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Visit of HMS Illustrious and HMS Exeter
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HMS ILLUSTRIOUS and HMS EXETER are due to arrive in Gibraltar on Wednesday on a routine stop over as part of their current operational deployment.
The visit is principally designed to provide rest and recreational opportunities for both ship?s crew. Their visit is expected to last several days.
The present HMS Illustrious is the fifth ship to bear that name. The first HMS Illustrious, a 74-gun Third Rate ship of the line, was launched at Buckler's Hard in 1789 and saw action against the French off Toulon in 1793 and at Genoa in 1795.
The first HMS Exeter was a Third rate of 70 guns which survived the Battle of Beachy Head against the French on 20 June 1690. In 1697 she was classed as a hulk following an explosion in Plymouth on 12 September 1691 and on 24 May she was ordered to be broken up.
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