HMS Illustrious R06

HMS Illustrious R06 seen here alongside the Northumbria Quay (former Tyne Commissioners Quay), North Shields (North East England) on 25th March 2009. She is on the Tyne for a 5 day courtesy visit.

A return home for "Lusty" as she was built on the Tyne at Swan Hunters Wallsend Yard, having been launched 1st December 1981. She was finished well ahead of her originally planned date due to the outbreak of The Falklands War, however the war was over by the time she was completed. Displacement: 20,600 tons Length: 194 m Beam: 36 m Draught: 7.5 m Propulsion: 4 × Rolls-Royce Olympus TM3B gas turbines providing 97,000 hp (75 MW) 8 Paxman Valenta diesel generators. Speed: 28 knots (52 km/h), 18 knots (33 km/h) cruising Range: 5,000 miles at 18 knots (9,300 km at 33 km/h) Complement: 685 crew 366 Fleet Air Arm Armament: 3 × Goalkeeper CIWS 2 × GAM-B01 20 mm close-range guns Aircraft carried: Sea Harrier FA.2, Harrier GR.7 fighter/bombers; Sea King ASaC, Merlin HM Mk.1 helicopters Motto: Vox Non Incerta (Latin: "No Uncertain Voice") Nickname: Lusty