The British helicopter carrier HMS Illustrious sailed into Grand Harbour this morning for a short visit.
Sailors and marines lined the flight deck as the carrier sailed into the placid harbour with a Merlin helicopter circling overhead.
The carrier berthed at Valletta Waterfront and will be open to visitors on Wednesday and Thursday between 1 and 4pm. It leaves on Friday.
A reception in honour of the Earl and Countess of Wessex will be held on board the vessel today.
The Illustrious, commanded by Captain Martin Connell, forms part of a UK task response group, headed by Commodore Paddy McAlpine, along with three other ships: HMS Bulwark, RFA Mounts Bay and MV Hartland Point.
The four ships are taking part in a three-month training deployment to the Mediterranean involving more than 3,000 sailors and marines.
Illustrious no longer carries fixed wing carcraft, its Harrier jump jets having been retired.
While in Grand Harbour, sailors and marines will be helping out at a variety of worthy causes. These will include a clean-up in collaboration with the Nature Trust.
HMS Illustrious is twinned with the Three Cities – Senglea, Vittoriosa and Cospicua recalling the role of its predecessor in the Second World War when it escorted convoys to Malta, flew Spitfires to the island and was given shelter in the harbour in January 1941 after being hit by six bombs. The German Air Force launched a massive attack on the carrier while it underwent emergency repairs in Malta. Although the carrier survived, the bombing devastated the Three Cities, particularly Senglea.
MALTESE ON BOARD
A 22-year-old Armed Forces OF mALTA officer cadet, Benjamin Vassallo, has been on board the Illustrious since October 13.
The young officer cadet, who has been observing a different department on the ship each week, was looking forward to sleeping in his own bed in Mellieħa for the next few days.
He will be leaving for the UK on board the HMS Illustrious on Friday and is expected back in Malta just before Christmas.
The current HMS Illustrious is the fifth ship to bear that name in the history of the British Royal Navy.
Having being commissioned in 1982, it is due to be decommissioned in 2014.
New Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers, which are currently being built, are due to begin entering service in 2017.
Royal Navy picture.
Picture - Noel Psaila mynews@timesofmalta.com