WATCH OUT! HMS INVINCIBLE IS ON ITS WAY TO BE SCRAPPED:

The former aircraft carrier HMS Invincible has sailed out of its home port for the last time as it was towed away for scrap and could pass Gibraltar today or tomorrow.

Invincible was sold on the Ministry of Defence auction website, edisposals.com to the Leyal Ship Recycling in Turkey for a sum thought to be about £2 million. The 210-metre ship, which has had its engines, weapons and other parts ripped out of it, will be towed for the four-week journey to Turkey.

A crowd of people including veterans who served onboard Invincible turned out to watch the ship's departure from Portsmouth, Hampshire.

The word "SOLD" could be seen written in large letters on the side of the ship.

Tom Gisby, a former marine engineering artificer, told the Portsmouth News: "I have seen the ship leave for the last time, a very sad occasion and obviously it's emotional."

As well as serving in the Falklands with Prince Andrew on board, Invincible, which was built in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, served in the Adriatic and in Bosnia in 1995.

In 1998 and 1999, its Sea Harriers flew air combat patrols to enforce the no-fly zone over southern Iraq and then went on to provide aid support in the Balkans.

Source: GIBRALTAR Chronicle. | 28 March 2011

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