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HMS Illustrious returns to Portsmouth for final time HMS Illustrious returns to Portsmouth for final time
(about 3 hours later)
The Royal Navy's helicopter carrier HMS Illustrious has returned to Portsmouth for the final time.The Royal Navy's helicopter carrier HMS Illustrious has returned to Portsmouth for the final time.
Crowds lined the port to welcome the warship, which will retire after 32 years of service.Crowds lined the port to welcome the warship, which will retire after 32 years of service.
The carrier, which has clocked up 898,893 miles on operations, will be replaced by HMS Ocean, which has just received a £65m refit. The carrier, which clocked up 898,893 miles on operations, will be replaced by HMS Ocean, which has just received a £65m refit.
The Ministry of Defence has invited tenders from private companies and trusts to secure Illustrious's future.The Ministry of Defence has invited tenders from private companies and trusts to secure Illustrious's future.
The ship, carrying its 700-strong crew, gave a gun salute as it arrived at Portsmouth Harbour and military aircraft performed a flypast.
Vice Admiral Sir Philip Jones said: "HMS Illustrious has a long and proud history with the Royal Navy.Vice Admiral Sir Philip Jones said: "HMS Illustrious has a long and proud history with the Royal Navy.
"The decision to replace her in service with HMS Ocean will ensure that the Royal Navy has her most advanced and capable ships working to protect the nation.""The decision to replace her in service with HMS Ocean will ensure that the Royal Navy has her most advanced and capable ships working to protect the nation."
HMS Illustrious, nicknamed Lusty, is the last of the Invincible class of aircraft carriers which included the Ark Royal and Invincible, introduced into the navy in the 1980s. Nicknamed Lusty, HMS Illustrious is the last of the Invincible class of aircraft carriers, which included the Ark Royal and Invincible, introduced into the Navy in the 1980s.
Its entry into service was brought forward so it could assist in the Falklands War effort. Its entry into service was brought forward so it could assist in the Falklands War.
It has also been deployed to conflict zones in Bosnia, Iraq, Sierra Leone and helped aid efforts after Typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippines in December. Warrant Officer Steve Barr, 51, from Fareham, served a total of 15 years on HMS Illustrious and was on board when the ship was commissioned on its way to the Falklands and when it was formally commissioned after its return to the UK.
But the decision to retire the ship has been criticised by specialist publishers Warship World, which said the date had been brought forward due to a "manpower crisis" on other ships. He said: "It was such a good ship that it was commissioned twice, or we like to think so.
"I've got mixed emotions, it's sad but tinged with the fact that it's retiring and I'm retiring next year."
As well as serving in the Falklands, HMS Illustrious was deployed to conflict zones in Bosnia, Iraq, Sierra Leone and helped aid efforts after Typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippines in December.
The decision to retire the ship was criticised by specialist publishers Warship World, which said the date had been brought forward due to a "manpower crisis" on other ships.
In a statement, the publisher said: "The problem goes back many years when recruiting for the Navy was almost halted, when plans to drastically cut it back in size were announced.In a statement, the publisher said: "The problem goes back many years when recruiting for the Navy was almost halted, when plans to drastically cut it back in size were announced.
"The serious effects are only now being felt with sufficient well-trained, experienced engineers now being unavailable for sea service. Replacements cannot be trained overnight.""The serious effects are only now being felt with sufficient well-trained, experienced engineers now being unavailable for sea service. Replacements cannot be trained overnight."
This has been denied by the Navy which said it was an operational decision and part of a long-standing plan.This has been denied by the Navy which said it was an operational decision and part of a long-standing plan.
While its sister ships were sold for scrap, the government has indicated that Illustrious could be turned into a floating museum, as a tribute to the decommissioned class of warship. While its sister ships were sold for scrap, the government has indicated that Illustrious could be turned into a floating museum.