List of amphibious warfare ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary

See also: List of amphibious warfare ships of the Royal Navy

RFA Blue Ensign

Ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary

A - B - C - D - E - F - G
H - I - J - K - L - M - N
O - P - Q - R - S - T - U
V - W - X - Y - Z

Replenishment ships
Miscellaneous ships

This is a list of amphibious warfare ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, the naval auxiliary fleet of the United Kingdom.

Active

There are two types of amphibious warfare ships currently in service with the RFA as of 2024, totalling four vessels: One littoral strike ship RFA Argus (A135) and three Bay-class landing ships.

The three Bay class ships are projected to be removed from service by 2032.[1]


List of current amphibious warefare ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary
Dock landing ships
Class / Type Ship Pennant No. Image In service Out of service Service life Status Ref.
Bay-class dock landing ship Lyme Bay L3007 26 November 2007 — 17 years, 268 days Active, entering refit as of June 2025[2] [3]
Cardigan Bay L3009 18 December 2006 — 18 years, 246 days Laid up awaiting refit as of mid-2025[4] [5][6]
Mounts Bay L3008 13 July 2006 — 19 years, 39 days Active, completing refit as of mid-2025[7] [8][9]
Littoral Strike Ship
Class / Type Ship Pennant No. Image In service Out of service Service life Status Ref.
— Argus A135 1 June 1988 — 37 years, 81 days Assessed as "unsafe to sail" in July 2025 pending needed maintenance work[10] [11][12][13]

Decommissioned

Dock landing ships

Bay-class dock landing ship

In service with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary between 2006 and 2011, she was sold to the Royal Australian Navy.[14]

Landing ship logistics

Round table class

Main article: Round Table class landing ship logistics

The Round Table-class landing ship logistics were a class of six ships, all of which would be named after Knights of the Round Table.

RFA Sir Percivale

Chartered Landing Ship Logistics

After the loss of RFA Sir Galahad and the damage to RFA Sir Tristam during the Falklands War, two commercial Roll-on/roll-off ferries were temporarily chartered.[15]

Strategic Sealift

Strategic Sealift Ro/Ro

Two commercial Ro/Ro vessels bareboat chartered for additional freight carrying capacity with formation of the Joint Rapid Deployment Force (JRDF).[16]

Landing Ship Tank

RFA Empire Gull

Originally operated by the Royal Navy, in 1956 she was transferred to civilian administration as SS Empire Gull. She joined the RFA in 1970 and was in service until 1978, being the only Landing Ship Tank operated as an Royal Fleet Auxiliary.[17]

Landing Ship Gantry

Dale class

Main article: Dale-class oiler

Three Dale-class tankers were converted into Landing Ship Gantry’s and were then reconverted back into tankers at the end of the Second World War.[18]

See also

Roles and types

Future

References

  1. ^ "Freedom of Information Request 2016/08608" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. 6 October 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  2. ^ "RFA Lyme Bay begins refit, leaving the UK with just one active amphibious vessel". Navy Lookout. 27 June 2025. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  3. ^ "RFA LYME BAY (L3007)". royalnavy.mod.uk. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  4. ^ @NavyLookout (9 July 2025). "@NavyLookout. @RFACardiganBay laid up alongside in Falmouth for lack of crew. Refit to begin next year" (Tweet). Retrieved 9 July 2025 – via Twitter.
  5. ^ "L 3009 RFA Cardigan Bay". seaforces.org. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  6. ^ "RFA CARDIGAN BAY (L3009)". royalnavy.mod.uk. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  7. ^ "RFA Lyme Bay begins refit, leaving the UK with just one active amphibious vessel". Navy Lookout. 27 June 2025. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  8. ^ "L 3008 RFA Mounts Bay". seaforces.org. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  9. ^ "RFA MOUNTS BAY (L3008)". royalnavy.mod.uk. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  10. ^ "RFA Argus stuck in Portsmouth deemed unsafe to sail". Navy Lookout. 27 July 2025. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  11. ^ "The oldest ship in the Royal Naval Service to become the new Littoral Strike Ship". navylookout.com. 20 July 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  12. ^ "A 135 RFA Argus". seaforces.org. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  13. ^ "RFA Argus extended in service beyond 2030". navylookout.com. 19 June 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  14. ^ "RFA Largs Bay - Historical RFA". historicalrfa.uk. 25 October 2008. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
  15. ^ "RFA Sir Caradoc - Historical RFA". historicalrfa.uk. 16 October 2008. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  16. ^ "RFA Sea Crusader - Historical RFA". historicalrfa.uk. 16 October 2024. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  17. ^ "RFA Empire Gull - Historical RFA". historicalrfa.uk. 26 October 2008. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
  18. ^ Olver. "Dale Class Tankers (Second and Third Groups)". Archived from the original on 12 July 2009. Retrieved 7 March 2009.
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