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| Ark Royal leaves Portsmouth for scrap yard | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Large crowds are expected to gather in Portsmouth later to watch aircraft carrier Ark Royal leave the port for the final time. | |
| The Royal Navy's former flagship was decommissioned early following the 2010 defence review and is being towed to Turkey for scrap. | The Royal Navy's former flagship was decommissioned early following the 2010 defence review and is being towed to Turkey for scrap. |
| As part of a £2.9m deal she will go to the same yard that took her sister ship Invincible. | As part of a £2.9m deal she will go to the same yard that took her sister ship Invincible. |
| Former crew members are expected to watch as she leaves at about 13:00 BST. | Former crew members are expected to watch as she leaves at about 13:00 BST. |
| The Invincible Class aircraft carrier saw active service in Bosnia and led UK naval forces during the invasion of Iraq in 2003. | The Invincible Class aircraft carrier saw active service in Bosnia and led UK naval forces during the invasion of Iraq in 2003. |
| Formally decommissioned in 2011, the Harrier jets that flew from Ark Royal were sold as spares to the US. | Formally decommissioned in 2011, the Harrier jets that flew from Ark Royal were sold as spares to the US. |
| BBC defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt said the move was heavily criticised at the time. | BBC defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt said the move was heavily criticised at the time. |
| New carriers using the joint strike fighter will not enter service for nearly 10 years. | New carriers using the joint strike fighter will not enter service for nearly 10 years. |
| A bid to sink Ark Royal and turn it into an artificial diving reef off the Devon coast was rejected as were plans for a commercial heliport in London, a nightclub and school in China and a casino in Hong Kong. | A bid to sink Ark Royal and turn it into an artificial diving reef off the Devon coast was rejected as were plans for a commercial heliport in London, a nightclub and school in China and a casino in Hong Kong. |
| The Ministry of Defence said the bids were judged either "not feasible or appropriate", or carried "too much risk". | The Ministry of Defence said the bids were judged either "not feasible or appropriate", or carried "too much risk". |