Warfare in News

HMS Illustrious has emerged from her £40m refit as commando carrier and assault ship, taking over from HMS Ocean when she has her own revamp. Lusty is now undergoing thorough training off the South Coast to prepare for her new role.

Illustrious spent most of her 30-year career so far as a launchpad for Harriers, however in 2001 she and HMS Fearless were involved in the early part of the war against the Taliban.

Royal Marines Commandos were ‘launched’ from the aircraft carrier and tasked with taking down a simulated terrorist camp as part of her training, organised by the Flag Officer Sea Training organisation in Devonport, whose experts are testing the 750-plus souls aboard the carrier – ship’s company, tailored air group and embarked forces – through their paces during a two-month-long workout.

Illustrious’ Commanding Officer Captain Jerry Kyd said on Navy News 'Illustrious is very much back in the Fleet and she will very soon be ready for tasking anywhere in the globe.'

HMS [i]Illustrious[/i] has emerged from her £40m refit as commando carrier and assault ship, taking over from HMS [i]Ocean[/i] when she has her own revamp. [i]Lusty[/i] is now undergoing thorough training off the South Coast to prepare for her new role. [i]Illustrious[/i] spent most of her 30-year career so far as a launchpad for Harriers, however in 2001 she and HMS [i]Fearless[/i] were involved in the early part of the war against the Taliban. Royal Marines Commandos were ‘launched’ from the aircraft carrier and tasked with taking down a simulated terrorist camp as part of her training, organised by the Flag Officer Sea Training organisation in Devonport, whose experts are testing the 750-plus souls aboard the carrier – ship’s company, tailored air group and embarked forces – through their paces during a two-month-long workout. [i]Illustrious[/i]’ Commanding Officer Captain Jerry Kyd said on [url="http://navynews.co.uk/archive/news/item/2401"] Navy News [/url] '[i]Illustrious[/i] is very much back in the Fleet and she will very soon be ready for tasking anywhere in the globe.'