RFA Largs Bay (L3006)
RFA Largs Bay (L3006) is one of the four planned amphibious assault vessels of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. Intended to replace the Sir boats, this ship design was based on the Dutch Rotterdam class ships
RFA Largs Bay was ordered on the 19th of November 2001, and built by Swan Hunter. She was launched in Wallsend on July 18th 2003, and named on the 1st of August 2003.
...The landing (auxiliary) project continues to make progress....
Capable of carrying more than 350 troops, 1200 linear meters of vehicles (e.g. 150 light trucks or 24 Challenger 2 Main Battle Tanks), twelve 40ft or twenty four 24ft containers, 2 Landing Craft Vehicle and Personnel (LCVP) and 1 Landing Craft Utility (LCU) and two Mexefloats (powered rafts).
The landing ships dock (auxiliary) project continues to make progress towards the completion of the four bay class vessels. RFA Mounts Bay, the first ship built by BAE Systems in Glasgow and accepted off contract in December 2005, is undergoing her capability trials in readiness for meeting her in-service date in late 2006. RFA Largs Bay, the first Swan Hunter-built ship, is undergoing final preparations for contractor sea trials, which are scheduled to start next month. Build and testing continues on the remaining two ships. Quote by Mr Adam Ingram The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence on the 27th February 2006.
RFA Largs Bay is one of a new class of four Bay Class amphibious landing ships. They will replace the RFA Sir Tristram, Sir Geraint, Sir Percivale and Sir Galahad, and will operate in the front line in close support of the Landing Platform Dock, HMS ALBION and HMS BULWARK and the Landing Platform Helicopter, HMS OCEAN.
...A new class of four Bay Class amphibious landing ships...
With no rudders she manoeuvres with special propellers and bow thrusters to help give increased stability during operations. The advanced design of the LSD(A)s will enable her to offload/onload at sea in conditions up to Sea State three, without the need to anchor adding to her flexibility.
Although capable of delivering Armed Forces into warfighting operations, these ships are also ideally suited to low intensity operations; such as providing a platform for peace support operations - as in Sierra Leone - or in humanitarian and disaster relief missions - such as the Tsunami relief effort. The huge capability these ships provide is already being demonstrated by RFA Mounts Bay, which has recently taken part in Deployment VELA operating in close support of HMS Albion off the West Coast of Africa.
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