RFA Cardigan Bay

RFA Cardigan Bay

RFA Cardigan Bay

 

 

Previous name:
Subsequent name:

Official Number:                     9240782

Class:                                   BAY CLASS Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary)

Pennant No:                          L3009

Laid down:
Builder:                                 BAE Systems, Govan, Glasgow
Launched:                             9 April 2005
Into Service:                          6 March 2007
Out of service:
Fate:

 

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

 

Background Data:   In  April 2000 an Invitation to Tender was issued for the design and build of 2 Alternative Landing Ships Logistics to replace RFA’s SIR PERCIVALE and SIR GERAINT which were to enter service in 2004 and 2005. Options would be provided for up to a further 3 vessels to replace the remainder of the ageing LSL,s. 3 U.K. yards submitted bids - Appledore Shipbuilders Limited, BAE Systems and Swan Hunter (Tyneside) Ltd. On 26 October 2000 an official announcement was made that 4  new ships would be built in a £300 million deal and that subject to negotiation of satisfactory terms and conditions, Swan Hunter (Tyneside) Ltd would be selected as lead shipyard for the programme. Two ships would be built at Wallsend with the other two being built to the Swan Hunter design by BAE Systems Marine at Govan. The ships would be based on the very successful Dutch ROTTERDAM design, but enlarged to give greater payload carrying capacity

 

 

8 April 2005  Named CARDIGAN BAY by Lady Jan Stanhope, wife of Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope KCB, OBE, ADC the First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff.. Launch had to be delayed by 24 hours as a northerly wind had made the depth of  water in the Clyde too low

9 April 2005 launched by BAE Systems Marine, Govan as Yard Number 0324

January 2006 Captain Nigel Jones RFA appointed as Commanding Officer

22 June 2006 sailed Govan on Sea Trials

29 June 2006 returned Govan on completion of Sea Trials

8 September 2006 sailed Scotstoun for Portsmouth

15 September 2006 arrived Portsmouth

20 October 2006 Captain Peter Farmer RFA appointed as Commanding Officer

23 October 2006 sailed Portsmouth for Spithead Anchorage

10 November 2006 arrived Plymouth Sound

17 November 2006 arrived Falmouth from Devonport

14 February 2007 arrived Merseyside for the first time and entered the Cammell Laird Yard at   Birkenhead

23 February 2007 sailed Liverpool after dry docking

6 March 2007 service of Dedication was held at Portland

24 April 2007 berthed at Gibraltar

29 April 2007 sailed Gibraltar

15 July 2007 Captain Shaun Jones RFA appointed as Commanding Officer

Captain Shaun Jones RFA

24 July 2007 berthed on the south arm of Gibraltar dockyard

3 March 2008 rescued ten sailors from the MV Nadi which had sunk in the Arbian Gulf.

31 July 2008 Captain Shaun Jones RFA appointed as Commanding Officer

17 April 2009 His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent, GCVO visited the ship while it was alongside in Bahrain.

16 May 2009 Captain David J Buck RFA appointed as Commanding Officer

May 2010 Captain Gerard A Patterson RFA appointed as Commanding Officer

30 July 2010 Commander-in-Chief Fleet, Admiral Sir Trevor Soar KCB OBE RN, flew his flag onboard RFA Cardigan Bay, which is currently taking part in Operation Telic in the Northern Arabian Gulf

7 January 2011 berthed at Portsmouth after a three year Gulf deployment

18 January 2011 at Falmouth for repair period

April 2011 deployed to the Mediterranean with HMS Albion and HMS Sutherland on Operation Cougar 11 as the lead element of the Navy’s newly-formed Response Force Task Group (RFTG) together with elements of Taunton-based 40 Commando, Royal Marines 

12 April 2011 berthed at Gibraltar

1 August 2011 sailed Gibraltar

5 August 2011 berthed at Marchwood Military Port after her deployment in Operation Cougar 11

 

 

16 to 27 September 2012 off the coast of United Arab Emirates took part in International Mine Counter Measures 2012 (IMCMEX 12) with over 30 nations taking part. 

 

Ships of the same name

 

Cardigan Bay. (ex Loch Laxford) a Bay Class Frigate built by Henry Robb and Co, Leith, she was launched on the 28 December 1944.  Arrived at Troon for breaking up by West of Scotland Shipbreaking Co Ltd on the 5 March 1962.

Battle Honours for this Vessel: KOREA 1950-53