^ HMS Fearless (L10)
Introduction
The Fearless class amphibious assault ships were the first purpose-built amphibious warfare vessels in the Royal Navy. The class comprised two ships: HMS Fearless and HMS Intrepid.
Designed as Landing Platform Docks, they were designed to transport and land troops by sea either using Landing Craft Utility or helicopters. As constructed, the ships have an internal dock that is accessed via the stern—while in port, vehicles can drive up the stern ramp and into the internal vehicle decks. At sea, the ships could partially submerge themselves at the stern, flooding the internal dock and allowing landing craft to come right up to the edge of the vehicle deck.
Each ship carried four LCUs in the stern dock, with four smaller landing craft on davits on the superstructure. They provided accommodation for up to 400 troops, which could be increased to 700, if no vehicles were carried.
HMS Fearless (L10)
Fearless was the first purpose built LPD used by the Royal Navy. Built in Belfast at the Harland and Wolff yard, she was launched in 1963 before undergoing trials and commissioning in 1965.
Following commissioning, her first operational tasking was acting as a command platform for British Counter-Terrorism operations in Aden, operating Royal Air Force aircraft and the Irish Guards prior to the British withdrawal as Flag of a 25 platform task group. Following the Aden experiences, in 1968, she was the venue for talks (in Gibraltar) between Harold Wilson and Ian Smith over the future of Rhodesia. The latter had unilaterally declared independence(UDI) from Britain due to Britain's insistence on the removal of white minority rule.
In 1972, Fearless ferried several Centurion AVRE demolition vehicles, derived from the Centurion tank to Northern Ireland to be deployed there as part of Operation Motorman.
Fearless featured in the 1977 James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me as the ship which picks up Bond's escape pod. The filming took place the previous year near the island of Malta.
Fearless was part of the British naval force committed to Operation Corporate, the 1982 Falklands War. Fitted with modern satellite communications equipment, it hosted the staff of amphibious force commander Commodore Michael Clapp (Commodore Amphibious Warfare (COMAW)), and Commanding Officer 3 Commando Brigade, Brigadier Julian Thompson and his staff, as well as elements of the landing force. As a result of the conflict, Royal Marine Coxswain Corporal Alan White received a commendation from the Task Force Commander, Admiral Sir John Fieldhouse, for his part in rescuing 41 crew from HMS Antelope using Foxtrot 7, one of four LCVP landing craft carried by Fearless. Foxtrot 7 is now located in the Royal Marines Museum in Portsmouth, with detailed accounts from Corporal Alan White of the missions he took part in, including the landings at San Carlos.
She was placed out of commission for three years in 1985 prior to a two-year refit at Devonport, recommissioning in 1991. During this refit, her 1940s-vintage 40mm Bofors cannon and 1960s-vintage Sea Cat anti-aircraft missile launchers were replaced by 20 mm BMARC and Phalanx CIWS guns.
From 1991 until 1995 she supported the sea training phase of initial officer training, undertaken at Britannia Royal Naval College, as part of the Dartmouth Training Squadron.
She was due to undertake an operation in the Gulf, but that was handed to HMS Ocean in 2000. Her last major duty was to take part in amphibious exercises shortly before decommissioning.
HMS Intrepid (L11)
Intrepid was the second of her class of purpose built LPDs used by Royal Navy. She was built in Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, at the John Brown & Company yard and was launched in 1964 before undergoing trials and commissioning in 1967. She was the last ship built by John Brown & Co for the Royal Navy.
Intrepid became the first Royal Navy warship to be fitted with satellite communication equipment in 1969. As a result of defence cuts, Intrepid went into reserve in 1976, being brought back into active service in 1979 to allow Fearless to be refitted.
It was announced in 1981 that the two LPDs were to be deleted, with Intrepid undergoing decommissioning in 1982 at the outbreak of the Falklands War. After decommissioning, the Royal Navy was due to sell Intrepid to Argentina. However, Intrepid was brought back into commission, with her ship's company recalled by Commander Bryn Telfer (the Executive Officer), and Malcolm MacLeod, the crew gladly returned to form part of the task group committed to Operation Corporate, the British effort to recapture the islands. Intrepid was commanded by Captain Peter Dingemans.
With elements of 3 Commando Brigade embarked, Intrepid took part in the amphibious landings at San Carlos Water. HMS Intrepid was under attack in San Carlos Water on 25 May 1982, with a few fatalities, mainly Royal Marines. The Nordic Ferry was also under attack. She came under heavy air attack once again during the operation, and was the main participant in the landings at Bluff Cove on 6 June. Margaret Thatcher and Sandy Woodward commended the efforts of the ships involved in the San Carlos attacks.
She Intrepid would be the last ship to arrive, the last piece in the jigsaw, and so all the timings depended on her.
As well as being one of the warships used for imprisoning the Argentinian prisoners of war, the surrender ending the Falklands conflict was signed on Intrepid's deck.
Intrepid was refitted at Devonport Royal Dockyard between January 1984 and June 1985, with two Sea Cat launchers removed, with twin 30 mm anti-aircraft mounts and two single 20 mm cannon added. From June 1985 until 1990 she supported the sea training phase of initial officer training, undertaken at Britannia Royal Naval College, as part of the Dartmouth Training Squadron.
Intrepid was placed in reserve status late in 1990, when Fearless completed an extensive refit. Intrepid was in poor physical condition by this time, which prevented a similar upgrade, and was laid up at HM Naval Base Portsmouth. Intrepid was used as a source of spares for her sister ship, HMS Fearless. She was decommissioned in 1999 and awaited her disposal, by scrapping, in Fareham Creek, Hampshire.
On 12 February 2007, the MoD announced that HMS Intrepid was to be recycled at a British facility. Leavesley International was selected as the preferred bidder, pending license acquisition. The contract aimed to ensure that the ship was disposed of responsibly, and in full compliance with international environmental legislation.
Having received the required planning permission and environmental licences for disposal, Intrepid left Portsmouth for her final journey to Liverpool on 13 September 2008. Having been previously suggested as potential diving site on the southcoast, various veterans of the Falklands War started a petition on the 10 Downing Street website to preserve the ship as a memorial to the conflict. But in late January 2009, the Daily Mail published an article showing the half demolished ship in Liverpool Docks, which was reported to be on target to be 96% recycled.
Ships Of Class
1. HMS Fearless (L10) Launched 19th December 1963. Commissioned 25th November 1965. Decommissioned 18th March 2002. Scrapped in 2008.
2. HMS Intrepid (L11) Launched 25th June 1964. Commissioned 11th March 1967. Decommissioned 31st August 1999. Scrapped in 2008.
Class & type: Fearless-class landing platform dock
Type: Amphibious transport dock
Displacement: 11,060 long tons (11,240 t) standard. 12,120 long tons (12,310 t) full load. 16,950 long tons (17,220 t) ballasted and dock flooded.
Length: 520 ft (158.5 m) oa. 500 ft (152.4 m) wl
Beam: 80 ft (24.4 m)
Draught: 20 ft 6 in (6.25 m)
Propulsion: 2 shafts. 2 English Electric Steam turbines. 2 Babock & Wilcox boilers (550 psi (3,800 kPa) at 850 °F (454 °C)) 22,000 shp (16,000 kW)
Speed: 21 kn (39 km/h; 24 mph)
Range: 5,000 nmi (9,260 km; 5,750 mi) at 20 kn (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Boats & landing craft carried: 4× LCM (9) landing craft in dock. 4× LCVP landing craft on davits
Capacity: Normal capacity 380–400 troops, up to 700 troops for short periods. 15 tanks. 27 vehicles
Crew Complement: 550 including small Royal Marines detachment (approx 88)
Sensors and processing systems: Type 974 search radar. Type 978 Navigation radar
Original armament:4× Sea Cat SAM launchers. 2 × Bofors 40/60
1990 Armament: 2× Sea Cat. 4× Oerlikon KCB 30 mm cannon (2 twin mounts). 2× Oerlikon GAM-B01 20 mm cannon
Aircraft carried: Up to 5 Westland Wessex helicopters.
Replacements
The two Fearless class ships were replaced by the Albion class ships, HMS Albion (L14) and HMS Bulwark (L15). Thread: http://ukdefenceforum.net/viewtopic.php?f=41&t=76
