HMS Intrepid (L11)

History

United Kingdom
Name:	Intrepid
Ordered:	1 May 1962
Builder:	John Brown & Company
Laid down:	19 December 1962
Launched:	25 June 1964
Commissioned:	11 March 1967
Decommissioned:	31 August 1999
Identification:	Pennant L11
Motto:	"Cela va sans dire" ("That goes without saying")
Fate:	Towed to Liverpool for scrapping September 2008
General characteristics
Class and type:	Fearless-class landing platform dock
Displacement:	11,060 long tons (11,240 t) standard 12,120 long tons (12,310 t) full load 16,950 long tons (17,220 t) ballasted and dock flooded
Length:	520 ft (158.5 m) oa 500 ft (152.4 m) wl
Beam:	80 ft (24.4 m)
Draught:	20 ft 6 in (6.25 m)
Propulsion:	2 shafts 2 English Electric Steam turbines 2 Babock & Wilcox boilers (550 psi (3,800 kPa) at 850 °F (454 °C)) 22,000 shp (16,000 kW)
Speed:	21 kn (39 km/h; 24 mph)
Range:	5,000 nmi (9,260 km; 5,750 mi) at 20 kn (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Boats & landing craft carried:	4× LCM (9) landing craft in dock 4× LCVP landing craft on davits
Capacity:	Normal capacity 380–400 troops, up to 700 troops for short periods 15 tanks 27 vehicles
Complement:	550 including small Royal Marines detachment (approx 88)
Sensors and processing systems:	Type 974 search radar Type 978 Navigation radar
Armament:	Original armament:4× Sea Cat SAM launchers 2 × Bofors 40/60 1990 Armament: 2× Sea Cat 4× Oerlikon KCB 30 mm cannon (2 twin mounts) 2× Oerlikon GAM-B01 20 mm cannon
Aircraft carried:	Up to 5 Westland Wessex helicopters.

HMS Intrepid (L11) was one of two Fearless-class amphibious warfare ships of the Royal Navy. A Landing Platform Dock (LPD), she served from 1967 until 1999. Based in HM Naval Base, Devonport, Plymouth, Devon and HM Naval Base Portsmouth, she saw service around the world over her 32-year life.

In the process of being decommissioned for sale, she was rapidly returned to service to sail as part of the British operation to retake the Falkland Islands after the Argentine invasion in 1982. She landed troops in amphibious assaults on the Islands and the Argentine surrender was signed on her deck at the conclusion of the Falklands War.

The LPDs provided support to a Royal Marines amphibious assault force and provided a platform for the Headquarters capability prior to, and during, the assault phase.

Intrepid was the second of her class of purpose built LPDs used by Royal Navy. She was built in Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, at the John Brown & Company yard and was launched in 1964 before undergoing trials and commissioning in 1967. She was the last ship built by John Brown & Co for the Royal Navy.

Intrepid became the first Royal Navy warship to be fitted with satellite communication equipment in 1969. As a result of defence cuts, Intrepid went into reserve in 1976, being brought back into active service in 1979 to allow Fearless to be refitted.

It was announced in 1981 that the two LPDs were to be deleted, with Intrepid undergoing decommissioning in 1982 at the outbreak of the Falklands War. After decommissioning, the Royal Navy was due to sell Intrepid to Argentina. However, Intrepid was brought back into commission, with her ship's company recalled by Commander Bryn Telfer (the Executive Officer), and Malcolm MacLeod, the crew gladly returned to form part of the task group committed to Operation Corporate, the British effort to recapture the islands. Intrepid was commanded by Captain Peter Dingemans.

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Wikipedia