She was laid down in 1943, but due to WW2 ended launched only in 1950. She was commissioned in February 1955. In 1963, she carried out trials for V/STOL aircraft, the Hawker P.1127. During 1967-1970 she was refitted. On November 9th, 1970 was she collided with a Soviet Kotlin class destroyer while it was shadowing Ark Royal in the Mediterranean. During her career Ark Royal participated in many exercises as part of the British fleet and NATO squadrons, but saw no combat duty. In 1978 she was decommissioned. In 1983 she was scraped.
Aircraft:
Great Britain Blackburn B-103 Buccaneer [ 1 3 4 ]; de Havilland DH.112 Venom [ 2 ]; Hawker Sea Hawk [ 4 ]; Mc.Donnell Douglas F-4 Phantom 2 [ 1 2 ]; Supermarine Scimitar [ 1 2 ]; Fairey Gannet [ 1 ]; Sikorsky S-51/H-5/R-5/HO3S/WS.51 Dragonfly/Widgeon [ 1 ].
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