Sistemas navales

HMS Illustrious (R06)

Also known as
  • Illustrious R06
  • R06 HMS Illustrious
  • Invincible-class aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious
  • Lusty

El HMS Illustrious (R06) fue un portaaviones ligero de la clase Invincible construido por Swan Hunter que entró en servicio con la Royal Navy en 1982 y más tarde sirvió como portahelicópteros y buque de comandos. Registros militares públicos lo vinculan con Operation Southern Watch, Operation Palliser, misiones de la era de Afganistán y operaciones posteriores de evacuación y apoyo, mientras que los registros británicos de disposición documentan su baja en 2014 y su reciclaje en 2017.

HMS Illustrious (R06), Portaaviones ligero y portahelicópteros de la clase Invincible, Sistemas navales
Image source: Wikimedia Commons: HMS Illustrious (R06) seen from USS Independence

Role in Conflicts

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Reino Unido
Built by
Swan Hunter
Type
Portaaviones ligero y portahelicópteros de la clase Invincible
Service note
Servicio en la Royal Navy entre 1982 y 2014
Designed
Década de 1970
Produced
1976-1982
Number built
Un HMS Illustrious; tres buques de la clase Invincible en total

Specifications

Clase
Clase Invincible
Eslora
211 m total
Manga
36 m máxima
Desplazamiento a plena carga
22.000 toneladas
Desplazamiento ligero
16.000 toneladas
Propulsión
Cuatro turbinas de gas Rolls-Royce Olympus TM3B que accionaban dos ejes
Velocidad
Más de 30 nudos
Dotación aérea original
Aeronaves Sea Harrier y Sea King en un grupo aéreo de portaaviones ligero
Capacidad como portahelicópteros
Hasta 20 helicópteros y 600 efectivos completamente equipados tras la conversión de Rosyth de 2011
Defensa cercana de a bordo

Illustrious shifted from a Sea Harrier-era light carrier into a helicopter and commando carrier, so only cataloged aircraft with source-backed shipboard context are linked here.

Carried itemItem typeCarriage evidence
Sea King, Multi-role maritime helicopter, Aircraft & UAVsSea KingShipborne helicopter

Tyne Built Ships lists Sea King aircraft in Illustrious's air group, and GOV.UK records Sea Kings embarked during the ship's 2012 helicopter-carrier training.

Sources: Illustrious 1982, HMS Illustrious Trains in Tough Arctic Conditions

CH-47 Chinook helicopter, Heavy-lift transport helicopter, Aircraft & UAVsCH-47 Chinook helicopterHeavy-lift helicopter

GOV.UK identified Illustrious as the UK's high-readiness helicopter and commando carrier able to deploy Chinook helicopters during her late-service role.

Sources: MOD Seeks Ideas to Preserve HMS Illustrious

AH-64 Apache attack helicopter, Twin-engine attack helicopter, Aircraft & UAVsAH-64 Apache attack helicopterAttack helicopter

GOV.UK reported Apache training aboard Illustrious while HMS Ocean was in maintenance and separately listed Apache among helicopter types the ship could deploy.

Sources: Apaches Return to HMS Illustrious, MOD Seeks Ideas to Preserve HMS Illustrious

AV-8B Harrier II, V/STOL light attack and close-air-support aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsAV-8B Harrier IISTOVL strike aircraft

Illustrious hosted U.S. Marine Harriers during a 2007 U.S.-led joint task force exercise; this link covers that AV-8B-specific exercise, not Royal Navy Sea Harrier service.

Sources: Marines Make History Aboard British Carrier

20mm Mk 15 Phalanx, Shipboard close-in weapon system, Naval Systems20mm Mk 15 PhalanxSistema de armas de defensa cercana

Tyne Built Ships registra el CIWS Vulcan-Phalanx de 20 mm entre las armas originales de a bordo del Illustrious antes de cambios posteriores de modernización.

Unlinked air group limits

Sea Harrier, Harrier GR7/GR9, Merlin, Lynx, Goalkeeper CIWS, and Sea Dart relationships were researched but left unlinked where the catalog lacked a precise public target record.

Sources: Illustrious 1982, HMS Illustrious Begins Training After Refit

Defensa cercana de a bordo
Carried itemItem typeCarriage evidence
20mm Mk 15 Phalanx, Shipboard close-in weapon system, Naval Systems20mm Mk 15 PhalanxSistema de armas de defensa cercana

Tyne Built Ships registra el CIWS Vulcan-Phalanx de 20 mm entre las armas originales de a bordo del Illustrious antes de cambios posteriores de modernización.

Sources: Illustrious 1982

Timeline

HMS Illustrious (R06) Key Events

  1. Quilla colocada en Wallsend

    Tyne Built Ships registra la fecha de colocación de quilla del Illustrious como el 1 de octubre de 1976 e identifica a Swan Hunter Shipbuilders Ltd como el constructor.

    Sources: Illustrious 1982

  2. Botado

    El Illustrious fue botado desde el astillero de Swan Hunter en Wallsend el 1 de diciembre de 1978.

    Sources: Illustrious 1982, Recycling of the Former HMS Illustrious

  3. Completado

    Tyne Built Ships lista la finalización el 20 de junio de 1982, mientras que Defence Equipment & Support registra el buque como parte de la fuerza de portaaviones ligeros de la clase Invincible de la Royal Navy.

    Sources: Illustrious 1982, Recycling of the Former HMS Illustrious

  4. Documentado el despliegue en Operation Southern Watch

    Un registro de imagen del Department of Defense sitúa al Illustrious con el USS John C. Stennis en el golfo Pérsico mientras apoyaba Operation Southern Watch.

    Sources: DVIDS: HMS Illustrious in the Persian Gulf

  5. Comienza Operation Palliser

    Una historia del Australian Army Research Centre fecha Operation Palliser entre el 5 de mayo y el 15 de junio de 2000; historias del gobierno británico identifican al Illustrious con la evacuación de Sierra Leona y el apoyo a Palliser.

    Sources: Rapid Intervention in Sierra Leone, MOD Seeks Ideas to Preserve HMS Illustrious, Recycling of the Former HMS Illustrious

  6. Regreso tras la modernización como portahelicópteros

    GOV.UK informó que el Illustrious regresó a Portsmouth después de un programa de 16 meses y GBP40 millones en Rosyth que modificó el buque para convertirlo en portahelicópteros y buque de comandos.

    Sources: HMS Illustrious Returns After Upgrade

  7. Comienza el entrenamiento posterior a la modernización

    GOV.UK informó que el Illustrious comenzó entrenamiento intensivo como futuro portahelicópteros de guardia del Reino Unido, con aeronaves Lynx y Merlin operando desde su cubierta.

    Sources: HMS Illustrious Begins Training After Refit

  8. Finaliza el servicio operativo

    Defence Equipment & Support registra el 1 de agosto de 2014 como la fecha en que el Illustrious cesó su servicio operativo.

    Sources: Recycling of the Former HMS Illustrious

  9. Dado de baja en Portsmouth

    GOV.UK y Defence Equipment & Support registran la ceremonia de baja del 28 de agosto de 2014 en Portsmouth Naval Base tras una carrera de 32 años.

    Sources: HMS Illustrious Takes Final Bow, Recycling of the Former HMS Illustrious

  10. Remolque final desde Portsmouth

    Defence Equipment & Support registra la salida del antiguo portaaviones de Portsmouth remolcado hacia Leyal Ship Recycling en Turquía.

    Sources: Recycling of the Former HMS Illustrious

  11. Reciclaje completado

    Defence Equipment & Support informó que Leyal había desmantelado y reciclado por completo el antiguo HMS Illustrious para el 22 de junio de 2017.

    Sources: Recycling of the Former HMS Illustrious

Media

HMS Illustrious (R06) Images

HMS Illustrious (R06), Portaaviones ligero y portahelicópteros de la clase Invincible, Sistemas navales - view 1
Source: Wikimedia Commons: HMS Illustrious flight deck with Harrier GR7
HMS Illustrious (R06), Portaaviones ligero y portahelicópteros de la clase Invincible, Sistemas navales - view 2
Source: Wikimedia Commons: Sea King HAS6 taking off from HMS Illustrious
HMS Illustrious (R06), Portaaviones ligero y portahelicópteros de la clase Invincible, Sistemas navales - view 3
Source: Wikimedia Commons: Harrier GR7 on lift of HMS Illustrious
Related Weapon Systems
Upholder/Victoria-class submarine, Diesel-electric patrol submarine, Naval SystemsNaval SystemsUpholder/Victoria-class submarineDiesel-electric patrol submarineThe Upholder/Victoria class is a four-boat Type 2400 diesel-electric submarine line designed in the United Kingdom as the Royal Navy's late-Cold-War successor to the Oberon class. The Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering design was ordered for HMS Upholder in 1983, followed by three Cammell Laird-built boats, but the Royal Navy withdrew the class in 1994 as it moved to an all-nuclear submarine force. Canada acquired the reserve boats in 1998, renamed them as the Victoria class, and rebuilt them around Canadian fire-control, communications, and Mk 48 heavyweight-torpedo requirements. Current Royal Canadian Navy and National Defence material frames the class as Canada's covert underwater-surveillance and deterrence force while Victoria Class Modernization keeps the boats in service into the mid-to-late 2030s.
Sandown class, Single-role minehunter, Naval SystemsNaval SystemsSandown classSingle-role minehunterThe Sandown class is a British single-role minehunter family built by Vosper Thornycroft around a low-signature hull, Type 2093 sonar, remote mine-disposal vehicles, and light self-defense armament. Royal Navy and export ships have served in mine-countermeasures roles with the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Estonia, Ukraine, and Romania; a 2025 House of Commons Library briefing described HMS Bangor as the last Sandown-class vessel in Royal Navy service. Direct conflict sourcing places HMS Sandown in NATO Adriatic ordnance clearance after Operation Allied Force and Sandown-class vessels in coalition route-clearance work around Umm Qasr during the 2003 Iraq War.

Sources

Illustrious 1982Publisher: Tyne Built Ships | Note: Supports HMS Illustrious construction dates, Swan Hunter Shipbuilders Ltd attribution, Wallsend yard, dimensions, propulsion, aircraft, armament, and completion date. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Recycling of the Former HMS IllustriousPublisher: Defence Equipment & Support | Note: Supports Invincible-class background, Swan Hunter context, 2011 conversion capacity, service end, dimensions, and recycling outcome; also directly records HMS Illustrious deployed to Operation Southern Watch in the 1991 Iraqi No-Fly-Zone Conflict, deployed to Operation Palliser in the 1991 Sierra Leone Civil War, and was involved in the 2001 War in Afghanistan. | Accessed: 2026-07-13DVIDS: HMS Illustrious in the Persian GulfPublisher: Defense Visual Information Distribution Service | Note: Directly supports HMS Illustrious operating in the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch during the 1991 Iraqi No-Fly-Zone Conflict and provides public-domain U.S. military image context. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Crisis in Southern Iraq: Operation Southern WatchPublisher: U.S. Air Force via Defense.gov | Note: Supports Operation Southern Watch as coalition enforcement of the southern Iraq no-fly zone, including British participation. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Rapid Intervention in Sierra LeonePublisher: Australian Army Research Centre | Note: Supports Operation Palliser dates, evacuation and stabilization context, and the intervention's place in the Sierra Leone Civil War. | Accessed: 2026-07-13MOD Seeks Ideas to Preserve HMS IllustriousPublisher: Ministry of Defence | Note: Supports Illustrious's late-service helicopter and commando carrier role and deployable helicopter types; also directly records HMS Illustrious supported evacuations during the 1991 Sierra Leone Civil War and was involved in the 2001 War in Afghanistan. | Accessed: 2026-07-13HMS Illustrious Returns After UpgradePublisher: Ministry of Defence | Note: Supports the 2011 Rosyth upgrade, helicopter and commando carrier conversion, capacity for up to 20 helicopters and 600 equipped personnel, and planned role while HMS Ocean refitted. | Accessed: 2026-07-13HMS Illustrious Begins Training After RefitPublisher: Ministry of Defence | Note: Supports post-refit operational sea training, the on-call helicopter carrier role, Lynx and Merlin deck operations, and 22,000-tonne displacement. | Accessed: 2026-07-13HMS Illustrious Trains in Tough Arctic ConditionsPublisher: Ministry of Defence | Note: Supports Illustrious's 2012 Exercise Cold Response role as a helicopter carrier with Sea King and Lynx aircraft embarked. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Apaches Return to HMS IllustriousPublisher: Ministry of Defence | Note: Supports Apache maritime training aboard Illustrious and the ship's on-call helicopter and commando carrier role. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Marines Make History Aboard British CarrierPublisher: Military Quotes forum reproduction of Marine Corps News | Note: Limited secondary/reproduced support for U.S. Marine AV-8B Harriers operating aboard HMS Illustrious during a 2007 joint task force exercise; used only for that relationship note. | Accessed: 2026-07-13HMS Illustrious Takes Final BowPublisher: Ministry of Defence | Note: Supports the 28 August 2014 decommissioning ceremony, 32-year career, and transition of the helicopter carrier role to HMS Ocean. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Wikimedia Commons: HMS Illustrious (R06) seen from USS IndependencePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports the primary image provenance and public-domain U.S. military licensing context. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Wikimedia Commons: HMS Illustrious flight deck with Harrier GR7Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports public-domain U.S. Navy provenance for a gallery image showing Harrier flight-deck operations aboard HMS Illustrious. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Wikimedia Commons: Sea King HAS6 taking off from HMS IllustriousPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports public-domain U.S. Navy provenance for a gallery image of Sea King helicopter operations from HMS Illustrious. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Wikimedia Commons: Harrier GR7 on lift of HMS IllustriousPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports public-domain U.S. Navy provenance for a gallery image of a Harrier GR7 on HMS Illustrious's aircraft lift. | Accessed: 2026-07-13