History

Ship's bearing the name Bulwark stretch back to 1777 when a 3rd Rate 74-gun vessel was ordered from Portsmouth. Although work on her began in 1780, the keel was never laid and the order was subsequently cancelled.

The second Bulwark was launched on 23rd April 1807 from Portsmouth Dockyard and during almost 20 years service, saw service in the American War of 1814-15. She was finally broken up in September 1826.

The third Bulwark was a Screwship, laid down at Chatham Dockyard on 8th March 1859. The build was suspended in March 1859. She lay dry until 1872 when she was dismantled.

The fourth Bulwark was a wooden 1st Rate 121-gun battleship. She was launched from Pembroke Dock on 7th March 1860 but returned from her steam trials in 1861 and was never completed for sea. After serving as part of a training establishment for boys, she was paid off in 1919.

The fifth Bulwark was a 15000-ton twin screw armoured battleship, launched on 18th October 1899 from Devonport Dockyard.

In 1908, she was commanded by the most junior battleship Captain at that time, Captain R F Scott, who later earned fame as the Antarctic explorer. Although active at the outbreak of the War, she sadly suffered an internal explosion off Sheerness on 26th November 1914 whilst embarking ammunition. There were only 12 survivors from a ship's company of 750.

The sixth Bulwark was laid down at Harland & Wolff, Belfast as a 22000 ton Light Fleet Carrier and was launched on 22nd June 1948. Carrying 50 aircraft, she saw service in 1956 throughout the Suez crisis.

Bulwark was modified to an all-helicopter Commando Carrier in 1959, operating 16 Whirlwind. Wessex helicopters later replaced these aircraft and four Landing Craft Vehicles Personnel (LCVP) added to aid mobility. With a complement of 1035, she could carry, accommodate and support an 800-man Royal Marine Commando.

Withdrawn from service in 1976 having completed her tenth commission, she was placed in reserve. Re-commissioned in 1979 as an Anti-Submarine Warfare Carrier in 1979, she was finally listed for disposal in 1983.

During her resurrection to service, Bulwark increasingly lived up to her nickname 'The Rusty B', affectionately coined from her motto 'Under Thy Wings I Will (T)rust'. She was also known as 'The Painted Lady', a reference to her numerous coats of paint.

The Seventh Bulwark

The new Bulwark is the second of two Amphibious Assault Landing Platform Dock (LPD) ships. Both Bulwark and her sister ship Albion replaced the recently paid off LPDs Intrepid and Fearless.