RFA Largs Bay (L3006)

RFA Largs Bay (L3006) was launched in July 2003 at Swan Hunter Wallsend and was delivered in April 2006. It entered service in December 2006. (Photo: Australia DoD)

RFA Largs Bay (L3006)

RFA Largs Bay (L3006) is Bay Class Bay Class Large Amphibious Landing Ships. Four Bay Class have been ordered with the LSD(A) construction programme well advanced. The new ships displace 16,100 tonnes and replace RFAs Sir Galahad and Sir Tristram. 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 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. The ships are able to position themselves dynamically using a bow thruster and their steerable azimuth thrusters to discharge equipment without the need to anchor. The previous RFA Landing ships were designed to run up on a beach to discharge their cargo of men and vehicles. The Bay Class are designed to operate over the horizon using helicopters and landing craft through a floodable stern dock to get men and equipment ashore. (Photo: Australia DoD)

RFA Largs Bay (L3006)

RFA Largs Bay (L3006) was launched in July 2003 at Swan Hunter Wallsend and was delivered in April 2006. It entered service in December 2006. In April 2011, the Australian Navy acquired Largs Bay (L3006) for £65m. Largs Bay was removed from the service of the UK Navy as decided in the UK Government's 2010 Defence Strategic Review. It will enter the Australian Navy service in early 2012. (Photo: Australia DoD)

RFA Largs Bay (L3006)

RFA Largs Bay (L3006) was launched in July 2003 at Swan Hunter Wallsend and was delivered in April 2006. It entered service in December 2006. (Photo: RAN)