FAERLESS HMS 1965

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aukepalmhof
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Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 1:28 am

FAERLESS HMS 1965

Post by aukepalmhof » Tue Oct 27, 2009 8:10 pm

Built as a Landing Platform Dock (LPD) ship under yard No 1651 by Harland & Wolff, Belfast for the Royal Navy.
25 July 1962 laid down.
19 December 1963 launched under the name HMS FEARLESS (L10), launching ceremony was performed by Lady Hull, one sister HMS INTREPID.
Displacement 11.060 tons standard, 12.120 tons full load. Dim. 158.5 x 24.4 x 6.3m. (draught).
Powered by two English Electric steam turbines, 22.000 shp, twin shafts, speed 21 knots.
Armament 2 – 40mm Bofors, 2 – 20mm Vulcan Phalanx “Gatling” guns, 4 quadruple Seacat Sam launchers.
Could carry 5 helicopters.
Complement 580.
25 November 1965 commissioned.

She can carry 700 troops, 15 tanks and up to 30 other vehicles, and landed by the four LCM (9) in the dock and four LCVP at the davits.
The dock at the stern of the ship is flooded by flooding down the stern to a draught of 9.8m., thereafter the four LCM can left the dock in the vessel. About 6000 tons ballast water is used to give the vessel the draught she need to release her landing craft.
The LPD’s provided support to the Royal Marines amphibious assault and provided a platform for a Headquarters capability prior to, and during the assault phase.

1966 After commissioned she was used as command platform for British Counter-Terrorism operations in Aden, landing the Irish Guards in R.A.F. helicopters.
1967 When Aden got her independence, she was the command ship of a 25 ship fleet, to remove all British Government equipment from the former colony, and coordinate the withdrawal.
1968 She was the venue for talks between the British Minister President Harold Wilson and Ian Smith of the at that time, Rhodesian Government.
During 1971 she played a major part in the Pakistan flood relief.
1976 She played a part in the final scenes of the James Bond film ‘The Spy Who Loved My’ as the ship who picked up Bond’s escape pod.
When acting in this roll she was diverted to a Greek cargo ship ablaze and in trouble.

When the Falkland War broke out she sailed from the U.K on 06 April 1982, under command of Capt. Larken, as command ship for the Amphibious Task Force.
She led the way in St Carlos waters.
Later used by Major General Moure as headquarter, and on board the FAERLESS the initial surrender negotiations were conducted. The Argentinean General Menendez was held prisoner of war on board the FAERLESS.

08 June 1982 In the afternoon of that day two crewmembers and four Royal Marines of the FEARLESS were killed in this war when one of her landing boats LCU F4 was attacked by four Grupo 5 Skyhawks in Choiseul Sound, the landing craft was underway from Goose Green to Fitzroy with 5th Infantry HQ vehicles, she was hit by one bomb who killed the 2 crewmembers and 3 mariners, shortly thereafter she sank.

1985 Decommissioned, and laid up in reserve at the Portsmouth Dockyard.
1988 Underwent a two year refit at the Devonport for £50 million. Her 2 Bofors guns and Sea Cat anti-air launchers were replaced by 2 - 20mm BMARC and Phalanx CWIS guns.
1991 Recommissioned.

From 1991 till 1995 she supported the sea training phase of initial officer training undertaken at Britannia Royal naval College as part of the Dartmouth Training Squadron.

18 March 2002 decommissioned and is awaiting disposal in Fareham Creek near Portsmouth.
March 2007 still there.'
17 December 2007 towed to the breakers yard of Van Heyghen, Genth, Belgium where she was broken up.


The Ascension Island stamp depicts her with a helicopter overhead and landing craft transporting supplies and men. The stern has been flooded to allow the landing craft to manoeuvre in and out the dock.

Ascension 2007 50p sg?, scott?
Guernsey 2007 37p sg?, scott? (she is the FEARLESS or her sister INTREPID.)

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Fearless_(L10) http://www.btinternet.com/~warships/Today/intrepid.htm The World Navies.
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