HMS Ark Royal returns to port for last time
As the HMS Ark Royal aircraft carrier returns to port for the final time after being decommissioned in the Defence Review, it marks the UK’s exit from an exclusive global club, writes Carl Dinnen.
The Royal Navy flagship sailed back into Portsmouth on Friday on its final journey, after being scrapped in the Coalition Government’s defence review.
The ship’s commanding officer said it was a “sad day” as the ship completed its farewell tour of the UK and was greeted by crowds at Portsmouth Naval Base.
During the tour around the north of England and Scotland’s waters, the Ark Royal had its ammunition removed and four Harrier GR9 pilots took off from the deck for the last time, marking the end of service for the jump jet, which is also being axed in defence spending cuts following the Strategic Defence Review.
Last month the Queen made a farewell visit to the ship at an event to mark its 25 years in service.
Ark Royal Commanding Officer Captain Jerry Kyd said: “There is no question that there is a certain amount of sadness attached to this final deployment.
“But it is also an opportunity for us to celebrate the silver jubilee of this fine ship and for us to show her off once more…I am only too aware that this famous ship and her iconic name mean so much to so many, but although Ark Royal will be decommissioned, the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers are vastly more capable and provide the Royal Navy with an exciting future.”
Click on the image to see more from our Ark Royal photo gallery
Defence cuts
Some have criticised the Government’s decision to make an eight per cent cut to the budget of the Armed Forces, singling out the scrapping of the Ark Royal for particular ire.
In a letter to The Times today, former Labour security minister Lord West wrote: “What will be the next strategic shock? I cannot predict it – nor can the Government. To lose our maritime strike capability in such dangerous times is shortsighted.”
'UK leaving exclusive club'
Six small figures on a flying carpet. In the fog of Portsmouth harbour that's what they looked like, writes Channel 4 News reporter Carl Dinnen, in Portsmouth.
The six were sailors, the carpet was the forward edge of an aircraft carrier's ramp. Then the rest of the Ark Royal followed the six figures into view.
However reluctant one might be to admire military hardware, watching from the snow-covered deck of HMS Dauntless it was unquestionably beautiful and moving. Partly because it was the final return home for the Royal Navy’s flag ship with its famous name (it was to have been called HMS Indomitable but the public wanted an Ark). Partly because this was a distinct moment in the decline of British power.
As HMS Ark Royal returns home to Portsmouth for the very last time, Britain departs, albeit temporarily, the club of nations with aircraft carriers. How many are in it? I spoke to Dr Lee Willett at the think tank RUSI who says there is now maybe only one other nation left with this sort of military capability: the US.
Read more on UK leaving the aircraft carrier nations club
That's smaller than the nuclear club, with fewer in it than there are permanent members of the UN Security Council. So today marks a definable change in the UK's global status, not to mention military clout.
The UK can still send out helicopter carriers and in about ten years time a new aircraft carrier should be setting sail under the white ensign equipped with the latest Joint Strike Fighter. By that time the club maybe a bit bigger; the Chinese would certainly like to join, but until then the UK is not a member.