Fearless-class landing platform dock

HMS Fearless and HMS Intrepid
Class overview
NameFearless class
Operators Royal Navy
Succeeded byAlbion class
In commission1965–2002
Completed2
Retired2
General characteristics
TypeLanding platform dock
Displacement16,950 tons
Length158.5 m (520 ft)
Beam24.4 m (80 ft)
Draught6.3 m (21 ft)
Propulsion
  • 2 steam turbines
  • 22,000 shp (16,000 kW)
Speed22 knots (41 km/h)
Boats & landing
craft carried
Capacity
  • Up to 700 troops
  • 15 tanks
  • 27 vehicles
Complement580
Armament
Aircraft carried5 helicopters

The Fearless-class landing platform docks were the first purpose-built amphibious assault vessels in the Royal Navy. The class comprised two ships: HMS Fearless and HMS Intrepid.

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.