HMS Ark Royal will be replaced with the new Queen Elizabeth Class carriers The axed aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal will be decommissioned at a ceremony later in its home base of Portsmouth.
The warship was scrapped after 25 years’ service as part of the government’s defence budget review.
It will leave the navy without the capability of launching fixed wing aircraft until replacements come into service at the end of the decade.
The vessel’s white ensign will be lowered for the final time at a special ceremony in front of honorary guests.
The ship’s last remaining 150 sailors on board will take part in the event in front of about 900 guests including families and former commanding officers.
Principal guest will be First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, who will inspect a guard comprising 30 ship’s company.
The service will be conducted by the ship’s chaplain, the Reverend Martin Evans, with music from the Royal Marines Band, Portsmouth.
“ I have been exceptionally proud to serve as her captain”
Captain Jerry Kyd
Captain Jerry Kyd, the last Commanding Officer of HMS Ark Royal, said: “Ark Royal has played a very important role throughout her history and has had considerable success in delivering carrier strike.
“For me, personally, I have been exceptionally proud to serve as her captain – my very first job after finishing my initial officer training 25 years ago at Dartmouth was in the then brand new HMS Ark Royal.
“It is therefore a great honour for me to have been her last captain.”
Ark Royal was built at the Swan Hunter ship yard in Wallsend, North Tyneside, in December 1978 and was launched by the Queen Mother.
She also accepted it into service in July 1985 and it was commissioned in November of that year.
The Queen bid farewell to the Royal Navy carrier at a ceremony in November last year.
Capt Kyd, who now commands sister ship HMS Illustrious, added: “I am only too aware that this famous ship and her iconic name mean a great deal to many people.
“Although Ark Royal will be decommissioned, the new Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers are vastly more capable and will provide the Royal Navy with an exciting future.”
Operations have included leading the UK’s naval forces during the invasion of Iraq, with a fleet of helicopters embarked.
The current ship is the fifth vessel to carry the name and has clocked up 621,551 nautical miles during its career.
The first Ark Royal saw battle in 1588 and smashed the Spanish Armada.
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