Invincible no more

What a sad sight. Sadly however everything can’t be saved, a shame though as an aircraft carrier would make a great home for a floating museum.

There was a fairly localised campaign going on over the last few years with the aim of returning HMS Invincible to Barrow-in-Furness. Although well supported by their website visitors, they did not seem to have the support of the MOD nor that of a very inward looking and disinterested local authority. Not sure about BAe Systems.

Website here:

http://www.bringinvinciblehome.co.uk/invincible_campaign_home.asp

The name lives on, however, as it is applied to one of Barrow’s Stagecoach Optare Solo minibuses (along with 17 other famous Barrow built ships)! Fleet number 47139 in case anyone needed to know.

What a sad sight. Sadly however everything can’t be saved, a shame though as an aircraft carrier would make a great home for a floating museum.

There was a fairly localised campaign going on over the last few years with the aim of returning HMS Invincible to Barrow-in-Furness. Although well supported by their website visitors, they did not seem to have the support of the MOD nor that of a very inward looking and disinterested local authority. Not sure about BAe Systems.

Website here:

http://www.bringinvinciblehome.co.uk/invincible_campaign_home.asp

The name lives on, however, as it is applied to one of Barrow’s Stagecoach Optare Solo minibuses (along with 17 other famous Barrow built ships)! Fleet number 47139 in case anyone needed to know.

Would agree that Invicible had probably served as a spares source for Ark and Illustrious for some time

I believe that is exactly what she was used for.
IIRC when she was laid up in 2005, the MOD said that they’d keep her ‘mothballed’ for 5 years. Well 6 years is close enough I suppose.

Ironically I had good fortune to fly over her at anchor in the middle of the solent the day before she paid off on 31st July 2005. (I didn’t know that at the time).
She had one harrier on the deck on the ski jump and one sea king with folded blades up against the island.

Would agree that Invicible had probably served as a spares source for Ark and Illustrious for some time

I believe that is exactly what she was used for.
IIRC when she was laid up in 2005, the MOD said that they’d keep her ‘mothballed’ for 5 years. Well 6 years is close enough I suppose.

Ironically I had good fortune to fly over her at anchor in the middle of the solent the day before she paid off on 31st July 2005. (I didn’t know that at the time).
She had one harrier on the deck on the ski jump and one sea king with folded blades up against the island.

It was stored for a few years at Portsmouth, as sad as it is to see it being scrapped, in reality it probably was the best thing for it.

Would agree that Invicible had probably served as a spares source for Ark and Illustrious for some time

It was stored for a few years at Portsmouth, as sad as it is to see it being scrapped, in reality it probably was the best thing for it.

Would agree that Invicible had probably served as a spares source for Ark and Illustrious for some time

Where could you store defence hardware in the UK? :confused:

It was stored for a few years at Portsmouth, as sad as it is to see it being scrapped, in reality it probably was the best thing for it.

Where could you store defence hardware in the UK? :confused:

It was stored for a few years at Portsmouth, as sad as it is to see it being scrapped, in reality it probably was the best thing for it.

Invincible was put up for sale and the highest bid won! Therefore she is being scrapped in Turkey.We do scrap ships in this country -mainly in the North East.

Invincible was put up for sale and the highest bid won! Therefore she is being scrapped in Turkey.We do scrap ships in this country -mainly in the North East.

….and then sink it.

😀 Heh, heh. Nice.

….and then sink it.

😀 Heh, heh. Nice.

Where is she being scraped, Turkey I think. Why the heck can not she have been reduced to scrap in this country ? We used to build the best ships in the world now we can not even take them to bits. Utter madness.

Totally agree that a carrier should have been preserved in the UK, they are big enough not just for aircraft but if presented correctly any form of transport, science or technology could be displayed. If I remember correctly is there a plan to have a floating pontoon on the Thames next to the the London Eye with a “Best of British” theme including the Heathrow Concorde. Invicible in long gone but Ark Royal is now retired and Illustrious is due out of service in a couple of years. Surely the Ark could be moored on the Thames at Greenwich and become an attraction.

Where is she being scraped, Turkey I think. Why the heck can not she have been reduced to scrap in this country ? We used to build the best ships in the world now we can not even take them to bits. Utter madness.

Totally agree that a carrier should have been preserved in the UK, they are big enough not just for aircraft but if presented correctly any form of transport, science or technology could be displayed. If I remember correctly is there a plan to have a floating pontoon on the Thames next to the the London Eye with a “Best of British” theme including the Heathrow Concorde. Invicible in long gone but Ark Royal is now retired and Illustrious is due out of service in a couple of years. Surely the Ark could be moored on the Thames at Greenwich and become an attraction.

Where could you store defence hardware in the UK? :confused:

Where could you store defence hardware in the UK? :confused:

Never understood the British obsession with destroying things.

The Americans put things in storage in case they or their parts are needed again. Everyone else uses their assets until they are worn out. The Brits make a short-sighted decision and then immediately trash useful assets (in case someone else comes along with a better idea?) : Nimrod, TSR2, Intrepid, Invincible….. add your own favourites.

One day this country will lose a major conflict because of this obsession with destroying useful defence hardware.

Never understood the British obsession with destroying things.

The Americans put things in storage in case they or their parts are needed again. Everyone else uses their assets until they are worn out. The Brits make a short-sighted decision and then immediately trash useful assets (in case someone else comes along with a better idea?) : Nimrod, TSR2, Intrepid, Invincible….. add your own favourites.

One day this country will lose a major conflict because of this obsession with destroying useful defence hardware.

What’s a shame is that we didn’t keep her until we had a replacement.

What’s a shame is that we didn’t keep her until we had a replacement.