What HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark bring to the Royal Navy

HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark are both Albion-class amphibious assault ships. The LPDs, Landing Platform Docks, are designed to land war marines ashore by sea and air. HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark entered into service in 2003 and 2005 respectively and are due to leave service in the early 2030s. Albion and Bulwark act as the afloat command platform for the Royal Navy's Amphibious Task with the ability to embark, transport, recover and deploy troops, vehicles and equipment as part of an amphibious assault force. Their usefulness derives mainly from their ability to concentrate a balanced force at a chosen point on a coastline or to deter aggression by providing a potent UK presence offshore in an area of regional tension. They both support large-scale operations due to their size and versatility. The sophisticated command and control systems are vital to coordinating and executing amphibious operations. In recent years, HMS Albion has been operating with NATO partners in the High North and Mediterranean, preserving regional stability and security. To achieve their military taskings, the ships need the right kit and equipment on board. The LPD vehicle decks are vast and can carry up to six Challenger tanks or around 30 armoured all-terrain tracked vehicles. The flight decks can also house two Merlin or Sea King helicopters and two Chinook heavy-lift helicopters. Each ship has a crew of around 300 but can accommodate in excess of 400 extra personnel. As part of the ship's company, there's a permanent Royal Marine unit called Four Assault Squadron Royal Marines. It has various crafts to transfer commandos from ship to shore. The floodable well dock has the capacity to take four large LCUs, Landing Craft Utility, and smaller LCVPs, that's Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel, can be launched from davits on both sides of the ships. Crucial to commando operations, strike teams can be projected ashore quickly when needed. If required, the LPDs have the capability to land over 200 Royal Marines ashore by air and sea. In comparison, Bay-class vessels such as RFA Mounts Bay has a crew of around 60 and within normal capacity can embark around 300 extra personnel. The ships have space for one helicopter on the flight deck and load over 100 vehicles inside. The Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships can carry one LCU inside, and one or two LCVPs on the deck, which have to be craned on and off. A key part of what the LPDs offer is flexibility in tasks outside their primary military role and in humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and non-combatant evacuation operations. For example, HMS Bulwark saved several thousand lives in assisting during the migrant crisis in the Mediterranean in 2015. As a result, HMS Bulwark and HMS Albion are often referred to as the Swiss Army Knives of the Royal Navy, with Royal Marines providing the tip of the amphibious spear. Briony Williams, Forces News.