Fearless-class landing platform dock
{{short description|Royal Navy vessel}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{More citations needed|date=November 2010}}
| {{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image |Ship image=File:Fearless & Intrepid p1, Portsmouth, UK.JPG |Ship caption=HMS Fearless and HMS Intrepid }} {{Infobox ship class overview |Name=Fearless class |Builders= |Operators={{navy|United Kingdom}} |Class before= |Class after={{sclass|Albion|landing platform dock|4}} |Subclasses= |Cost= |Built range= |In service range= |In commission range= 1965–2002 |Total ships building= |Total ships planned= |Total ships completed=2 |Total ships cancelled= |Total ships active= |Total ships laid up= |Total ships lost= |Total ships retired=2 |Total ships preserved= }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Hide header= |Header caption= |Ship type=Landing platform dock |Ship displacement=16,950 tons |Ship length={{convert|158.5|m|ft|abbr=on}} |Ship beam={{convert|24.4|m|ft|abbr=on}} |Ship height= |Ship draught={{convert|6.3|m|ft|abbr=on}} |Ship depth= |Ship hold depth= |Ship power= |Ship propulsion=*2 steam turbines
|Ship speed={{convert|22|kn|km/h|0}} |Ship range= |Ship endurance= |Ship boats=*4 medium landing craft (in dock)
|Ship capacity=*Up to 700 troops
|Ship troops= |Ship complement=580 |Ship sensors= |Ship EW= |Ship armament=*2 anti-aircraft guns
|Ship armour= |Ship aircraft=5 helicopters |Ship aircraft facilities= |Ship notes= }} |
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|L10|6}} and {{HMS|Intrepid|L11|6}}.
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|L12|6}} until the end of 2002, when she too was withdrawn from service, ready for the {{sclass|Albion|landing platform dock|4}} 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).
Ships
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!Name !width="20%"|(a) Hull builder !Laid down !Launched !Accepted into service !Commissioned !Estimated building cost"Unit cost, i.e. excluding cost of certain items (e.g. aircraft, First Outfits)." |
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| | L10 | | {{HMS|Fearless|L10|2}} | | (a) Harland & Wolff Ltd, Belfast | | 25 July 1962 | | 19 December 1963 | | 25 November 1965 |
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| | L11 | | {{HMS|Intrepid|L11|2}} | | (a) John Brown & Co Ltd, Clydebank | | 19 December 1962 | | 25 June 1964 | | 11 March 1967 |
Notes
{{Reflist}}{{Commons category|Fearless class LPD}}
{{Fearless_class_landing_platform_dock}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fearless Class Landing Platform Dock}}