ADRIATIC SEA: ON BOARD HMS INVINCIBLE

(16 Apr 1999) English/Nat

One of Britain's oldest military ships - HMS Invincible - has joined the NATO fleet in the Adriatic .

She's 26 years old, but the British Navy says this huge vessel is still state of the art.

A quarter of a century since she first set sail, HMS Invincible is back in action.

The ship has joined the Northern Ionian Sea Operation Allied Force in the Adriatic, and she is bringing with her a deadly attack force and formidable defence system to help with the latest NATO offense.

The ship, her crew and cargo had been on their way home after a training mission, when they were recalled six days ago to bolster the Allied fleet.

She will certainly add a bit of weight to the force.

The Invincible has been updated many times, and she now travels at a mere 20-thousand tonnes.

On board are seven FA2 Sea Harriers, together with medium range AMRAAM and Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, ten Sea King Helicopters, seven operating anti-submarine roles and three equipped with Airborne Early Warning systems to detects possible threats.

Sea Dart surface-to-air missiles give ample self-defence, and if they fail, the Invincible boasts her own 20 milimetre cannons.

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