The Roby Foundry in Rainhill received orders from Cammell Laird for Ark Royal in 1950/1. This aircraft carrier served the Royal Navy between 1955 and 1980, often participating in NATO exercises but not seeing combat. A BBC documentary series 'Sailor' was filmed on board in 1976. In 1938 orders had been been supplied for an earlier Ark Royal also built by Cammell Laird. This ship saw extensive combat during World War ll and was torpedoed and sunk in November 1941 near Gibraltar by German submarine U81.