"The Royal Navy 1976 - 2000" The newly built Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS ILLUSTRIOUS sails from the Swan Hunter dockyard on the River Tyne, 18 June 1982. HMS ARK ROYAL can be seen in the background fitting out. HMS ILLUSTRIOUS encountered steering problems shortly after leaving the dockyard, but was finally commissioned at sea on 20 June, sailing immediately to the Falklands where she relieved HMS INVINCIBLE.