The End
In 1968, shortly before re-commissioning after her refit, there was a relatively minor fire, which was rapidly extinguished, in the Chief Petty Officers' mess (resulting in one death and two hospitalisations)and the ship was operating normally the next day. This coincided, however, with a reduction of the defence budget and together with the 1966 decision to phase out British fixed-wing naval aviation, it was decided at very short notice not to recommission Victorious. Her captain was told of this just one day before the scheduled recommissioning ceremony. The ceremony was held by the ship's crew anyway as a "wake" for the ship. She was paid off in 1968 and subsequently placed on the Disposal List in 1969. She was sold later that year to British Shipbreakers and towed to Faslane Naval Base on 13 July 1969, where she was broken up.
During her service, HMS Victorious had been deployed in most parts of the world and had given outstanding service in peace and war.
Final Air Group:
- 801 NAS - Buccaneer S.2
- 893 NAS - Sea Vixen FAW.2
- 814 NAS - Wessex HAS.1
- A Flight 849 NAS - Gannet AEW.3
Read more about this topic: HMS Victorious (R38)
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