15 Nov 06
An Apache attack helicopter has been landed on an Invincible-class aircraft carrier for the first time, marking another milestone in the return to service of the carrier HMS Ark Royal.
The aircraft, from 667 Squadron Army Air Corps, landed on Ark Royal as she lay alongside at Portsmouth Naval Base for ship-air integration trials. The Apache was moved around the flight deck and lowered on one of the aircraft lifts into the ship's hangar, giving Ark Royal's aircraft handlers experience in dealing with the type.
The carrier returned to Portsmouth on 28 October 2006 after completing a £20-million refit in Rosyth, which included conversion to operate the devastatingly powerful Apache. The helicopter was designed to operate from land, but has been operated successfully by the helicopter carrier HMS Ocean.
This, the fifth vessel to bear the name Ark Royal, was launched by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, having been built at Swan Hunters Ship Builders' yard, Wallsend, in December 1978, and was accepted into service on 1 July 1985. Head of Ark Royal's Air Department, Commander Keith Muir, said:
"Having the Apache on board was another milestone in Ark's return to operational status. It will contribute significantly to our ability to embark, sustain and operate the Apache and to deploy its potent capability from the sea as part of an agile mission group, wherever and whenever it is most needed."
Head of the Air Engineering Department, Commander Andy Lison, said the trial had shown that the Apache can be supported and operated from an aircraft carrier and underlined Ark's versatility:
"We look forward to welcoming Apaches back on board soon," he said.
Another notable visitor to the ship the day after the Apache trial was Rear Admiral Alan Massey, Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff. As a Captain, Admiral Massey was Ark Royal's commanding officer during the Iraq war.
The reason for his visit was twofold: to see for himself the ship's regeneration effort and to join her in commemorating the anniversary of the Fleet Air Arm's crushing raid on Mussolini's fleet at Taranto in 1940. To mark the occasion two RAF Tornado aircraft overflew the carrier.
While on board Admiral Massey met members of the ship's company and presented Long Service and Good Conduct Medals to Chief Petty Officer Fuzzard, Petty Officer Blackburn and Leading Air Engineering Technician Wilson.
