![]() HMS Albion pictured operating with Dutch Royal Marines.
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History | |
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Name | HMS Albion |
Ordered | 18 July 1996 |
Builder | BAE Systems Marine |
Laid down | 23 May 1998 Barrow-in-Furness, England |
Launched | 9 March 2001 |
Sponsored by | The Princess Royal |
Commissioned | 19 June 2003 |
Refit | Major 2014–2017 |
Homeport | HMNB Devonport, Plymouth |
Identification |
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Motto |
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Status | Extended readiness (uncrewed reserve) as of early 2024[1] |
Notes | Re-dedication service: 21 July 2017 |
Badge | ![]() |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Albion-class amphibious transport dock |
Displacement | 19,560 t (19,250 long tons; 21,560 short tons) |
Length | 176 m (577 ft 5 in) |
Beam | 28.9 m (94 ft 10 in) |
Draught | 7.1 m (23 ft 4 in) |
Propulsion |
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Speed | 18 knots (21 mph; 33 km/h) |
Range | 8,000 miles (7,000 nmi; 13,000 km) |
Boats & landing craft carried |
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Capacity | 67 vehicles |
Troops | 405 Royal Marines (710 overload)[2][3] |
Crew | 325 |
Sensors and processing systems |
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Armament |
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Aviation facilities | Two landing spots for helicopters up to the size of a Chinook. |
HMS Albion is a landing platform dock of the Royal Navy, the first of the two-ship Albion class. Built by BAE Systems Marine in Barrow-in-Furness, Albion was launched in March 2001 by the Princess Royal. Her sister ship, Bulwark, was launched in November 2001, also from Barrow. Affiliated to the city of Chester and based in Plymouth, she is the ninth ship to carry the name Albion (after Albion, an ancient name of Great Britain), stretching back to the 74-gun 1763 warship, and last carried by an aircraft carrier decommissioned in 1973 after 19 years service. Designed as an amphibious warfare ship, Albion carries troops, normally Royal Marines, and vehicles up to the size of the Challenger 2 main battle tank. She can deploy these forces using four Landing Craft Utility (LCUs) and four Landing Craft Vehicle and Personnel (LCVPs). A flight deck supports helicopter operations.
Albion's future came under review as part of the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review. She was the fleet flagship from December 2010[5] until October 2011,[6][7] and then again from March 2018[8] until January 2021.[9]