And despite work being greatly sped up, the war was won before she could be finished.
HMS Illustrious did perform a useful service in the aftermath of the Falklands War.
She was the fifth warship and the second aircraft carrier to have the name Illustrious.
The crew of HMS Illustrious knew her by the affectionate nickname Lusty.
In the 1990s she was deployed to Iraq for Operation Southern Watch and Bosnia for Operation Deny Flight.
Then in 2000 HMS Illustrious was deployed to Sierra Leone for Operation Palliser.
After 32 years’ service, she was formally decommissioned on 28 August 2014 but she wasn’t replaced until HMS Queen Elizabeth's commissioning in 2017.
MORE RETRO PHOTOS: HMS Invincible life in pictures | Southsea in the 00s | Gunwharf over the years
9. Aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious
A heavy weapon machine gun is pictured on HMS Illustrious back in May 10, 2013. Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Photo: The News archive
10. Aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious
Crew member ETME Turnley seen working in the engine room onboard HMS Illustrious in May 10, 2013 Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Photo: The News archive
11. Aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious
Equipment is lowered into the hull on HMS Illustrious May 10, 2013. Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Photo: The News archive
12. Aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious
A crew member seen walking down a stairwell on HMS Illustrious May 10, 2013 Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Photo: The News archive