The British 'Cold War Carrier' - HMS Eagle R05

HMS Eagle was laid down during WW2 but served the UK and NATO into The Cold War and the jet age.
In the final years of World War Two, the British Royal Navy had begun construction of the Audacious Class of aircraft carriers. The 4 ships were HMS Audacious, HMS Irresistible, HMS Africa and HMS Eagle.
The were designed to help win the war but also to accommodate the larger, next generation of aircraft that were in development.
They were not completed by the end of world war 2 and due to financial restraints, HMS Africa and HMS Eagle were cancelled.
HMS Irresistible and HMS Audacious would continue however and were renamed Ark Royal and Eagle, after previous lost carriers.
These aircraft carriers would help develop the British Royal Navy and their carrier fleet technology and see large changes to aviation at sea. From propeller driven aircraft and into the jet age with the McDonnel Douglas F4 Phantom.
She would see action in the Suez Crisis as well as playing her part in major NATO exercises as the cold war intensified.
Several refits and rebuilds would see the evolution of the angled flight deck as well as optical landing systems.
HMS Eagle was a formidable aircraft carrier that helped develop military aviation at sea and moved most definitely into the jet age.
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Credits & Attributions
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[@russbetts1467]

I had an uncle who was a CPO on Eagle. Whilst she was in Gibraltar during 1958, I spent 3 days onboard with my father, who was an Armament Supply Officer, stationed in Gibraltar. Several boys - whose fathers also worked in Gibraltar Dockyard - also got the chance to go to sea, whilst the Eagle was 'Compass Swinging', in the Mediterranean following repair, having been damaged by HMS Vanguard. We had a great time, riding up and down on the Aircraft Lifts and were each given a ride in a Fairy Gannet. Happy Memories, as were all my years in Gibraltar.

[@keithmiller9665]

Whatever happened to the UK’s armed forces, one short sighted money saving exercise after another. Incredibly sad.

[@theproudicelander]

Tory obsession with cutting anything and everything paid for by state, to include police and the armed forces which usually conservatives ally thenselves with

[@grahamstrouse1165]

Without the empire the UK can’t afford much of a military.

[@FallenPhoenix86]

@@grahamstrouse1165 Would you like to compile a list of countries currently operating SSN's, SSBN's and > 1x CV? You'll find the UK is on said list... very few others will be.

[@dominicc3521]

Its rather humorous. We cut our military spending and numbers every 5 years or so and as of now, we have sent lots of arms and munitions to Ukraine. Now for the humorous bit. The GOV and MOD have said that we are now running out of supplies and arms for our own troops. Meaning we’re not ready for any conflict at the moment.

[@alastairward2774]

@@dominicc3521 helping Ukraine fight Russia is a decent use of stocks, puts Russia off using them in parts of eastern Europe where NATO would be obliged to intervene.

[@calibrazxr750]

My father was serving on the Eagle in 1969, which enabled my parents to have me christened on it by the padre. Something I only discovered years later when i found my christening certificate while going through some old papers and photos.

[@colinfoster5632]

Your name may well be on the ships bell as well. Mine is but on HMS lMaryton a mine sweeper!! Slightly smaller than Eagle!!

[@mattrandle423]

My late father John (Brian) Randle served on Eagle during suez, as a young boy i went out to the Eagle in 1976 moored in the Tamar and me and a friend climbed on the pontoons surrounding her and climbed the staircase attached to the side, I took some of the deck badges off her with a knife, we couldn't access the flight deck or any other part of the ship, just the area where the stairs were attached. When i got home and showed my dad, amazingly it was the deck and section where he was stationed, during his time on board.

[@johnappleby405]

Great to see the comments on here fascinating stuff thank you

[@Sh_rib]

Nice to see a video of HMS Eagle, often playing second fiddle to HMS Ark Royal.

[@dkoz8321]

Narration by Paddy O'Neil from County Claire, Ireland is just precious.

[@torch8922]

I flew off of Eagle (Sea Vixens) and the Ark Royal (Phantoms). Eagle was the better ship.

[@red.5475]

The logic of the Royal Navy in keeping the Ark Royal(with unreliable propulsion) in service, instead of Eagle escapes me. The excuse that Eagle would have needed a major refit to be able to embark the Phantom is flimsy, at best, since Phantom trials had taken place on Eagle herself. Had Eagle, or even Ark Royal been available for the Falklands conflict, equipped with Phantoms and Fairey Gannet AEW aircraft, the outcome would have been decided much quicker, in the Royal Navy's favor.

[@janneroz-photographyonabudget]

Was it something to do with the power supply? The Ark was AC/DC whereas the Eagle was only DC. I'm probably getting it all arse about face, but I'm sure that was something to do with it.

[@FallenPhoenix86]

​@@janneroz-photographyonabudget The theory I lean on is cost. Ark was going to take a lot more to successfully "Phantomise", so the admirals figured they'd do her first and then if/when the bean counters got twitchy it would be easier to justify the relatively small additional sum required to bring Eagle to the same standard. As it transpired it wasn't easy and we ended up upgrading the far more clapped out option at considerable expense.

[@janneroz-photographyonabudget]

In addiction, if they'd had Bucks too, the Argentines would have suffered immensely.

[@FallenPhoenix86]

@@janneroz-photographyonabudget I'm of the opinion the war simply wouldn't have happened. The carriers could have stayed so far out that Argentina would have been completely unable to threaten them, whilst still providing vastly more capability that the FRS.1/GR.3 offered historically.

[@rookonolastnamejustthisone7146]

Spot on, I was on Eagle 67 to 69 flight deck party, then to Yeovilton 69. Wish I had re-commissioned on there for a second time.

[@adrianhutchings3377]

Great video. In 1959, as a 7-year-old, I went to lunch on board HMS Eagle when she was anchored in Grand Harbour, Malta. My father was a Lt Comm based in HMS Phoenicia, Manoel Island. Somehow, he wangled a trip for us out to the carrier in the Admiral's launch (from Fort St Angelo). A memorable day out for a 7-yr old!

[@MegaDadH]

I was lucky enough to have seen HMS Eagle as it was moored in the Tamar in 1977, it was an imposing yet sad sight to see a once magnificent ship, slowly decomposing . Great Vid!

[@tee2899]

I remember it well

[@allgood6760]

HMS Eagle visited NZ in the early 70's... I been interested ever since.. thanks from NZ 👍🇳🇿

[@andyreid8969]

As a young boy, I had a bedroom window that overlooked the Eagle in the Tamar, until she was replaced by the Ark.

[@paulwestwood4417]

It was sad to see HMS Eagle decommissioned after visiting her during Plymouth Navy Days in the early 70s. At school I was part of a group of enthusiasts who speculated about her replacement, but we were disappointed. Only now are the super carriers with us again. I hope too, I can visit HMS Queen Elizabeth or HMS Prince of Wales.

[@JoJo-dp3di]

Yes, remember this well.

[@Gfc22]

I lived not far from the Tamar and saw Eagle often during her reserve years. Navy Days were amazing especially when I was 8 years old.

[@stephenchappell7512]

It had already been decided that she wasn't going to be replaced however the navy was going to get a new class of 'cruiser'..............

[@tonywilson6032]

We took the first buccaneer’s (801 nas) on Victorious in ‘64/‘65 then I spent ‘66 to ‘69 on the Eagle in the air engineering department servicing the awd flightdeck tractors and spare engines then if things couldn’t get any worse I ended up on the Blake with the first Seakings (820 nas) - now that was a disaster waiting to happen. It’s nice to see the ‘bigger picture’ rather than just banging my head on the deck heads of the 1940’s height corridors ( sailors were shorter in them days). Very informative.

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

I always hope to speak to people who actually served on the ships that I cover. Thanks very much for your service and your comment.

[@lanse77lithgow]

Had Eagle been upgraded n kept in service with Ark Royal , there would not have been the Falklands War.

[@RayyMusik]

Because …?

[@dovetonsturdee7033]

@@RayyMusik Because the Argentinians did not believe that the British would risk sending a Task Force with inadequate air cover, and they did not believe that the Sea Harrier alone could provide such cover. A large carrier with Phantoms as part of her air group was a different matter. They should have waited a few months longer, until the loathsome John Nott had progressed his planned evisceration of the Royal Navy, in any case.

[@eyesofisabelofficial]

Argentina's plans formed during the 1960's, spurned on by a UN declaration of the right to self determination, and whilst Argentina saw themselves as the "Little man" they clearly ignored that same right for the islanders. Another contributing factor was India's military success in throwing Portugal out their Indian Colony of Goa. This inspired Jorge Anaya, a Junior in the Argentine Admiralty, that a David could indeed take on a Goliath and win. There was even a successful submarine covert beach recon at Cape Pembroke in 1966. At this time there where three "Protest" air incursions into the Islands, the largest being a DC-4 which landed at Stanley racecourse, also in 1966, and two by an Argentine gentleman by the name of Fitzpatrick (or Fitzgerald I forget), one in 1965 and the other in 1967, in which he would only surrender to the catholic priest on the island, thus underlining the claim by Bueno Aires, tying it to catholic South America not a distant Protestant land. At the same time both sides carried on negotiating over sovereignty. This peeked with a visit by Lord Chalfont, out of which a joint Air Bridge was established in 1971, but by then Britain had become distracted in Northern Ireland. The Air Bridge staff where Argentines, now permanently based on the Islands. The Argentines opened a secret Ice Station on Southern Thule in 1976 and launched an actual invasion task force in 1977. The british response was "Operation Journeyman" headed by the nuclear powered submarine HMS Dreadnought, which successfully turned them back. The Argentines themselves became distracted by a dispute with Chile over the Beagle Channel in 1978, which was only resolved in 1981, enabling Admiral Jorge Anaya to get on with his now rescheduled invasion in 1982. Our carrier situation played little or no part in their plans. ​ @doveton sturdee Alas John Nott seemed unaware of any of this.

[@thecurlew7403]

@@dovetonsturdee7033 What about the 3 carriers cancelled 50 000 tons with sea dart and cats with phantoms and prob f 18 hornets .

[@dovetonsturdee7033]

@@thecurlew7403 They didn't exist.

[@erikvangarderen1455]

I miss her 1967-1968 journey entirely. She was present at the Aden withdrawal and has visited Fremantle, Singaport, Tokyo, The COcos Islands, Gan, etc. That commision also gave new crewmembers the opportunity to gain both the Neptune certificate and the Bluenose certificate.

[@tomhouston9021]

As a student in the late seventies, I remember seeing HMS Eagle being dismantled in Loch Ryan. I took the Larne-Stranraer ferry past her at the start & end of each term.

[@Lionofjuda957]

I spent many a happy day working on the Eagle at Devonport. I was the trade of Shipwright.

[@dennisclark8003]

I was on Eagle from 66-68 as an EM/LEM.POCEl. We covered the withdrawal from Aden, swanning up and down the gulf, waiting for something to happen but mostly RASing and providing fresh bread to other ships from our bakery at 4E and visited Cape Town , twice on the way out then back , and a jolly to Fremantle where we had the biggest ship's company dance ever. Happy Days indeed

[@erikvangarderen1455]

You must have known my father in law, John Jessop, he was the XO with John Pope as the cpatain.

[@gedcarstairs2659]

I joined the Navy in 1973 and HMS Eagle was laid up in Portsmouth seeing her most days.

[@robertbate5790]

My claim to fame, I went aboard HMS Eagle before I was born. It would have been in 55 just before she was deployed, at a Navy Open Day. Apparently the ferry my parents were on was almost capsized when everyone rushed to one side to see the ship as they approached. Although I was regaled with tales of this incident I didn't realise she was in service so long. I tried to join the Navy on leaving school in 1972 but failed the entrance exam, so I went to work for BR. Thanks for another great presentation. 👍👍👍👍👍

[@WhoDaresWins-B20]

As a boy in the early 1950s I remember HMS Eagle, and ads were being posted in comic books for naval personnel - Eagle was the pin up ship. As I got to 14 years of age and nearing 15 years of age which meant that I could have enlisted in the RN, my father decided to migrate to Australia. In 1961, I enlisted in theRoyal Australian Army (actual enlistment age was 17 years but I back dated my DOB by 2 years. Poor old dad thought the Australian forces were the same as the British Forces and signed the enlistment papers for me. I enjoyed my time in the services and still maintain contact with my old Regimental mates.

[@welfordxxx]

My father was an RAF photographic interpreter stationed with NATO in Naples for the latter half of the 1950s. I had the pleasure of having a birthday party on HMS Eagle (not sure which year!) when she visited Naples. Also toured HMS Ark Royal in Naples. As a kid I had hatbands from both, sadly long gone now. I remember them with great affection.

[@montyzumazoom1337]

My late father in law was on the Implacable as part of the British Pacific fleet in WW2 He was a fleet air arm observer, rising to the rank of Lieutenant commander.

[@SteveBayliss-ji1qy]

Joined H.M.S. Eagle in 1967 during the refit when we used H.M.S. Centaur as the accommodation ship, I thought being on a frigate was cramped, but the Centaur beats all... I was an A/LREM at this stage and spent one of my most enjoyable periods whilst in the Andrew (apart from Mauritius 🙂) where I was under a great CREL (wish I could remember his name 😞) looking after the 692 & 693 UHF radios. She was a good ship and we had a great crew during the 67/68 commission. Pity you didn't cover that period in the video as we covered the withdrawal from Aden. We finished up the commission in the Arctic and will never forget the "Northern Lights" whilst me and a few mates were leaning on the funnel to keep warm - some good memories now that I am 78.

[@raypitts4880]

i remember hms eagle also had the only comic dad would let me have as it was modern and helped with my technical learning THE "EAGLE" 1952 still have few copies

[@donsland1610]

As an artificer apprentice I served on Eagle with 849 Gannet Flight in 1966. During Exercise Highland Wedding the ship developed some engine problem and had to return to Devonport for repairs thereby denying us all a trip to the USA. Luckily I did make it there in 1978 on Ark Royal's last deployment.

[@graemewhite5029]

An old fitter I worked with had been an ERA on Eagle. He said they still used hammocks, in groups of 4 or 6, suspended from the ceiling by two long bars, fitted with slinging loops. Off watch one day, he was lying in his hammock reading a paperback when the whole outfit started to take on a gentle, rhythmic oscillation. He glanced across and the matelot 3 hammocks along was having a crafty fifty off the wrist ! 🤣

[@grahambiffen1202]

My dad liked the hammocks on eagle he later served on bullwark so proud of him sadly not with us anymore

[@johnwhittle.22]

Thank you so much for making this video, my uncle Ray Tovey was a stoker on HMS Eagle in the 50’s. Out of the ships he served on the Eagle was the one that captured his heart, he was onboard when based at Malta. And when I’d go with him to Malta in the 90’s would tell me different stories about his time there, and that there was a huge rivalry between Ark Royal and Eagle. Which always ended up in punch ups if ever the two ships were In the same port. Great memories brought back because of this footage, thank you so much

[@mashbury]

I remember Eagle sitting for years in the Hamoze in the Tamar waiting for her end.. was a very sad sight for a great ship ..

[@markchip1]

With both of my parents serving in the Royal Navy and mum's connection therein to the Fleet Air Arm, combined with a fascination with the sheer concept of aircraft flying from and landing on a ship, I always maintained an emotional link with aircraft carriers. I even remember as a small child going aboard Ark Royal and Fearless (during "Navy Days") and then in my teens as a CCF cadet spending a (horribly seasick!) week on a frigate in the North Sea! It was that last nauseous venture that ultimately convinced me that I should abandon any idea of joining the RN to follow in my parents' footsteps!! But I'll still avidly watch ANY video about carriers to this day!!

[@herbsterbear]

Thank you for posting such an well crafted and informative video! You do a great job of explaining how the Audacious design evolved as the vessels were built and how the Ark and Eagle ended up being virtually different ships!

[@Bellapussycat455]

I served onboard Eagle 1956/57 when we led Operation Musketeer and have always been proud to have served at that time. She was our largest ship with a ship's company of 2,500 men and the most efficient at operating aircraft, thanks to Captain HCD MacLean's rigorous training exercises every day at sea from April onwards. (Ark Royal spent most of that year in Devonport Dockyard.)

[@mikeh1404]

My dad was a gunnery PO on HMS Eagle - We used to go to Navy Days in the 1970’s when HMS Eagle was sitting unwanted and decommissioned - my dad hated seeing it like that.

[@trevorpinder5399]

My late father was in the Fleet Air Arm and served on HMS Eagle during the Suez crisis. He was a keen photographer and had many photos and cine film from HMS Eagle and other ships. Really enjoyed this upload 👍

[@twotone3070]

That sounds like a valuable historical record.

[@trevorpinder5399]

@@twotone3070 Yes… I’ve just converted it so it may appear somewhere at some point.

[@mattrandle423]

My late father also served on Eagle during suez. I got to go onboard her when she was moored in the river tamar awaiting her visit to the scrap yard.

[@trevorpinder5399]

@@mattrandle423 My father was a Naval Air Mechanic and worked on several aircraft. I remember him telling me about the Vixen, Gannet and others. The cine film I have was shot in the Med, looks like Malta. It includes footage of Prince Philip aboard during a visit.

[@numberstation]

My late step father was on the Eagle at that time and I believe he was an Air Mechanic. I have a few photos of the ship taken from the air. I wish I’d spoken to him more about it.

[@nigelmoreland8252]

As a child living in Plymouth in 1978 I remember seeing HMS Eagle moored on the trots on the Tamar along with many other RN ships

[@JTA1961]

Pretty straight forward & well laid out video... keep on keeping on...

[@geoffhunter7704]

I saw HMS Eagle being broken up at Cairnryan,Galloway,Scotland in the summer of 1979,sad to see!☹☹☹

[@arfabarmcake2776]

Very interesting vid, I served on HMS Bulwark from 1973 - 1976 great ship, lots of great memories 👍

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@lysippus5614]

Great video. My father worked on the building of this carrier. Great to see what it looked like.

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@BattleDrunk]

Lovely bit of history right there! I am working my way towards getting this ship on world of warships I cannot wait to use her in game!

[@grahambiffen1202]

My Dad served on Eagle in 1954 to 1959 great ship and company

[@bigdmac33]

I still can never bring myself to look at a ship, especially one such as these, being scrapped. I did drive by The Ark as she was being dismantled at Cairnryan. A sadder sight I've yet to see.

[@dna6882]

Great video mate. Would love a similar video on the history of the Australian Navy carrier history. They have been quite contentious at times

[@chrissharp5073]

I served for 32 years in the RN and watched it's pitiful decline over my tenure of service. Even the dockyards were sold off or reduced in size. With the arrival of the QE & PoW maybe there is a silver lining after all! But then I can see our politicians selling one off ( probably to the Argentinians!!)

[@ronaldmcmurray6274]

Chris sharp, I served in the mob too. Not 32 years but 5 on HMS INTREPID. I loved my time there but was too young and stupid to realise how good I had it. 2 of my friends have just retired after 32 years as warrant officers and they said the same that the navy is shit compared to what it was. I looked at Google earth photos and likely Richards had 1 type 45 in refit and that was it. Even in the quite times I was used to seeing at least a couple of 42s, leanders, a carrier and subs across at dolphin. Yes our politicians are cunts.

[@RJM1011]

GREAT video to see thank you thumbs up and shared. 👍

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Thank you 👍

[@johnspain1948]

Thanks for that just found your video. I served on Eagle for two years beginning 1969 to end 1970. Ships company LREM when i joined and made up to POREL by the time I left. I remember the Phantoms. W also took on the first Harrier Jump Jet trials. First time to see a fixed wing take of and land vertically.

[@neilwilson5785]

Thanks mate, great video with loads of good research and good photos.

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@PeteCourtier]

I remember the decommissioned Eagle moored off Devonport when I was a very young. My dad helped refit her and was sad to see her go.

[@Sean-zg4iy]

Me too (1976/77) we would sail by her as we made our way out into Plymouth Sound in my Dads little yacht.

[@Sean-zg4iy]

Back in the 70's Devonport was full of RN ships in harbour, not these days.

[@janneroz-photographyonabudget]

In 1978, I was a patient in Devonport Hospital, now long gone itself. I was just shy of 9 years old. I could see out of the ward window, there was The Eagle. Everyday, you could hear clanging and banging. The outside of the Eagle slowly began to change in the time I was in that hospital. Such a shame.

[@scottsharp8585]

Great film! My dad (David "toffee" Sharp) served on Eagle before going on to serve on ArkRoyal.He took me onto ArkRoyal during a Navy Days and as a young lad totaly blew me away.I had seen phantoms take of and land lots of times when we lived in lossiemouth and leuchars but to see them on a ship was amazing and impressive.

[@Scipionic1941]

I saw Eagle in the Moray Firth for FAA aircraft from RNAS Lossiemouth to practise landing on. Massive.

[@shootingwithmitch5921]

Another cracking good vid! Thankyou!!

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@lyndondowling2733]

FANTASTIC !

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Many thanks!!

[@steviedee8921]

My late father was on Eagle during his national service. He was called up in November 1951 so must have been a member of one of her first crews. He worked in the engine room for some time abd I have photographs from him on a Mediterranean cruise and an Arctic cruise. He preferred the Mediterranean cruise 🛳 😎

[@davidpeters6536]

Excellent video thanks.

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Thank you.

[@petermclelland278]

Fascinating stuff.

[@peterm3964]

Good job . Good footage good pace and good information .

[@Revup1]

I watched Eagle disintegrate on my successive trips on the ferry to Stranraer! Each time I passed she looked less and less like an Aircraft Carrier and more and more like scrap.

[@TheWarshipologist]

Very nicely done.

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Thank you

[@WhoCares69]

My old man was on HMS Eagle.( radio engineer?) I was born 1969 . Think he was on ‘67 to ‘75. Died a couple of years ago sadly, Doug Leal.

[@TheRandCrews]

Post WWII Royal Navy aircraft carriers could’ve been better if they never tried to modernized Victorious and just finished another Audacious class to bolster the fleet. Expensive project for an aging ship that cannot carry new jet fighters of that time. Could’ve had an Audacious still running in the 80’s.

[@richardspeed7135]

Brilliant

[@PaulfromChicago]

This might be impolite and if it is I apologize, but you literally have the best accent of any English speaker ever.

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Haha, thank you very much!

[@user-oo8xp2rf1k]

He's got a Newcastle (?) / north east accent. Great speaker, fascinating video.

[@spidos1000]

Why aye man.

[@kendunton1]

My Dad was a Chief PO during the Suez crisis. We have loads of pics of flight operations from that time.

[@BigAmp]

Eagle was better than Ark Royal. if the RN was to go to one carrier (stupid decision) then it should have been Eagle that was kept. But they should have retained both. Eagle still had many good years left in her when she was so stupidly retired.

[@alecblunden8615]

Agreed. She had recently undergone an extensive and expensive refit and did not suffer the corrosion problems that plagued the Ark Royal. Don't expect common sense from governments.

[@edwardwalker3229]

Ark Royal had more powerful catapults which could handle the phantom aircraft. That was proberly the deciding factor. I was on her when we did the Harrier Sat's in the Caribbean. It was very clear from the mod on board that the 4 carriers we still had were too expensive to keep and the original plan was for Harriers to deploy like helicopters on destroyers etc. The Sat's showed the Harrier failed many tasks all because it used too much fuel getting airborne and into level flight. It only succeded in performing the usual tasks of strike and cap after the pilot asked to be allowed to roll the length of the catapult to help with the fuel issue getting airborne. So we ended up with the baby Ark Royal and Invincible as the only way we could realistically have fixed wing aircraft at sea.

[@MisterHampshire]

Fully agreed with this chan. Eagle was at that time far superior to Ark Royal and was in better overall material condition. Electrical system included. It had been taken panned for it to operate Phantoms but needed a water cooled deck and I suppose ultimately the bridle catchers too.

[@MisterHampshire]

Incidentally, Eagle’s catapults and arrester gear could nonetheless handle Phantoms.

[@DjDolHaus86]

My grandfather was serving on the Eagle when it was decommissioned and I now live overlooking the Tamar

[@Bruce-1956]

I grew up close to Rosyth, the base would be filled with RN ships with the aircraft carriers anchored close by. When a US carrier came up the Forth they would anchor off Granton. I used to know most ships, Tribal class, Leander class, even a Battle class every so often, loads of minesweepers at Port Edgar ( where my parents met) etc. Nato ships.... Now it's filled with disused nuclear submarines.

[@davidboreham]

The Nimitz class carriers anchored off Kinghorn presumably for deeper water.

[@Bruce-1956]

@@davidboreham I had an invite to the Enterprise in the 1970s, but of course the fog came down and didn't get to board the great ship.

[@wilco148]

thank you, great story

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@markdavis2475]

I'm sure I remember watching an episode of Blue Peter, where John Nokes flew off the Eagle (as a passenger!).

[@matthewmoore5698]

Do you remember the ark royal one , she was being run down and shot the piano off the steam caterpult

[@markdavis2475]

@@matthewmoore5698 Certainly do, I think they had "liberated" the piano from another ship/mess! Out of tune if a remember 😃

[@tejastiger61]

Wonderful job on a incredibly interesting subject... BRAVO...! Learned much, in a short time.. Keep em' coming. Please Sir include links to your other works at the end, could watch and listen to the humble narrator for hours.. Job well done.. Thanks for this history lesson, WELL DONE..., well done indeed.

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Thank you very much!

[@majorbloodnok7141]

Excellent video.

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Thank you very much!

[@jamesporter1123]

ah the good old days when British aircraft carriers actually had airplanes on them

[@richardsimmons6470]

saw HMS Eagle leave Portsmouth with Queen Elizabeth going out to the Suez Criris. My father had been ADFCV to General Sir Hugh Stockwell in Burmer. Hughie Stockwell was Officer commanding at the Suez Crisis and had invited my father down - appaerently i met the graet man

[@squirepraggerstope3591]

Pity that both Eagle and Ark Royal were not fully upgraded, retained and eventually replaced by two comparable successors. They would almost certainly have deterred the Argentinian junta from risking an invasion of the Falklands. Just one more example of how irresponsible skimping on defence, far from promoting peace, does exactly the opposite and leads directly to conflict and loss of life.

[@nanordstrom]

Wwll, two extra carriers would probably had more important missons ro carry out near England or in the middle east, than in the middle of nowhere, ie the Falklands.

[@squirepraggerstope3591]

@@nanordstrom Ah, but in the Falklands, there were and still are several thousand people who also see themselves as British and look to us to defend their legitimate rights.

[@1982nsu]

I agree. Also I wish battleship HMS Vanguard would have been retained. HMS Vanguard would have made short work of destroying the air fields of Port Stanley.

[@planet_69]

why didnt they have an unsinkable carrier on the islands called an air strip. . . like now.

[@patl709]

@@planet_69 good point. Money will be the answer, oh and not wanting to upset the Argentines!

[@paulnutter1713]

always remember crossing the Tamar going into cornwall and noticing an aircraft carrier moored up, always thought it was the Ark Royal but found out 40 year later it was the Eagle.

[@TonyHobbs]

Great video thanks

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@ronaldnolan9036]

I remember seeing her in Weymouth Bay, Dorset many, many years ago as Portland naval base was open for navy day.

[@Statueshop297]

Nice video.

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Thanks!

[@iainmalcolm9583]

Another good story. Thanks.

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@davidb1475]

So good to see a video on this ship Hms Eagle it’s always hms Ark Royal etc etc So many people have confirmed she was a better ship than Ark Royal There is a great book by Neil McCarthy on Eagle as well Well done for this video

[@rossmansell5877]

It was..Eagle was mechanically more sound than the Ark....I served the first commission from Nov 51 and then back on it around 56... people dont know this but Eagle fueled, armed and launched over 100 aircraft in one day on a Med excercise in the 50s and the US carrier less...Great ship the Big 'E'

[@13stalag13]

Just found this channel, VERY well done. New Subscriber.

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Thanks and welcome

[@sasmitadas4866]

Well great video

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@spankflaps1365]

I think the reason the Eagle and Ark Royal RO9 were scrapped early, was that the keels were rotten (from when they were originally laid and abandoned for a few years). Ark Royal’s keel was all concrete and cheese when it was cut up.

[@bikechainmic]

My Great Uncle did an inspection of Eagle in the 70s. There was so much concrete repair patches on her hull and around the keel he referred to her a s a concrete barge. Cost of repairs was just too great. Not enough steel left!

[@rob5944]

First time viewing this channel, and it's very impressive. On the subject of warships being scrapped I'll say this:. They, like everything else, have to be paid for. Sure it would be nice to have more ships, more doctors, teachers etc. There's always plenty of complaining going on but nobody ever explains how it is to be financed.

[@PennyBloater]

How does America continue to fund vast military spending with a national debt of $20 trillion?

[@rob5944]

@@PennyBloater well it's like having a mortgage I guess, it won't stop you buying a new car

[@richardmoloney689]

Privatise the NHS and BBC.

[@richardmoloney689]

@@PennyBloater Easy: US treasury bonds. Free borrowing from the rest of the world

[@rob5944]

@@richardmoloney689 sure, then we'll have even more companies making profits at the expense of the public. Just like B.P. and Shell, big shareholders getting their dividends while energy prices soar, sounds good. I will say this though, wealthier people should pay far more towards treatment, the NHS needs more of its funding diverted into social care and new equipment, staff and procedures.

[@andrewpagella9941]

great ship

[@falkkiwiben]

As a kiwi I was very confused on HMS HMNZS Otago, until I realised it was the ship to the left of the picture and not the right. A few seconds there I thought New Zealand had its own aircraft carrier

[@MatthewMakesAU]

I was about to go look it up and then twigged

[@dna6882]

I totally thought the same thing and got really excited thinking OMG we had a carrier? WHAT ? How did I not know that>?.... disappointed Kiwi lol

[@andrewallan315]

Eagle did not go placidly to Cairnryan breaking her tow and blocking the deep water channel.

[@tysonator5433]

If only HMS Eagle was still around in 1982, she would have Ben a big help n the Falklands War !

[@emilhilmy7740]

RN in the end got the replacement they deserve for Ark Royal and Eagle in the form of QE and PoW. Whether they should be equip by F-35B as now or F-35C (make them Catobar instead), is debatable and bit moot. Point is, RN got their big carrier at last, after the debacle of CV-01 in the 60's.

[@deborahhall3480]

My father in law was the cook on this carrier as well as the Ark Royal in the 50s

[@bikechainmic]

I onlt remember the Eagle laid up in Devonport as a child. (Seen from the Saltash Rail Bridge)

[@WojciechWachniewski-st1zm]

Cold war Eagle was successor of the former Eagle, the only two-stack carrier of the WW2. The latter is sometimes regarded as Britain's first true and battleworthy carrier, even if she had been converted from an unfinished battle-wagon.

[@no1dannyboy1]

My uncle Richard Brown was on Eagle. It was his first ship and he took part in the withdrawal from Aden

[@kiwifruit27]

Excellent work although I believe HMNZS Otago was a Frigate shown next to an aircraft carrier in the photo

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

You are correct. The carrier in that shot is USS Bennington, a slight oversight on my part. Well spotted.

[@kiwifruit27]

@@TheNorthernHistorian thanks, love your channel, glad to see it growing. As a kiwi I thought “I didn’t know we had a carrier “

[@fantasyfleet]

I was off to google NZ aircraft carrier after seeing that 😀

[@jonbridge8064]

Plus one of the photos of "Eagle" is actually one of a light fleet carrier

[@stephenchappell7512]

@@kiwifruit27 You may not have had a carrier but there were many New Zealand (and Canadian) pilots operating off ships of the British Pacific Fleet.

[@johnnywindsor183]

Madness, Mediterranean fleet ,,,,,,,,,,,, we are lucky to have two naval bases on south coast nowadays

[@eyesofisabelofficial]

HMNZS Otago (F111) was a Type 12 AS Frigate, certainly not an aircraft carrier. She is seen escorting the Essex class carrier USS Bennington (CV 20).

[@davidmcintyre8145]

The sad thing is that Eagle was in a better condition for Phantomisation and that she by her very existence could have stopped the Falklands war

[@g2macs]

Operation 'Mainbrace' was originally called 'Operation Come ahead if you think you’re hard enough Russkies' but was shortened for technical issues.

[@kevinbarry71]

Installing 4.5 inch gun seems like an idea straight out of the 1930s for an aircraft carrier