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MIL022 -  Edition 2,000

  HMS Illustrious

The first HMS.Illustrious, a third rate 74 gun frigate was launched at Buckler's Yard in 1789 and saw action against the French off Toulon in 1793 and Genoa in 1795. In the latter action she was instrumental in the capture of two enemy war ships but suffered severe damage, and under tow was driven ashore by violent storm and abandoned after being set ablaze.
The second Illustrious, also a 74 gun frigate, was launched at Rotherhithe in 1803, she had a long career winning battle honours at Basque Roads and Java before becoming a training ship in 1854. She was broken up in Portsmouth in 1868.
The third Illustrious, a battle ship with 12 and 6 inch guns was launched in 1896, already obsolete in 1914, she spent most of the war as an Ammunition Store Ship and was scrapped in 1921
The fourth Illustrious was one of the most distinguished ships in the 1939-1945 war, the first of a new class of aircraft carrier, she was commissioned in 1940 and her first theatre of action was the Mediterranean in defence of the vital Malta Convoys. On 11th November 1940 twenty Swordfish from HMS Illustrious attacked the Italian's most important naval base at Taranto inflicting severe damage on the enemy and tilting the balance of sea power in the Mediterranean in the Allies favour.
Early in 1941 she survived a heavy attack by Stuka dive bombers, but suffered extensive damage and many casualties, she was re-fitted in America and returned to active duty late in 1941 playing a major role in operation off Diego Suarez, Salerno and Sumatra, her final action was in support of the American landing at Okinawa. After the war she became a trails and training ship before being laid up in 1954 and finally scrapped in 1957.