Albion class landing platform dock
 Albion class landing platform dock |
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Albion class |
| Builders: | BAE Systems Marine |
| Operators: |  Royal Navy |
| Preceded by: | Fearless class |
| Built: | 2 HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark |
| In service: | 2 |
| Active: | 1 |
| Laid up: | 1 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | landing platform dock |
| Displacement: | 19,560 tonnes (19,250 long tons; 21,560 short tons) (full load) |
| Length: | 176 metres (577 ft) |
| Beam: | 28.9 metres (95 ft) |
| Draft: | 7.1 metres (23 ft) |
| Propulsion: | 2 x Wärtsilä Vasa 16V 32E diesel generators 2 x Wärtsilä Vasa 4R 32E diesel generators 2 x electric motors bow thruster |
| Speed: | 18 knots (33 km/h) |
| Range: | 8,000 miles (13,000 km) |
| Boats and landing craft carried: |
4 x LCU MK10 4 x LCVP MK5 |
| Crew: | 325 ships crew 405 maximum embarked force |
| Sensors and processing systems: |
2 x Type 1007/8 I-band radars 1 x Type 996 E/F band radar 1 x Artisan 3D E/F-band radar (from 2011) |
| Armament: | 2 x Goalkeeper CIWS 8 x Seagnat launchers 2 x twin 30 mm guns |
The Albion class landing platform dock are the newest amphibious assault vessels in the Royal Navy. The class consists of two vessels, HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark, ordered in 1996 to replace the ageing Fearless class. Both ships were built by BAE Systems Marine at the former Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd yard in Barrow-in-Furness. Albion was commissioned on 19 June 2003 and Bulwark on 12 July 2004.
The ships have a 325 strong crew and can accommodate 405 troops in overload conditions. Thirty-one large trucks, thirty-six smaller vehicles and main battle tanks can be carried inside the vehicle deck. To disembark troops and vehicles, the vessels are equipped with eight landing craft, four large LCU MK10 in the dock area and four smaller LCVP MK5 mounted on davits.
In order to cut the running costs of the Royal Navy, the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review concluded that one of the Royal Navy's two Albion class landing platform docks should be placed into extended readiness while the other is held at high readiness for operations. Both vessels will now alternate between extended readiness and high readiness throughout their service lives.
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[edit] Background
The value of the two Fearless class landing platform dock ships was highlighted during the Falklands war. Not only did the ships transport troops and vehicles to the South Atlantic, the commanders of the landing operations at San Carlos were aboard HMS Fearless, and once they arrived their flight decks were used to support airborne operations by helicopters and Sea Harrier jets.[1]
However as these ships were built in the 1960s, on 18 July 1996, the British Ministry of Defence awarded a £450 million contract for their replacements to Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd (VSEL) in Barrow-in-Furness.[2]
The ships roles are, "To act as the afloat command platform for the Royal Navy’s Amphibious Task Force and Landing Force Commanders when embarked," and, "To embark, transport, deploy and recover troops with their equipment and vehicles which form part of an amphibious assault force."[3] They are larger and more capable then the Fearless class, and part of a modernization programme of British amphibious fleet, which includes HMS Ocean, the Bay class landing ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and the Point class sealift ships.[4]
[edit] Design
[edit] General characteristics
The Albion class LPDs have a length of 176 metres (577 ft), a breadth of 28.9 metres (95 ft), and a draught of 7.1 metres (23 ft). They have a normal displacement of 14,000 tonnes (14,000 long tons; 15,000 short tons), 19,560 tonnes (19,250 long tons; 21,560 short tons) at full load and 21,000 tonnes (21,000 long tons; 23,000 short tons) when the dock is flooded.[4][5]
The ships complement is 325 crew, with a capacity for an embarked force of 305 normal and 405 in overload conditions. Propulsion is provided by two Wärtsilä Vasa 16V 32E diesel generators, two Wärtsilä Vasa 4R 32E diesel generators, driving two electric motors, two shafts, and a bow thruster.[5] This is the first diesel electric propulsion system to be used in a Royal Navy surface ship. It reduces the size of the engine room staff by about two thirds, compared to the preceding Fearless class of ships.[4] The diesel electric system can propel the ships to a maximum speed of 18 knots, and have a range of 8,000 miles (13,000 km).[5]
The aft flight deck has two landing spots for aircraft the size of Royal Air Force Chinooks. Below the flight deck is the dock and vehicle deck.[5] The latter has the capacity to hold thirty-one large trucks and thirty-six smaller vehicles[3] or six Challenger 2 tanks and thirty armoured personnel carriers.[4] The dock has space for four Landing Craft Utility MK10, each large enough to carry vehicles up to main battle tank size, which are then launched by flooding of the docking area. Four smaller LCVP MK5 that can carry thirty-five men or two light trucks are carried on davits, two each side of the ships superstructure.[5] Each ship also carries a fifty-two ton tracked Beach Recovery Vehicle for assisting landing craft that are beached or in difficulties and two tractors, one that can lay a track-way across the landing beach, the second fitted with an excavating bucket and forks.[6]
[edit] Weapons and sensors
For defence against missile attack, the Albion class LPD, have two 30 mm Goalkeeper CIWS, mounted forward and aft on the superstructure and two twin 30 mm guns. Defensive countermeasures include the Outfit DLJ decoys, eight Seagnat radar reflection / infra-red emitting decoy launchers and a BAE Systems DLH off-board decoy.[5] When commissioned the ships were fitted with two Kelvin Hughes Type 1007/8 I-band radars, for navigation and aircraft control. For air and surface search a Selex Sensors and Airborne Systems Type 996 E/F band radar was fitted. However from 2011, this is being replaced by the BAE Systems Insyte Artisan 3D E/F-band. This will be fitted to Albion and Bulwark by 2015.[5] There is also a ADAWS 2000 combat data system and a UAT/1-4 Electronic Support Measures system.[4]
[edit] Extended readiness
In order to cut the running costs of the Royal Navy, the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review concluded that one of their two Albion class landing platform docks, should be placed into extended readiness while the other is held at high readiness for operations. Both vessels will alternate between extended readiness and high readiness throughout their service lives.[7]
It was confirmed that Albion would be the first of the two vessels placed at extended readiness, for a cost of £2.5 million as Bulwark recently finished a major refit. Running costs while in extended readiness are estimated to be £300,000 per annum in order to keep the vessel available for reactivation at short notice if needed. HMS Albion will re-enter high readiness at the time HMS Bulwark is put into extended readiness, expected sometime around 2014. The running costs of one of the Albion class vessels at high readiness ranged from £17.7 million - £38.6 million per annum from 2007 to 2011.[8]
[edit] Ships
[edit] HMS Albion
HMS Albion was launched at Barrow in Furness on 9 March 2001, and is the eighth ship of that name to have served in the Royal Navy.[3] After completing sea trials, Albion was commissioned in June 2003 and then became fully operational in April 2004. Her home port is HMNB Devonport on the south coast of England.[2]
In December 2010, it was announced that Albion would be the next Royal Navy flagship after HMS Ark Royal.[9] She was deployed with the Response Force Task Group to the Gulf of Sidra off Libya to provide assistance to the ongoing NATO-led operation and then moved into the Indian Ocean in June, to assist with anti-piracy operations off the Horn of Africa. In 2011 she entered a state of "extended readiness".[10]
[edit] HMS Bulwark
HMS Bulwark the second and last ship in the class was launched at Barrow in Furness in November 2001, entered service in December 2004, and was commissioned on 28 April 2005. She is the seventh Royal Navy ship to carry the name.[2][11]
One of the ship's first missions was Operation Highbrow in the Mediterranean in July 2006. Docking at Beirut the ship evacuated around 1,300 United Kingdom nationals. Then in May 2010, she entered dry-dock at HMNB Devonport for a £30 million refit.[2] In October 2011, Bulwark having just completed an eight months refit became the flagship of the fleet.[2][12] The refit improved her machinery and magazines, and converted her to full night vision tactical ability for landing craft and aircraft. It also gave her the ability to operate two Chinook helicopters from the flight desk at the same time.[2]
[edit] References
- ^ "Falklands command ship to be recycled". Defence News. 2007-10-02. Archived from the original on 2010-05-03. http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.mod.uk:80/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/EquipmentAndLogistics/FalklandsCommandShipToBeRecycled.htm. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
- ^ a b c "HMS Albion". Royal Navy. Archived from the original on 2008-08-05. http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/operations-and-support/surface-fleet/assault-ships/albion-class/hms-albion/index.htm. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
- ^ a b c d e Bishop and Chant, p.225
- ^ a b c d e f g "Maritime Naval Ships". BAE Systems. http://www.baesystems.com/Businesses/SurfaceShips/PlatformsandProgrammes/AmphibiousVessels/index.htm. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
- ^ "Main Equipment". Royal Navy. Archived from the original on 2001-07-13. http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/operations-and-support/surface-fleet/assault-ships/albion-class/hms-bulwark/4-assault-squadron/main-equipment/index.htm. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
- ^ Parliamentary Debates, House of Commons, 2011-05-11. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
- ^ "Securing Britain in an Age of Uncertainty". HM Government. http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/documents/digitalasset/dg_191634.pdf. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
- ^ "Plymouth-based HMS Albion becomes Royal Navy flagship". BBC News. 2010-12-03. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-11911535.
- ^ Julian Glover (2011-07-18). "Mothballing ships makes little sense". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/jul/17/royal-navy-defence-cuts-waste.
- ^ "HMS Bulwark". Royal Navy. http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/operations-and-support/surface-fleet/assault-ships/albion-class/hms-bulwark/index.htm. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
- ^ "Bulwark takes over as UK flagship". Defence News. 2011-10-18. http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/DefencePolicyAndBusiness/BulwarkTakesOverAsUkFlagship.htm. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
[edit] Bibliography
- Bishop, Chris; Chant, Christopher (2004). Aircraft Carriers: The World's Greatest Naval Vessels and Their Aircraft. Motorbooks International. ISBN 9780760320051.
[edit] External links
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