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List of amphibious warfare ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary

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RFA Blue Ensign

Ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary

A - B - C - D - E - F - G
H - I - J - K - L - M - N
O - P - Q - R - S - T - U
V - W - X - Y - Z

Amphibious warfare ships
Replenishment ships
Miscellaneous ships

This is a list of amphibious warfare ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, the naval auxiliary fleet of the United Kingdom.

Active

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There are two types of amphibious warfare ships currently in service with the RFA as of 2024, totalling four vessels: One littoral strike ship RFA Argus (A135) and three Bay-class landing ships.

Argus and Lyme Bay make up the Littoral Response Group (South) which formed in September 2023.[1]

The three Bay class ships are projected to be removed from service by 2032.[2]


List of current amphibious warefare ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary
Dock landing ships
Class / Type Ship Pennant No. Image In service Out of service Service life Status Ref.
Bay-class dock landing ship Lyme Bay L3007 26 November 2007 16 years, 331 days Active [3]
Cardigan Bay L3009 18 December 2006 17 years, 309 days Active [4][5]
Mounts Bay L3008 13 July 2006 18 years, 101 days Active [6][7]
Littoral Strike Ship
Class / Type Ship Pennant No. Image In service Out of service Service life Status Ref.
Argus A135 1 June 1988 36 years, 143 days Active [8][9][10]

Decommissioned

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Dock landing ships

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Bay-class dock landing ship

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In service with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary between 2006 and 2011, she was sold to the Royal Australian Navy.[11]

Landing ship logistics

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Round table class

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The Round Table-class landing ship logistics were a class of six ships, all of which would be named after Knights of the Round Table.

RFA Sir Percivale

Chartered Landing Ship Logistics

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After the loss of RFA Sir Galahad and the damage to RFA Sir Tristam during the Falklands War, two commercial Roll-on/roll-off ferries were temporarily chartered.[12]

Strategic Sealift

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Strategic Sealift Ro/Ro

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Two commercial Ro/Ro vessels bareboat chartered for additional freight carrying capacity with formation of the Joint Rapid Deployment Force (JRDF).[13]

Landing Ship Tank

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RFA Empire Gull

Originally operated by the Royal Navy, in 1956 she was transferred to civilian administration as SS Empire Gull. She joined the RFA in 1970 and was in service until 1978, being the only Landing Ship Tank operated as an Royal Fleet Auxiliary.[14]

Landing Ship Gantry

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Dale class

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Three Dale-class tankers were converted into Landing Ship Gantry’s and were then reconverted back into tankers at the end of the Second World War.[15]

See also

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Roles and types

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Future

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References

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  1. ^ Williams, Briohny. "Royal Navy task force gears up for landmark deployment". Forces News. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  2. ^ "Freedom of Information Request 2016/08608" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. 6 October 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  3. ^ "RFA LYME BAY (L3007)". royalnavy.mod.uk. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  4. ^ "L 3009 RFA Cardigan Bay". seaforces.org. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  5. ^ "RFA CARDIGAN BAY (L3009)". royalnavy.mod.uk. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  6. ^ "L 3008 RFA Mounts Bay". seaforces.org. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  7. ^ "RFA MOUNTS BAY (L3008)". royalnavy.mod.uk. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  8. ^ "The oldest ship in the Royal Naval Service to become the new Littoral Strike Ship". navylookout.com. 20 July 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  9. ^ "A 135 RFA Argus". seaforces.org. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  10. ^ "RFA Argus extended in service beyond 2030". navylookout.com. 19 June 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  11. ^ "RFA Largs Bay - Historical RFA". historicalrfa.uk. 25 October 2008. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
  12. ^ "RFA Sir Caradoc - Historical RFA". historicalrfa.uk. 16 October 2008. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  13. ^ "RFA Sea Crusader - Historical RFA". historicalrfa.uk. 16 October 2024. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  14. ^ "RFA Empire Gull - Historical RFA". historicalrfa.uk. 26 October 2008. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
  15. ^ Olver. "Dale Class Tankers (Second and Third Groups)". Archived from the original on 12 July 2009. Retrieved 7 March 2009.