}
* {{cite book | editor1-last=Prézelin |editor1-first=Bernard|editor2-last=Baker|editor2-first=A. D. |title=The Naval Institute Guide to the Combat Fleets of the World 1990/91: Their Ships, Aircraft, and Armament |year=1990|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland, USA|isbn=0-87021-250-8}}
* {{cite book |editor-last=Saunders|editor-first=Stephen |title= Jane's Fighting Ships 2002–2003 |year=2002 |publisher=Jane's Information Group|location=Coulsdon, UK |isbn=0-7106-2432-8 }}
* {{cite book |last1= Sturtivant |first1 =Ray | last2 = Ballance | first2 = Theo |title= The Squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm | year = 1994 | publisher = Air Britain (Historians) Ltd | location = Tonbridge, Kent, UK | isbn = 0-85130-223-8 }}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071029073952/http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/server/show/nav.1278 HMS Invincible: Aircraft Carrier]
* [http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/invincible/index.html ''Invincible'' class Aircraft Carrier Information] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080619043019/http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/invincible/index.html |date=19 June 2008 }}
* [http://www.maritimequest.com/warship_directory/great_britain/pages/aircraft_carriers/hms_invincible_r05.htm Maritimequest HMS ''Invincible'' photo gallery]
* [http://www.harrier.org.uk/history/history_SHARdownunder.htm HMS ''Invincible'' Down Under] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101212110305/http://www.harrier.org.uk/history/history_SHARdownunder.htm |date=12 December 2010 }}
* [https://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fuerzaaerea.mil.ar%2Fconflicto%2Fobjetivos_navales.html&langpair=es%7Cen&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&prev=%2Flanguage_tools Argentina's claim to have damaged HMS ''Invincible''.]

{{Invincible class aircraft carrier}}
{{Falklands War British ships}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Invincible (R05)}}
[[Category:Invincible-class aircraft carriers]]
[[Category:Ships built in Barrow-in-Furness]]
[[Category:1977 ships]]
[[Category:Cold War aircraft carriers of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Falklands War naval ships of the United Kingdom]]