HMS Bulwark
HMS Bulwark is the Flagship of the Royal Navy and the nation. Along with sister ship HMS Albion, Bulwark’s role is to deliver the punch of the Royal Marines ashore by air and by sea, with boats from our landing dock in the belly of the ship and by assault helicopter from the two-spot flight deck. We can carry 256 troops, with their vehicles and combat supplies, and this can be swollen up to 405 troops – although life won’t be comfortable…
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HMS Bulwark
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HMS Bulwark
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HMS Bulwark
Our vehicle deck can be crammed with 31 large trucks and 36 smaller vehicles such as Land Rovers and Vikings, and we can carry armoured vehicles such as the Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank.
Bulwark was launched at Barrow-in-Furness in November 2001, and commissioned into the Fleet in April 2005.
COMMANDING OFFICER
Alex Burton
- RANK:
- Captain
- JOINED:
- 1986
- SPECIALISATION:
- Warfare
- PREVIOUS UNITS:
- HMS Inverness, HMS Northumberland
Military experience
Joined the Royal Navy in 1986 as a sub lieutenant. Early part of his career was spent on a variety of warships in many theatres of operations.
He has held two previous commands: the mine countermeasures vessel HMS Inverness and the type 23 frigate HMS Northumberland.
He deployed to the Gulf during the late 1980s and spent six months in the Falklands in early 1990. Captain Burton has also enjoyed two lengthy deployments on counter-drug operations in the Caribbean.
He enjoys good food and the Arts.
He enjoys all outdoor sports.
OPERATIONS
Exercise Cold Response
CURRENT STATUS: COMPLETED
Cold Response is a multinational exercise led by the Norwegian Armed Forces. While current operations are focussed on Afghanistan, it is vital that the Royal Navy maintains its amphibious capability in a cold weather environment. Cold Response brings together the Royal Marines, assault ships and other Fleet assets, and the helicopters of the Fleet Air Arm.
Read MoreOperation Exercise Joint Warrior 111
CURRENT STATUS: COMPLETED
Joint Warrior (JW) Exercises are planned and conducted by the Joint Tactical Exercise Planning Staff (JTEPS) based at Headquarters Northwood. JTEPS which is a joint organisation parented by both HQ Air Command & Navy Command (NCHQ).
Read MoreUNIT DIARY
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Exercise Cold Response Update30/03/12
On 1 March we sailed into Oslo for our last port of call, before commencing a large amphibious exercise further north.
by Kris Nicholson
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HMS Bulwark Baltic Deployment Week 429/02/12
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HMS Bulwark Baltic Deployment Week 321/02/12
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HMS Bulwark Baltic Deployment Week 214/02/12
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HMS Bulwark Baltic Deployment Week 107/02/12
LATEST NEWS
TOP STORIES
Bulwark’s Crew Blag Their way Across Blighty in Flagship’s Mad Challenge
11 May 2012Six sailors and marines from the nation’s flagship were dumped...
Scottish Lion readies 45 Commando for front line
09 May 2012More than 750 Royal Marines and supporting units, plus three...
Royal Navy Begins Huge Olympics Security Exercise
04 May 2012The Royal Navy’s largest ship, HMS Ocean, sailed up the...
Action exercise climaxes with Royal Marines invading Scottish shores
25 April 2012The largest military exercise in Europe this year is drawing...
ABOUT THE UNIT
KEY STATISTICS
- Pennant
L15
- Displacement
18,500Tonnes
- Complement
325Personnel
- Length
176Metres
- Beam
25.6Metres
- Draught
7.1Metres
- Top Speed
18Knots
- Range (Nautical)
8,000Miles
- Launch Date
15/11/01
- Commissioned Date
28/04/05
- Military Lift (LPD only)
305troops
TAKE A LOOK
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Bulwark’s crew blag their way across Blighty in flagship’s mad challenge
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Bulwark’s crew blag their way across Blighty in flagship’s mad challenge
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Bulwark’s crew blag their way across Blighty in flagship’s mad challenge
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Bulwark’s crew blag their way across Blighty in flagship’s mad challenge
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Bulwark’s crew blag their way across Blighty in flagship’s mad challenge
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Bulwark’s crew blag their way across Blighty in flagship’s mad challenge
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Bulwark’s crew blag their way across Blighty in flagship’s mad challenge
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Bulwark’s crew blag their way across Blighty in flagship’s mad challenge
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Bulwark’s crew blag their way across Blighty in flagship’s mad challenge
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Bulwark’s crew blag their way across Blighty in flagship’s mad challenge
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Bulwark’s crew blag their way across Blighty in flagship’s mad challenge
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Bulwark’s crew blag their way across Blighty in flagship’s mad challenge
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Bulwark’s crew blag their way across Blighty in flagship’s mad challenge
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Bulwark’s crew blag their way across Blighty in flagship’s mad challenge
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Bulwark’s crew blag their way across Blighty in flagship’s mad challenge
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HMS Bulwark on Joint Warrior
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HMS Bulwark on Joint Warrior
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HMS Bulwark on Joint Warrior
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Bulwark
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Bulwark
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Cdre McAlpine in conversation with Capt Alex Burton of HMS Bulwark
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Flagship Bulwark lays on action-packed Arctic demonstration for Norway’s king
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Flagship Bulwark lays on action-packed Arctic demonstration for Norway’s king
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Flagship Bulwark lays on action-packed Arctic demonstration for Norway’s king
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Flagship Bulwark lays on action-packed Arctic demonstration for Norway’s king
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Flagship Bulwark lays on action-packed Arctic demonstration for Norway’s king
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Flagship Bulwark lays on action-packed Arctic demonstration for Norway’s king
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Flagship Bulwark lays on action-packed Arctic demonstration for Norway’s king
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Flagship Bulwark lays on action-packed Arctic demonstration for Norway’s king
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Flagship Bulwark lays on action-packed Arctic demonstration for Norway’s king
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Flagship Bulwark lays on action-packed Arctic demonstration for Norway’s king
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Flagship Bulwark lays on action-packed Arctic demonstration for Norway’s king
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HMS Bulwark and HMS Illustrious in Exercise Cold Response
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HMS Bulwark and HMS Illustrious in Exercise Cold Response
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HMS Bulwark and HMS Illustrious in Exercise Cold Response
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HMS Bulwark and HMS Illustrious in Exercise Cold Response
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HMS Bulwark in Exercise Cold Response
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HMS Bulwark in Exercise Cold Response
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HMS Bulwark in Exercise Cold Response
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HMS Bulwark in Exercise Cold Response
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HMS Bulwark in Exercise Cold Response
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HMS Bulwark in Exercise Cold Response
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HMS Bulwark in Exercise Cold Response
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HMS Bulwark in Exercise Cold Response
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HMS Bulwark in Exercise Cold Response
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HMS Bulwark in Exercise Cold Response
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HMS Bulwark and Armoured Support Royal Marines in Exercise Cold Response
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HMS Bulwark and Armoured Support Royal Marines in Exercise Cold Response
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HMS Bulwark and Armoured Support Royal Marines in Exercise Cold Response
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HMS Bulwark and Armoured Support Royal Marines in Exercise Cold Response
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HMS Bulwark and Armoured Support Royal Marines in Exercise Cold Response
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Cold steel in cold weather as Bulwark lands commandos in the Arctic
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Transit out to Red Beach, Harstad - Norway. 4 ASRM (4 Assault Squadron Royal Marines) moving vehicles onto LCUs (Landing Craft Utility) during exercise Cold Response.
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Cold steel in cold weather as Bulwark lands commandos in the Arctic
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Dutch WADER drills on Red Beach in the military exercise area of Harstad, Norway. The marines were practicing landing and extraction routines on Exercise Cold Response.
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Cold steel in cold weather as Bulwark lands commandos in the Arctic
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Cold steel in cold weather as Bulwark lands commandos in the Arctic
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Thursday War - General people at work shots taken during a thursday war exercise. Image by Martin Carney
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Cold steel in cold weather as Bulwark lands commandos in the Arctic
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A vertical Replenishment (VERTREP) via helo from HMS Illustrious to HMS Bulwark during Exercise Cold Response, Norway. 90 Royal Marines Commandos from Illustrious were transferred with all their weapons and kit in what turned out to be a major logistics exercise involving 3 Seaking helicopters which ran ferrying sorties for several hours until the transfers were complete. The resultant extra personnel that HMS BULWARK found itself with would be calling corridors, passageways and camp beds home for the next week.
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Cold steel in cold weather as Bulwark lands commandos in the Arctic
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A vertical Replenishment (VERTREP) via helo from HMS Illustrious to HMS Bulwark during Exercise Cold Response, Norway. 90 Royal Marines Commandos from Illustrious were transferred with all their weapons and kit in what turned out to be a major logistics exercise involving 3 Seaking helicopters which ran ferrying sorties for several hours until the transfers were complete. The resultant extra personnel that HMS BULWARK found itself with would be calling corridors, passageways and camp beds home for the next week.
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Cold steel in cold weather as Bulwark lands commandos in the Arctic
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Dutch Wader drills on Red Beach in the military exercise area of Harstad, Norway. The marines were practicing landing and extraction routines on Exercise Cold Response.
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Cold steel in cold weather as Bulwark lands commandos in the Arctic
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Transit out to Red Beach, Harstad - Norway. 4 ASRM (4 Assault Squadron Royal Marines) moving vehicles onto LCUs (Landing Craft Utility) during exercise Cold Response.
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HMS Bulwark - Exercise Cold Response
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HMS Bulwark - Exercise Cold Response
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HMS Bulwark - Exercise Cold Response
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HMS Bulwark - Exercise Cold Response
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HMS Bulwark - Exercise Cold Response
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HMS Bulwark - Exercise Cold Response
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HMS Bulwark - Exercise Cold Response
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HMS Bulwark - Exercise Cold Response
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HMS Bulwark - Exercise Cold Response
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HMS Bulwark - Exercise Cold Response
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HMS Bulwark - Exercise Cold Response
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HMS Bulwark - Exercise Cold Response
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HMS Bulwark - Exercise Cold Response
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HMS Bulwark - Exercise Cold Response
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HMS Bulwark - Exercise Cold Response
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HMS Bulwark - Exercise Cold Response
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HMS Bulwark - Exercise Cold Response
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HMS Bulwark - Exercise Cold Response
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HMS Bulwark - Exercise Cold Response
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HMS Bulwark - Exercise Cold Response
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HMS Bulwark - Exercise Cold Response
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HMS Bulwark - Exercise Cold Response
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HMS Bulwark - Exercise Cold Response
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HMS Bulwark - Exercise Cold Response
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HMS Bulwark - Exercise Cold Response
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HMS Bulwark - Exercise Cold Response
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HMS Bulwark - Exercise Cold Response
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HMS Bulwark
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HMS Bulwark
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HMS Bulwark
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HMS Bulwark
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HMS Bulwark
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HMS Bulwark
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HMS Bulwark
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HMS Bulwark
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HMS Bulwark
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HMS Bulwark
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HMS Bulwark
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HMS Bulwark
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HMS Bulwark
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HMS Bulwark
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HMS Bulwark
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HMS Bulwark
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HMS Bulwark
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‘Ice refugee’ HMS Bulwark pays unexpected visit to the home of the German Navy
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‘Ice refugee’ HMS Bulwark pays unexpected visit to the home of the German Navy
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‘Ice refugee’ HMS Bulwark pays unexpected visit to the home of the German Navy
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‘Ice refugee’ HMS Bulwark pays unexpected visit to the home of the German Navy
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‘Ice refugee’ HMS Bulwark pays unexpected visit to the home of the German Navy
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‘Ice refugee’ HMS Bulwark pays unexpected visit to the home of the German Navy
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‘Ice refugee’ HMS Bulwark pays unexpected visit to the home of the German Navy
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‘Ice refugee’ HMS Bulwark pays unexpected visit to the home of the German Navy
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‘Ice refugee’ HMS Bulwark pays unexpected visit to the home of the German Navy
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‘Ice refugee’ HMS Bulwark pays unexpected visit to the home of the German Navy
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‘Ice refugee’ HMS Bulwark pays unexpected visit to the home of the German Navy
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‘Ice refugee’ HMS Bulwark pays unexpected visit to the home of the German Navy
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‘Ice refugee’ HMS Bulwark pays unexpected visit to the home of the German Navy
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‘Ice refugee’ HMS Bulwark pays unexpected visit to the home of the German Navy
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‘Ice refugee’ HMS Bulwark pays unexpected visit to the home of the German Navy
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‘Ice refugee’ HMS Bulwark pays unexpected visit to the home of the German Navy
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‘Ice refugee’ HMS Bulwark pays unexpected visit to the home of the German Navy
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‘Ice refugee’ HMS Bulwark pays unexpected visit to the home of the German Navy
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‘Ice refugee’ HMS Bulwark pays unexpected visit to the home of the German Navy
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‘Ice refugee’ HMS Bulwark pays unexpected visit to the home of the German Navy
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HMS Bulwark
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HMS Bulwark
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HMS Bulwark
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Members of HMS Bulwark's ship's company training at height
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It's a long way up for one of HMS Bulwark's Leading Hands
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Writer Michaela Tough (right) prepares to take a leap of faith
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Cold Response
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Cold Response
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Cold Response
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Cold Response
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Cold Response
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Bulwark visits Scotland
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Highlands Challenge
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Highlands Challenge
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Highlands Challenge
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Amiral Rogel and Admiral Stanhope at the recent International Sea Power Symposium in the USA
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French marines are put ashore in Scotland from HMS Bulwark's landing craft during the Joint Warrior exercise earlier this month
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RFA Wave Knight provides fuel for the French patrol ship FS Commandant Birot off Cyprus during the Cougar 11 deployment
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Maritime Combat Power Visits, Solent, 24-27 Oct.HMS Bulwark takes the lead role in a multi-platform Visit
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Maritime Combat Power Visits, Solent, 24-27 Oct.HMS Bulwark takes the lead role in a multi-platform Visit
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Maritime Combat Power Visits, Solent, 24-27 Oct.HMS Bulwark takes the lead role in a multi-platform Visit
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Maritime Combat Power Visits, Solent, 24-27 Oct.HMS Bulwark takes the lead role in a multi-platform Visit
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Exercise Joint Warrior draws to an end as the French marines deploy from HMS Bulwark in Loch Eriboll
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Exercise Joint Warrior
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Exercise Joint Warrior
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Exercise Joint Warrior draws to an end as the French marines deploy from HMS BULWARK in Loch Eriboll
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French marines are landed ashore by a landing craft from 4ASRM during Joint Warrior in October 2011
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HMS Bulwark during Joint Warrior in October 2011
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French marines in a Zodiac during Joint Warrior in October 2011
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French marines ashore during Joint Warrior in October 2011
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HMS Bulwark
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HMS Bulwark 'Ready to Deliver' as Britain's flagship
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HMS Bulwark 'Ready to Deliver' as Britain's flagship
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HMS Bulwark 'Ready to Deliver' as Britain's flagship
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110912-Thursday War on board HMS BULWARK. Here, the Operations (OPS) Room team are closed up in full anti-flash during action stations.
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110912-Thursday War on board HMS BULWARK. Here, the Operations (OPS) Room team are closed up in full anti-flash during action stations.
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110912-The reflection of a gun crew is caught in starboard signalling lamp as a Trafalgar class submarine is passed.
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110912-Here, vehicles are being put ashore from a landing craft
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110912-Here a Killick (AWW) instructs a 20mm Gambo operator on which arc of fire to cover.
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110912-Here, a disaster relief team arrives
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110912-Fire fighting team closed up and about to make a re-entry on a hatch during operational sea training aboard HMS BULWARK
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110912-Distex Serial - OST 2011
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111209-A Petty Officer gives Brittania Royal Naval College students a lesson in shoring.
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110912- A Merlin helicopter can be seen in through the door on the flight deck.
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110912-A three man fire fighting team close up on a compartment door to fight a fire during a fire exercise.
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110912-848 NAS Visit
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HMS Bulwark
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HMS Bulwark and a landing craft
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HMS Bulwark
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HMS Bulwark and a landing craft
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HMS Bulwark
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HMS Bulwark
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HMS Bulwark
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HMS Bulwark
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Film Premiere in Oslo
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Film Premiere in Oslo
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HMS Bulwark and HMS Illustrious in Exercise Cold Response
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HMS Bulwark - Exercise Cold Response
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HMS Bulwark in Exercise Cold Response
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HMS Bulwark in Exercise Cold Response
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Cold steel in cold weather as Bulwark lands commandos in the Arctic
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Dutch Wader drills on Red Beach in the military exercise area of Harstad, Norway. The marines were practicing landing and extraction routines on Exercise Cold Response.
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Flagship Bulwark lays on action-packed Arctic demonstration for Norway’s king
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HMS Bulwark - Exercise Cold Response
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Flagship Bulwark lays on action-packed Arctic demonstration for Norway’s king
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