BULWARK HMS 2004
Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 2:37 am
In 2009 a set of stamps were issued, under the guise of S Tome, to commemorate the 60th anniversary of NATO. One stamp shows two views of HMS BULWARK – the upper view shows an ADEPT class tug on the starboard side of the vessel.
Ordered: 18 July 1996
Builder: BAE Systems Marine
Laid down: 27 January 2000 Barrow-in-Furness, England
Launched: 15 November 2001
Sponsored by: Lady Walker
Commissioned: 10 December 2004
Homeport: HMNB Devonport, Plymouth
Motto: "Under thy wings I will trust"
Class and type: Albion class landing platform dock
Displacement: 21,500 tonnes
Length: 176 m
Beam: 25.6 m waterline, 28.9 m maximum
Propulsion: 2 × Wärtsilä 6.25 MW and 2 × Wärtsilä 1.56 MW diesel generators operating at 6.6 kV driving two AC motors through twin shafts and a bowthruster unit
Speed: 18 knots (33 km/h)
Range: 7,000 nautical miles (13,000 km)
Complement: 325
Armament: 2 × Goalkeeper CIWS
4 × 7.62 mm machine guns
2 × 20 mm cannon
Up to 200 marines can be carried in dedicated accommodation for long periods and another 500 in austere conditions for short periods. Her flight deck can accommodate two Chinook or two Merlin helicopters. A large floodable dock holds four large landing craft – with another four carried on davits on the ship's sides.
On 28 June 2005 HMS BULWARK together with HMS ALBION (L 14) was present at the Trafalgar 200 celebrations off Portsmouth.
HMS BULWARK departed the UK in January 2006 for a six-month East of Suez maiden deployment. She conducted counter-terrorist and counter-piracy tasks in waters off the Horn of Africa. HMS BULWARK then headed for the northern Persian Gulf to become the flagship of Task Force 158, providing security for Iraqi oil platforms.
At the start of the summer of 2006 HMS BULWARK was near Spain. Due to the 2006 Israel-Lebanon crisis, on 15 July 2006 she was ordered to divert to Lebanon and to support operations evacuating British citizens from the conflict area. On 20 July, she evacuated approximately 1,300 people from Beirut in the biggest British evacuation. On completion of her extended deployment the ship returned to the United Kingdom. At the start of June 2007 HMS BULWARK was docked at Sunderland on the River Wear.
In October 2008 HMS BULWARK was at the Tail of the Bank in the Firth of Clyde together with HMS Ark Royal and FS Tonnerre, taking part in Exercise Neptune Warrior 2008, NW 082.
On 18 February 2009 BULWARK sailed from Devonport as flagship to Commander UK Amphibious Task Group, Commodore Peter Hudson, on the Taurus 09 deployment. She was joined by Landing Platform Helicopter (LPH) HMS Ocean, Type 23 Frigates HMS Argyll and HMS Somerset and four ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.
In spring 2010 she entered a six-month refit at HMNB Devonport no 8 dock. HMS BULWARK is putting the finishing touches to her first major refit period. Taking 8 months, this refit has given BULWARK significant enhancements to her machinery and magazine spaces, her High Voltage propulsion system, advanced communication sensors, IT network capability and defensive weapon upgrades. Another significant improvement has been BULWARK's conversion to full tactical Night Vision capability by her Landing Craft and aircraft and not least the capacity for her to operate two heavy lift Chinook helicopters simultaneously from her flight deck.
The ship began 2011 undergoing sea trials and evaluations in order to return to the Fleet on 25 Feb; she will now undertake sea training to ensure that the ship and crew are ready in all respects to take over as the Royal Navy's, high readiness, Flag Ship and the challenges that lie beyond.
Sources: Wikipedia.
http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/operations- ... s-BULWARK/.
St Thomas & Prince 2009 Db30000 sg?, scott?
Peter Crichton
Ordered: 18 July 1996
Builder: BAE Systems Marine
Laid down: 27 January 2000 Barrow-in-Furness, England
Launched: 15 November 2001
Sponsored by: Lady Walker
Commissioned: 10 December 2004
Homeport: HMNB Devonport, Plymouth
Motto: "Under thy wings I will trust"
Class and type: Albion class landing platform dock
Displacement: 21,500 tonnes
Length: 176 m
Beam: 25.6 m waterline, 28.9 m maximum
Propulsion: 2 × Wärtsilä 6.25 MW and 2 × Wärtsilä 1.56 MW diesel generators operating at 6.6 kV driving two AC motors through twin shafts and a bowthruster unit
Speed: 18 knots (33 km/h)
Range: 7,000 nautical miles (13,000 km)
Complement: 325
Armament: 2 × Goalkeeper CIWS
4 × 7.62 mm machine guns
2 × 20 mm cannon
Up to 200 marines can be carried in dedicated accommodation for long periods and another 500 in austere conditions for short periods. Her flight deck can accommodate two Chinook or two Merlin helicopters. A large floodable dock holds four large landing craft – with another four carried on davits on the ship's sides.
On 28 June 2005 HMS BULWARK together with HMS ALBION (L 14) was present at the Trafalgar 200 celebrations off Portsmouth.
HMS BULWARK departed the UK in January 2006 for a six-month East of Suez maiden deployment. She conducted counter-terrorist and counter-piracy tasks in waters off the Horn of Africa. HMS BULWARK then headed for the northern Persian Gulf to become the flagship of Task Force 158, providing security for Iraqi oil platforms.
At the start of the summer of 2006 HMS BULWARK was near Spain. Due to the 2006 Israel-Lebanon crisis, on 15 July 2006 she was ordered to divert to Lebanon and to support operations evacuating British citizens from the conflict area. On 20 July, she evacuated approximately 1,300 people from Beirut in the biggest British evacuation. On completion of her extended deployment the ship returned to the United Kingdom. At the start of June 2007 HMS BULWARK was docked at Sunderland on the River Wear.
In October 2008 HMS BULWARK was at the Tail of the Bank in the Firth of Clyde together with HMS Ark Royal and FS Tonnerre, taking part in Exercise Neptune Warrior 2008, NW 082.
On 18 February 2009 BULWARK sailed from Devonport as flagship to Commander UK Amphibious Task Group, Commodore Peter Hudson, on the Taurus 09 deployment. She was joined by Landing Platform Helicopter (LPH) HMS Ocean, Type 23 Frigates HMS Argyll and HMS Somerset and four ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.
In spring 2010 she entered a six-month refit at HMNB Devonport no 8 dock. HMS BULWARK is putting the finishing touches to her first major refit period. Taking 8 months, this refit has given BULWARK significant enhancements to her machinery and magazine spaces, her High Voltage propulsion system, advanced communication sensors, IT network capability and defensive weapon upgrades. Another significant improvement has been BULWARK's conversion to full tactical Night Vision capability by her Landing Craft and aircraft and not least the capacity for her to operate two heavy lift Chinook helicopters simultaneously from her flight deck.
The ship began 2011 undergoing sea trials and evaluations in order to return to the Fleet on 25 Feb; she will now undertake sea training to ensure that the ship and crew are ready in all respects to take over as the Royal Navy's, high readiness, Flag Ship and the challenges that lie beyond.
Sources: Wikipedia.
http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/operations- ... s-BULWARK/.
St Thomas & Prince 2009 Db30000 sg?, scott?
Peter Crichton