Members of close combat troop from Delta Company 40 Commando Royal  Marines preparing to board CH 47 Chinook aboard HMS Ark Royal during NTG 03.Picture: LA (PHOT) SEAN CLEE COMATG (PHOT)Members of close combat troop from Delta Company 40 Commando Royal  Marines preparing to board CH 47 Chinook aboard HMS Ark Royal during NTG 03.Picture: LA (PHOT) SEAN CLEE COMATG (PHOT)
Members of close combat troop from Delta Company 40 Commando Royal Marines preparing to board CH 47 Chinook aboard HMS Ark Royal during NTG 03.Picture: LA (PHOT) SEAN CLEE COMATG (PHOT)

30 stunning photos of former Royal Navy flagship HMS Ark Royal

Known as ‘The Mighty Ark’, HMS Ark Royal saw active service in the Bosnian War in the 1990's and later in the 2003 Invasion of Iraq.

HMS Ark Royal was an Invincible-class aircraft carrier and a former Royal Navy flagship, launched for the first time in 1981.

She carried the Harrier Jump Jet aircraft, as well as helicopters and was equipped with a steep ski-jump ramp for the jet take-off.

Ark Royal was decommissioned in March 2011, even though originally she was due to be retired in 2016.

Here is a look into the archives showing the history of HMS Ark Royal.

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