RFA Cardigan Bay (L3009)

RFA Cardigan Bay is an amphibious ship designed to carry and offload troops and their equipment – getting them to where they are needed, fast!

Role

Led by Captain Simon Herbert. With a floodable dock at the stern, RFA Cardigan Bay can offload troops either using landing craft or from her large flight deck. The ship can also carry ‘mexeflotes’ – 120ft-long powered pontoons (rafts) that can be used to ferry equipment ashore.

Cardigan Bay‘s large medical department is also a valuable asset. She can take on an enhanced medical team ready to become a Primary Casualty Receiving Ship, though this role is more typically carried out by RFA Argus.

Bay class

Unit history

2005

Launch

RFA Cardigan Bay was launched in 2005 and entered service in 2006; she was the first ship of the class to join the RFA.

2012

Deploys to the Gulf

Supporting amphibious landings by the Royal Marines and acting as a ‘mother ship’ to minehunters – she spent 50 months at sea.

2016

Maintenance

Hardworking RFA Cardigan Bay returned home for maintenance.

2017

Returns to the Gulf

After a long and arduous spring full of maintenance and training, she returned to the Gulf on operations.

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