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Abbreviations


Royal Navy - ROYAL FLEET AUXILIARY SERVICE - Landing Ships Logistic Bay Class - RFA Lyme Bay - RFA Largs Bay - RFA Mounts Bay - RFA Cardigan Bay - n4a7 - Armed Forces

ROYAL FLEET AUXILIARY SERVICE

BAY CLASS LANDING SHIPS LOGISTIC (AUXILIARY)


RFA Lyme Bay

The new ships displace 16,100 tonnes and replace RFAs Sir Galahad and Sir Tristram. Two ships were ordered in November 2000 and contracts for two further ships of this class were placed in November 2001. Compared to their predecessors they carry more than twice as many vehicles and embarked troops. Using their stern dock for landing craft and flight deck for helicopters, they are able to offload in rougher weather twice as quickly.

 

The design is based on the Dutch LPD Rotterdam and Bay Class vessels are designed to transport troops, vehicles, ammunition and stores as a follow-up to an amphibious assault. Offload is carried out by a flight deck capable of operating heavy helicopters, an amphibious dock capable of operating one LCU and mexeflotes which can be hung on the ship's sides. There is no beaching capability.

The flight deck can accommodate two Merlin or Chinook helicopters, and a hanger could be fitted in future if required. The ships can carry an Embarked Military Force of 356 troops and large numbers of vehicles, although this can be increased to 500 using undesignated space.

 

In April 2011, the Royal Australian Navy bought RFA Largs Bay for £65m. Largs Bay was removed from the service of the UK Navy, as a result of the UK Government's 2010 Strategic Defence Review.

RFA BAY CLASS Specifications
Length 176.0m
Displacement 16,160 tons full load
Speed 18 knots
Range 8,000nm at 15 knots
Complement 60 plus 356 troops
Military Lift Space for vehicles equating to 36 Challenger Main Battle Tanks or 150 light trucks plus 200 tons ammunition
Helicopters Platform capable of operating Chinook
Armament 1 x 30mm cannon
CIWS Phalanx

Name IN-SERVICE DATE
RFA Lyme Bay (L3007) 2007
RFA Mounts Bay (L3008) 2007
RFA Cardigan Bay (L3009) 2008