After a £40m revamp, Britain’s only aircraft carrier returned to sea on the 3rd June to start down the year-long road back to front-line duties, and is now a helicopter asault ship.

HMS Illustrious hasn’t been seen at sea since the beginning of 2010 when she sailed to Rosyth for a 16-month refit.

Lusty was due to emerge from her refit as the nation’s strike carrier, taking over from HMS Ark Royal, however last autumn’s defence review put an end to those plans – and saw Ark Royal axed as well as her Harriers, the review also meant Lusty's refit plans had to be re-drawn; and instead of returning from Rosyth as a Harrier carrier, Lusty will return to business as a helicopter assault ship, relieving HMS Ocean.

Work carried out since the revamp began early last year includes super-efficient paint applied to the hull which will mean the 20,000-ton warship will cut through the ocean faster – cutting her fuel bill in the process.

Living quarters have been spruced up, the latest MOD computer system (DII) fitted throughout the ship – no mean task as Illustrious was designed in the pre-personal computer age – 500m of pipework replaced, plus 650 valves and all eight exhausts.

Lusty’s sailors have been conducting extensive training: fire and flood, duty watches, firearms, personal protection, engineering trials, machinery brought back to life, the ops room, flight deck and hangar restored to normal.
At the same time Illustrious’ soul has been revived by personalising mess spaces, sporting activities, morning prayers and Sunday services, and the daily rituals of Colours and Sunset.

Lusty is due to take over from HMS Ocean as the nation’s on-call helicopter carrier from the summer of 2012.

RIP the Harrier!