Iconic Name

Love to see the name used again Ray, Ajax is also a strange choice for a submarine to be honest - although they reused your favourite Warspite on a Sub...we may yet be surprised!

Stand by for HMS Ark Royal the next generation SSBN.

Maybe Nick, you never know but there are so many iconic names missing nowadays due to the shortage of ships to pin them on to! Imagine Dreadnought, Warspite, Renown and Ark Royal as the SSBN's, but it will never happen mate.

I never really understood why the name was iconic, especially considering that the two most recent vessels led unremarkable if long careers, whilst the one before had a very short one. To me at least it seems to be the product of a TV show rather than any real substance.
Illustrious, Hermes and Eagle are to me names much more befitting the term iconic.

It's all about opinion James, I think it is possibly because of the age of the name by comparison to many others. You may well be right regards the TV show though.

I think the WW2 Ark raised the public awareness due to the propaganda issues regarding the Germans stating she was sunk whilst at the time she was not. this was used as anti propaganda by our government and as such the name Ark Royal was frequently broadcast over the Uk wireless. The public awareness was stoked up by the (in my opinion) the one and only successful RN do***entary about the fourth Ark aided of course by Rod Stewart. However from the historical perspective, the WW2 Ark was the worlds first true modern aircraft carrier, designed from lessons ;learnt from Hermes, Eagle and the US experiences, therefore has some historical significance.
In my humble opinion one can justify the historical significance of numerous names, whether through war fighting (Warspite), design significance (Dreadnought) historical achievement (Endurance), its a very subjective topic. I think the present two Carrier names QE & POW are significantly political, it would have been an added layer of awkwardness for any government minister to tell the present monarch or future King that the ships named after them have been cancelled or sold. Another humble opinion is that our present carriers sold have been named Eagle and Hermes, however what do these names mean to Jo public and politically?

in answer to Nicks comment, even in these dark and strange days i feel naming a submarine Ark Royal would be a bridge too far. For additions to Dreadnought, my money is on, Warspite, Courageous & Ramillies.

Interesting thoughts FG. Having just watched 'The darkest hour' it would be more than common decency to find a ship somewhere to call Churchill!

Good point Spursnut, however i feel in these days of political correctness the powers that be would be too cautious for such a great name. They would probably state that it could not be used as it would cause confusion with the USN destroyer of same name, a convenient get out clause?

The Yanks should give the name back mate!!! The cheek of it!