RFA Cardigan Bay (L3009)

History
RFA Cardigan Bay in the Middle East, August 2012
United Kingdom
Name:	RFA Cardigan Bay
Ordered:	19 November 2001
Builder:	BAE Systems, Govan, Glasgow
Laid down:	13 October 2003
Launched:	8–9 April 2005
In service:	18 December 2006
Identification:	IMO number: 9240782 Pennant number: L3009
Status:	in active service
General characteristics
Class and type:	Bay-class landing ship dock
Displacement:	16,160 t (15,905 long tons) full load
Length:	579.4 ft (176.6 m)
Beam:	86.6 ft (26.4 m)
Draught:	19 ft (5.8 m)
Propulsion:	2 × Wärtsilä 8L26 generators, 6,000 hp (4.5 MW) 2 × Wärtsilä 12V26 generators, 9,000 hp (6.7 MW) 2 × azimuth thrusters 1 × bow thruster
Speed:	18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Range:	8,000 nmi (15,000 km; 9,200 mi) at 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Boats & landing craft carried:	1 LCU or 2 LCVP in well deck; Mexeflote powered rafts
Capacity:	1,150 linear metres of vehicles (up to 24 Challenger 2 tanks or 150 light trucks) Cargo capacity of 200 tons ammunition or 24 TEU containers
Troops:	356 standard, 700 overload
Complement:	60
Armament:	2 × Phalanx CIWS 2 × 30 mm DS30B cannon 4 × 7.62mm Mk.44 Miniguns 6 × 7.62mm L7 GPMGs
Aircraft carried:	None carried
Aviation facilities:	Flight deck can operate helicopters up to Chinook size

RFA Cardigan Bay is a Bay-class landing ship dock of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA). Built by BAE Systems, the ship was dedicated into the RFA at the end of 2006.

The Bay class was designed as a replacement for the Round Table-class logistics ships operated by the RFA. The new design was based on the Royal Schelde Enforcer design; a joint project between the Dutch and Spanish resulting in the Rotterdam-class and Galicia-class amphibious warfare ships. The main difference with the British ships is the lack of a helicopter hangar. The ships were originally designated "auxiliary landing ship logistics" or ALSL, but this was changed in 2002 to "landing ship dock (auxiliary)" or LSD(A), better reflecting their operational role. Four ships were ordered; two from Swan Hunter, and two from BAE Systems Naval Ships.

The Bay-class ships have a full load displacement of 16,160 tonnes (15,900 long tons). Each is 579.4 feet (176.6 m) long, with a beam of 86.6 feet (26.4 m), and a draught of 19 feet (5.8 m). Propulsion power is provided by two Wärtsilä 8L26 generators, providing 6,000 horsepower (4.5 MW), and two Wärtsilä 12V26 generators, providing 9,000 horsepower (6.7 MW). These are used to drive two steerable azimuth thrusters, with a bow thruster supplementing. Maximum speed is 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph), and the Bay-class ships can achieve a range of 8,000 nautical miles (15,000 km; 9,200 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph). For self-defence, Cardigan Bay is armed with two 30 mm DS30B cannons, four Mk.44 miniguns, six 7.62mm L7 GPMGs, and two Phalanx CIWS. The standard ship's company consists of 60 officers and sailors.

...
Wikipedia