Albion-class

Summary

Description

The Albion-class landing platform dock, consisting of HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark, is a class of amphibious warfare ships in service with the Royal Navy. Ordered in 1996 to replace the Fearless class, both vessels were built by BAE Systems Marine at Barrow-in-Furness. Albion was commissioned in 2003, followed by Bulwark in 2004. Each ship accommodates a crew of 325 and up to 405 troops, equipped with eight landing craft to transport troops and vehicles.

The origins of the Albion class trace back to the notable role of the Fearless-class during the Falklands War, which led to the commission of their replacements in 1996 for enhanced capabilities. These ships are central to the British amphibious fleet's modernization program and serve as command platforms for Amphibious Task Force and Landing Force Commanders.

By 2010, to reduce running costs, the Strategic Defence and Security Review decided one Albion-class ship would be placed into extended readiness while the other maintained high operational readiness. The ships alternate roles, with Albion re-entering active service in 2016 after a refit when Bulwark entered extended readiness.

Designed with a focus on versatility for amphibious operations, Albion ships contain vehicle and flight decks but lack a hangar or aircraft storage facilities. Their vehicle deck can hold numerous trucks, smaller vehicles, and main battle tanks. The dock accommodates four large and four smaller landing craft. They incorporate the first diesel-electric propulsion system in a Royal Navy major surface combatant, providing significant crew reductions compared with previous classes, with a range of 8,000 miles and a top speed of 18 knots.

The armament of Albion-class ships consists of two 30 mm Goalkeeper Close-In Weapon Systems (CIWS) and two 20 mm cannons for missile defense, with the Goalkeeper mounts being replaced by 20 mm Phalanx mounts during recent refits. Additional defenses include various countermeasures such as decoy launchers. Sensor systems include navigation and air/surface search radars, upgraded over time to improve capabilities.

The operational history of these ships includes various important missions. HMS Albion took over as Royal Navy flagship in 2010 and participated in the NATO-led operation off Libya and anti-piracy operations in the Indian Ocean. HMS Bulwark's missions included evacuating UK nationals in 2006 during Operation Highbrow and becoming the fleet flagship in 2011 after a major refit.

Technical specifications