The Fearless-class landing platform docks were the first purpose-built amphibious assault vessels in the Royal Navy. The class comprised two ships: and .
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 Intrepid was finally withdrawn from service in August 1999. Fearless was kept in service, and continued to be deployed in concert with until the end of 2002, when she too was withdrawn from service, ready for the to enter the fleet. The Fearless class were the last steam-powered surface vessels in Royal Navy service.
Ships
PennantName(a) Hull builder(b) Main machinery manufacturersLaid downLaunchedAccepted into serviceCommissionedEstimated building cost"Unit cost, i.e. excluding cost of certain items (e.g. aircraft, First Outfits)."Text from Defences Estimates L10 (a) Harland & Wolff Ltd, Belfast (b) English Electric Co Ltd, Rugby (steam turbines) (b) David Brown & Co Ltd, Huddersfield (gearing)Defence Estimates, 1966-67, page 72, Table 3 (Programme): List and particulars of new ships which have been accepted or are expected to be accepted into HM service during the Financial Year ended 31 March 1966 25 July 1962 19 December 1963 November 1965 25 November 1965 £11,250,000 L11 (a) John Brown & Co Ltd, Clydebank (b) English Electric Co Ltd, Rugby (steam turbines) (b) David Brown & Co Ltd, Huddersfield (gearing)Defence Estimates, 1966–67, page 75, Table 3 (Programme): List and particulars of new ships which have been accepted or are expected to be accepted into HM service during the Financial Year ended 31 March 1967 19 December 1962 25 June 1964 March 1967 11 March 1967 £10,300,000
See also Equivalent landing ships of the same era
Notes