THIS WEEK IN 1980: Invincible shows the shape of ships to come
The first carrier to be custom-built for vertical take-off jets, she was to be followed into service by two sister ships, Illustrious and Ark Royal.
After the post-war years in which warship designers concentrated on diminishing dimensions, the emphasis was to restore size and Invincible, towering mightily above other members of the fleet at Portsmouth naval base, showed the shape of things to come.
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Hide AdWithin a few months she would be equipped with nine Sea King helicopters and five Sea Harriers, although her commanding officer, Captain Michael Livesay, estimated she could have carried more than 20 aircraft in wartime.
Although Invincible had been described from the outset of her construction as a ‘through-deck cruiser’, the senior service conceded she was a true aircraft carrier.
First impression of her company was that Invincible had the neatest and tidiest design layout of any ship to join the fleet.