The present Ark Royal, conceived as a through deck cruiser, flies the Harrier VSTOL aircraft; initially the Sea Harrier and latterly the RAF Harrier. She was the third carrier of the Invincible class and commissioned in late 1985 incorporating the lessons learned from the Falklands conflict, which included the Sea King AEW3, the 12� ski ramp and the Vulcan Phalanx CIWS. The film showed flying from all three carriers and pictures of the sinking 3rd Ark.
The second video featured Operation Pedestal, the vital convoy to relieve Malta in August 1942. This video was narrated by Admiral Lewin a member of the World Ship Society and featured eyewitness accounts from seamen who served in the convoy.
Each of the 14 merchant ships in the convoy were cross loaded. Each carried a variety of cargos including a deck cargo of aviation fuel. The exception was the Ohio chartered from the Americans and carried 11,500 tons of Kerosene and oil fuel. These 14 ships were escorted by 59 warships, which included the aircraft carriers Victorious, Indomitable and Eagle and backed by the heavy gunfire of battleships Nelson and Rodney. Once through the Straits of Gibraltar their cover was �blown� due to a spy onboard a Spanish fishing boat and a Vichy French commercial pilot reporting their whereabouts.
During the ensuing battles which started on the 10th August Eagle was sunk, Indomitable was seriously damaged and only three of the convoy reached Valetta on the 13th. However due to great bravery and superb seamanship the severely damaged Ohio was brought into port a day later with a large percentage of its cargo intact. The video also used some of the film made by the Italians of the conflict (entitled �Battle of the Scicillian Channel�) which proved an interesting view from the other side.
Our thanks to Alan Chapman of North West Kent for crossing the �water� and presenting these very interesting videos via the LCD projector.