Fearless-class landing platform dock

The Fearless-class landing platform docks were the first purpose-built amphibious assault vessels in the Royal Navy. The class comprised two ships: HMS Fearless and HMS Intrepid.

HMS Fearless and HMS Intrepid
Class overview
Name	Fearless class
Operators	Royal Navy
Succeeded by	Albion class
In commission	1965–2002
Completed	2
Retired	2
General characteristics
Type	Landing platform dock
Displacement	16,950 tons
Length	158.5 m (520 ft)
Beam	24.4 m (80 ft)
Draught	6.3 m (21 ft)
Propulsion	2 steam turbines 22,000 shp (16,000 kW)
Speed	22 knots (41 km/h)
Boats & landing craft carried	4 medium landing craft (in dock) 4 light landing craft (on davits)
Capacity	Up to 700 troops 15 tanks 27 vehicles
Complement	580
Armament	2 anti-aircraft guns 4x4 Seacat SAM (originally fit) 2x Phalanx CIWS (added post-Falklands War)
Aircraft carried	5 helicopters

Designed as landing platform docks (LPD), they were designed to transport and land troops by sea either using Landing Craft Utility (LCU) 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.

Service

Intrepid was put into extended reserve in 1991, effectively removing her from active service. While in this state, she was used as a source of spares to maintain Fearless. Intrepid was finally withdrawn from service in August 1999. Fearless was kept in service, and continued to be deployed in concert with HMS Ocean until the end of 2002, when she too was withdrawn from service, ready for the Albion class to enter the fleet. The Fearless class were the last steam-powered surface vessels in Royal Navy service (nuclear submarines use a steam turbine drive).

1982 Falklands War

Fearless

Sailed from Portsmouth on 6 April 1982 as part of Operation Corporate Task Force.^[1] She carried the staff of Commodore Amphibious Warfare (COMAW) Michael Clapp and the Commanding Officer of 3 Commando Brigade, Brigadier Julian Thompson, acting as the afloat headquarters for planning and coordination of the San Carlos landings. During the landings at San Carlos Water on 21–22 April, Fearless’ landing craft put ashore elements of 3 Commando Brigade and troops of 5 Infantry Brigade, establishing the beachhead that would drive the advance towards Port Stanley.^[2]

On 8 June 1982, two of her LCVP landing craft (Foxtrot 4 and Foxtrot 7) rescued survivors from the frigate HMS Ardent after it was struck by Argentine aircraft; Royal Marine Corporal Alan White earned a Task Force Commander’s Commendation for rescuing 41 crew from Foxtrot 7, and Colour Sergeant Brian Johnston was posthumously awarded the Queen’s Gallantry Medal after his actions in Foxtrot 4. Fearless remained on station until the cessation of hostilities on 14 June 1982, then returned to Portsmouth after nearly three months away.

Intrepid

Sailed from Portland on 26 April 1982 following a rapid work‑up and joined the South Atlantic task group for amphibious operations^[3]. Between 26 April and 5 May, she carried Commando Headquarters and Royal Marines’ landing craft, rehearsing landings en-route to Ascension Island and then San Carlos Water^[4]. Intrepid’s boats helped deploy beach reconnaissance teams on the night of 20–21 April to survey landing sites under cover of darkness.

On 27 May, an A-4B Skyhawk of Argentine Grupo 5 was damaged by 40mm Bofors fire from Intrepid while over San Carlos Water and later crashed near Port Howard.^[5]

After the Argentine surrender on 14 June 1982, Intrepid remained in the islands to assist with the distribution of supplies.^[6] She sailed from San Carlos Water on 26 June 1982 and arrived back at Portsmouth on 14 July 1982.

Ships

Pennant	Name	(a) Hull builder (b) Main machinery manufacturers	Laid down	Launched	Accepted into service	Commissioned	Estimated building cost[7]
L10	Fearless	(a) Harland & Wolff Ltd, Belfast (b) English Electric Co Ltd, Rugby (steam turbines) (b) David Brown & Co Ltd, Huddersfield (gearing)[8]	25 July 1962	19 December 1963	November 1965[8]	25 November 1965	£11,250,000[8]
L11	Intrepid	(a) John Brown & Co Ltd, Clydebank (b) English Electric Co Ltd, Rugby (steam turbines) (b) David Brown & Co Ltd, Huddersfield (gearing)[9]	19 December 1962	25 June 1964	March 1967[9]	11 March 1967	£10,300,000[9]