The Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious glided into Grand Harbour yesterday, its crew lining the flight deck, to the tunes of an in-house band, three shots fired from signal canons and the admiration of onlookers at the Barrakka Gardens.
Officers enjoyed the fresh air and warm sunshine as they absorbed their "astonishing" surroundings and looked forward to a hard-earned break ashore.
The return of HMS Illustrious, the fifth ship to have the name, coincides with the conclusion of a twinning agreement between the ship and the Three Cities, formalising the close bond shared by the two for over 60 years.
The agreement is a first for the Royal Navy in that it is an affiliation with not one, but three, foreign cities at the same time.
The idea of the twinning agreement was hatched during the last visit of HMS Illustrious in 2005 and is about cementing the long-standing link between the ship and the Three Cities, dating back to World War II.
Among the events that are being organised until HMS Illustrious leaves Malta on Friday is a wreath-laying ceremony at the Senglea war memorial and possible charity work in the Three Cities.
Speaking from the bridge, Commanding Officer Captain Steve Chick said the Royal Navy has "great respect for history and tradition and this is a symbolic opportunity to formalise the recognition it has for the Three Cities and the island as a whole".
HMS Illustrious is famed for having escorted convoys to Malta in World War II and for withstanding heavy bombing in January, 1941, which saw her limp to Malta for urgent repairs. German and Italian aircraft tried to sink her, but failed. However, the raids devastated the Three Cities, notably Senglea.
"For many of our young sailors, who may not have experienced conflict, it (the Malta connection) is an example of what can happen," Capt. Chick said. The battle-damaged bell from the fourth Illustrious is on board this aircraft carrier and Capt. Chick said it was a poignant reminder of what warships were all about, adding that the young sailors were aware of the ties between Malta and HMS Illustrious.
In 1941, it was carrying Spitfires. Yesterday, HMS Illustrious arrived in Malta from the UK transporting six trucks for the AFM, recently acquired from the British Army, in time for use during the general election.
The ship was due to arrive in the first week of February and the AFM was pleased it made it to Malta before March 8.
On Friday, the aircraft carrier, complete with six Merlin helicopters designed for anti-submarine warfare, heads off to the Indian Ocean, where it is involved in the Orion 08 deployment, a multinational maritime task group centred on HMS Illustrious.
The task group consists of over 2,500 personnel, 13 ships, a nuclear-powered submarine, Harrier jump jets and Merlin and Lynx helicopters. The French, Spanish and US navies are contributing ships and aircraft to the group, which is under the operational control of the Royal Navy.
Due to its short visit, the ship is not open to the public, though invitations have been sent to specialised groups, including engineering students and officer and sea cadets.
About HMS Illustrious
It is not easy to find your way around HMS Illustrious - even if you have been on board for months. The ship is a floating village, displacing 20,000 tonnes. At the flight deck, it is as long as two football pitches and almost as wide as one.
But if you think that is big, 2014 is set to see two new aircraft carriers about three times its size, with a displacement of 65,000 tonnes.
HMS Illustrious numbers almost 800 personnel, with women forming part of a seamless community on board and having secured their place in the Royal Navy.
In an average day at sea, HMS Illustrious gets through 900 eggs, 625 kg of potatoes, 50 loaves and 400 rolls, 160 litres of milk and 220 kilogrammes of meat. It has its own equipped hospital, ward and all.