Landing platform dock HMS Bulwark (L15)

Landing platform dock HMS Bulwark (L15) 0Landing platform dock HMS Bulwark (L15) 1Landing platform dock HMS Bulwark (L15) 2

Basic information

Operator:
Country of build:
Ordered:
Laid down:
Launched:
Commissioned (service):
Status:

Ship measurements

Displacement:
19,560 t
Length:
176 m
Beam:
28.9 m
Draft:
7.1 m

Machine

Propulsion:
  • 2 * Wärtsilä Vasa 16V 32E diesel generators
  • 2 * Wärtsilä Vasa 4R 32E diesel generators
  • GE power conversion full electric propulsion system, 2 * motors and drives
  • Bow thruster
Speed:
18 knots
Range:
8,000 miles (7,000 nmi; 13,000 km)

Personnel

Complement:
325
Embarked units:
405
Total capacity:
710

Combat assets

Cargo capacity:
  • 67 vehicles
Boats & landing craft:
  • 4 * LCU MK10
  • 4 * LCVP MK5
Electronics:
  • 2 * Type 1007/8 I-band radars
  • 1 * Type 996 E/F band radar
  • 1 * Type 997 E/F-band radar (from 2016)
Armament:
  • 2 * 20mm Phalanx CIWS
  • 2 * 20mm GAM-BO1 cannon
  • 4 * general purpose machine guns
  • 4 * HMG
Aircraft:
  • Aviation facilities
  • Two landing spots for helicopters up to the size of a Chinook

HMS Bulwark is the second ship of the Royal Navy's Albion-class assault ships. She is one of the United Kingdom's two landing platform docks designed to put Royal Marines ashore by air and by sea.

Although launched in 2001, delays caused the delivery date to be put back, and the ship entered service In 28 April 2005. Together with Albion, and other amphibious ships, she has provided a larger and more effective amphibious capability than the previous Fearless-class vessels. Between October 2011 and June 2015 she was the fleet flagship of the Royal Navy. She has been in extended upkeep since 2020. The ship is designed to send large numbers of troops and vehicles to shore as quickly as possible. Bulwark has supported a permanently embarked Royal Marines landing craft unit, 4 Assault Squadron Royal Marines. The rear of Bulwark opens and floods a compartment, allowing the boats inside to be launched. The 64-metre (210 ft) flight deck is able to take two Sea King HC4 or Merlin medium-lift helicopters and stow a third. The deck can also support two Chinook heavy-lift helicopters, one down the side of the flight deck and one at the rear of the flight deck. Although the Albion design does not have a hangar, the ship has sufficient equipment to support helicopter operations.

Bulwark was launched at the BAE Systems shipyard at Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, on 15 November 2001. She is, to date, the most recent surface vessel to have been constructed at Barrow with the yard currently specialising in submarine construction.

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