In this selection you will see a truly extraordinary number of people at her launch at the Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead, one of the last images of her in 1941 before being sunk by German submarine U-18. You can also see happy survivors returning home after the sinking.
There are also some interesting aircraft that flew from her decks during her short operational naval life.
![The Ark Royal, with planes flying around her deck during her patrol. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjQ2YmQwM2EzLTFjZTktNGQ2Zi04NDc1LTcxOTI4ODA2MGY4ZDo2ODc5YjE4OC1lNjE0LTQ2OTEtODVlYS1kYmYzMDM3NmRhN2M=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
5. HMS Ark Royal (91) memories
The Ark Royal, with planes flying around her deck during her patrol. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images) Photo: The News archive
![Josef Beck (1894 - 1944), the Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs, leaving the aircraft carrier 'Ark Royal' at Portsmouth during a visit to England, 6th April 1939. (Photo by Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmY0Y2U3NzUyLTc3YWEtNDQzZS05ZDM1LTUyN2JiYTdhNzc0Mzo2YTJlZGUwNC1kMTYxLTRmZWQtYjE4MS01YzcxNDQ4MTdjOTg=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
6. HMS Ark Royal (91) memories
Josef Beck (1894 - 1944), the Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs, leaving the aircraft carrier 'Ark Royal' at Portsmouth during a visit to England, 6th April 1939. (Photo by Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) Photo: Fox Photos
![Blackburn B-24 Skua dive bomber and fighter aircraft of 800 Naval Air Squadron, on the flight deck of the British aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal, during operations in the Mediterranean, 1941. (Photo by Central Press/Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjYzZTI3MTQwLWIzOTgtNDRkYi1iYWY1LWM1ZWNhNGU1ZDZhZDplZjBmODVlZS04NDk3LTQ1ZjItODllZC0xN2NjNTk0NzY4MGQ=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
7. HMS Ark Royal (91) memories
Blackburn B-24 Skua dive bomber and fighter aircraft of 800 Naval Air Squadron, on the flight deck of the British aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal, during operations in the Mediterranean, 1941. (Photo by Central Press/Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) Photo: The News archive
![24th November 1941: Survivors from the British naval ship the Ark Royal arrive in England. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjdjZjBmYWEwLTViMzUtNDE4MS05NjExLTQ3NjVkOWNjNWY3Yjo4NjQ5ODdlZS1kYTYzLTQzYjktODBjOC03MzQwMzkzODUzMTY=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
8. HMS Ark Royal (91) memories
24th November 1941: Survivors from the British naval ship the Ark Royal arrive in England. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images) Photo: The News archive