Early-war views of HMS Ark Royal and HMS Illustrious make the redesign visible. Ark Royal's beacon sits high with little above it, while Illustrious carries the beacon lower on the mast with other equipment above. The contrast shows how radar's demand for the best high position reshaped a carrier's electronic layout. The beacon still stood roughly a hundred feet above the sea, so "lower" meant a new place on the mast rather than a position near deck level. The two ships provide a direct visual comparison between the masthead Type 72X arrangement and the lower Type 72DM installation.
Notable Point · 17:01-17:47
Ark Royal and Illustrious show the beacon's move
Early-war views of HMS Ark Royal and HMS Illustrious make the beacon's move from the masthead to a lower position immediately visible.