HMS Illustrious
Wearsiders were treated to an unusual spectacle a few weeks ago when the Royal Navy's strike carrier, HMS Illustrious and Royal Fleet Auxiliary's fleet replenishment ship, RFA Fort Rosalie, dropped anchor outside Sunderland Harbour.
Both vessels arrived off port on the evening of Saturday, July 12, after manoeuvres involving training and replenishment in the North Sea.
Fort Rosalie had earlier rendezvoused with Illustrious and her support tanker, RFA Orangeleaf, before carrying out helicopter and navigational exercises.
These were followed by replenishment at sea operations, during which Fort Rosalie supplied the aircraft carrier with general naval stores and munitions.
HMS Illustrious is one of three aircraft carriers in the Royal Navy's fleet, the others being sister-ships Ark Royal and Invincible, which has been in reserve at Portsmouth since 2005.
All three vessels will eventually be replaced by two new super carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, which will be the largest and most powerful surface ships ever constructed for the Royal Navy.
Laid down at Swan Hunter's Wallsend yard in 1976, Illustrious was launched in 1981 and completed the following year.
At 209 metres long and displacing 22,000 tonnes, she is powered by four gas turbine Olympus engines giving her a top speed of over 30 knots.
She can accommodate a variety of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft tailored to the requirements of specific missions.
Fort Rosalie's role is to replenish Royal Navy warships with dry stores such as food, spare parts and ammunition while underway.
This requires her to steam alongside a warship and transfer stores along a cable rigged between the two vessels.
She is also equipped with a large flight deck and hangar, which allows operation of Sea King helicopters to transfer stores from ship to ship.
Launched by Scott Lithgow on the River Clyde in 1976 as RFA Fort Grange, the 20,043 gross tons ship entered service in 1978, being renamed Fort Rosalie in 2000.
Both ships left the anchorage on the morning of Sunday, July 13.
Another Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship, RFA Mounts Bay, had been expected to provide a backdrop for the July 25/26 Sunderland International Airshow and take part in a spectacular demonstration by Royal Marines and Naval personnel.
Unfortunately, the landing ship dock's visit was cancelled, leaving the display without its usual naval presence.
Although not an aircraft carrier, the port did receive a visit from a similarly named vessel when the 2,305 gross tons platform supply vessel, FD Invincible, berthed at Sheers Quay on July 14 for a two-week lay up.
Operated by Gulf Offshore North Sea, the vessel was fresh out of A & P Tees Ltd's No 1 Dry dock at Middlesbrough. She sailed for Aberdeen on August 1.
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Weather for Sunderland
Friday 10 February 2012
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Temperature: -3 C to 2 C
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