Admiral tells of his sadness as iconic Illustrious set for scrap

ADMIRAL Sir Jock Slater has told of his sadness over the dismal future faced by the former HMS Illustrious.
Admiral Sir Jock SlaterAdmiral Sir Jock Slater
Admiral Sir Jock Slater

The iconic aircraft carrier has been moored at Portsmouth Naval Base since she was decommissioned in 2014.

Despite bids to save the Royal Navy flagship and transform her into a hotel or tourist attraction, she is now destined for the scrapyard later this year, as revealed by The News.

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Now, her first commanding officer has told of his dismay at Lusty’s future.

Speaking this week the navy’s former First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Jock Slater said: ‘I am not at all surprised because I understood fully just exactly what it would cost in the long run.

‘But I’m very sad nevertheless. There are thousands of sailors, Marines, Royal Air Force people, army people who served in this Illustrious – Illustrious five as she was called – will be very sad to see her go.’

Illustrious served the navy for 32 years and is Britain’s last working aircraft carrier.

The UK’s newest aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth, is due to arrive in Portsmouth in late spring of next year.

She will be followed a few years by her sister ship HMS Prince of Wales.