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HMS Illustrious was the ship on which Michael Hordern served during World War II. Hordern, a renowned British actor, joined the Royal Navy in 1940 and served as a Sub-Lieutenant on the Illustrious, an aircraft carrier that played a significant role in the Mediterranean and Pacific theaters. Hordern's wartime experiences, including the Illustrious's participation in the Battle of Taranto and the sinking of the Bismarck, later influenced his acting career.