Illustrious had been expected to work up around Plymouth, but Germany's conquest of France made Plymouth and the Bay of Biscay unsuitable for preparing a new carrier. The work-up moved to Bermuda and was completed by July 1940. After returning to the Clyde, she underwent a minor refit to correct faults found during training. She then embarked Rear Admiral Lister and sailed for the Mediterranean with fifteen Fulmars and eighteen Swordfish.
Notable Point · 38:38-39:57
Why Illustrious worked up at Bermuda
Germany's conquest of France made the planned work-up around Plymouth and the Bay of Biscay unsafe, so Illustrious trained at Bermuda.