They Lowered Her Ensign Today for the Last Time
God speed. We salute her valiant service and her fighting crew.
Thank you, our good, stalwart, magnificent friend.
In a sorry, sorry side note to her decommissioning…
…The Navy will now not have the capibility to to fly fixed-wing aircraft from sea for about 10 years until the first of the next generation of aircraft carriers come into service.
UPDATE: Pictures from the ceremony here.
Makes Ya Barf, Military Thingies | tree hugging sister | 
March 11, 2011 10:35 am
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So much for British Naval power. Hmmm, wonder if the Argentinians are taking note?
No doubt about THAT, Major Dad.
I read a couple years back that the British gov’t. planned to reduce the Royal Navy to coastal defense. Looka like that’s true. RIP, one of the world’s great military organizations.
Coastal Defense! No country is going to invade them, and if they do, a couple of carriers isn’t going to stop them.
Why are they pushing for a no fly zone in Libya? What are they and the French going to do, fly fleet protection while American pilots get shot at?
Her Harriers had been mothballed a few months ago, sadly. they have 2 carriers under construction, which will fly F-35/Rafale/Sea Typhoon.
The Brits can easily fly from Gibraltar to Libya.
There has been an Ark Royal since 1588 (attack of the Spanish Armada). How can they break that tradition? What a sad day.
NJSue, I believe the new Ark Royal is a Meals on Wheels in Euston.
If the new carriers get built and if aircraft are bought for them. Britain needs the money for welfare dontcherknow. There’s no money for Navy ships or RAF fighter planes or Gurkha riflemen, but lots for MOD bureaucrats, fanatical Islamist Imams on the dole, and NHS administrators. National defense is an unimportant task for a modern government, especially when Britain is likely to become Anglistan in the not too distant future.