thumb|262px|[[AgustaWestland AW101|AgustaWestland Merlin from 845 Naval Air Squadron recovering to the flight deck of ]]
This is a list of amphibious warfare ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, the naval auxiliary fleet of the United Kingdom.
The list is divided into two parts: the first part is Active and includes current ships, whereas the second part is Out of service and encompasses all ships that have been previously operated.
Following the conclusion of the Second World War, the Royal Navy implemented a streamlined pennant number system. Within this system the letter L was designated for amphibious warfare vessels, while A was assigned to auxiliaries, which are ships belonging to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.
During the 1940s and 1950s, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary was involved in amphibious support roles through the use of auxiliary logistics ships. From the 1960s to the 2000s, the RFA operated the Landing Ship Logistics of the , also known as the Sir Lancelot class, marking the introduction of the first dedicated RFA amphibious warfare vessels. Since 1988, RFA Argus provided aviation and medical support for amphibious forces. However, she was taken out of service in 2025/26.
From 2006 to the present, the RFA has been operating the Bay-class dock landing ships, which serves as core modern amphibious lift ships. Looking ahead to the 2030s, there are plans for the multi-role strike ships (MRSS), intended to serve as a replacement with an expanded role in littoral strike operations.
Active
There is a single type of amphibious warfare ship currently in service with the RFA as of early-2026, totalling three s.
Consisting of three vessels (Lyme Bay, Mounts Bay and Cardigan Bay), the function of the Bay Class ships is to transfer embarked troops and armoured vehicles from ship to shore utilising Landing craft vehicle personnel (LCVP) and Landing craft utility (LCU) vessels. These ships are capable of operating in very severe weather conditions to assist amphibious operations. The three Bay class ships are projected to be removed from service by 2032.
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
!style="align: center; background: #B0C4DE;" colspan="9"|List of current amphibious warfare ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary
|-
!colspan="9"|Dock landing ships
|-
! scope="col" style="width: 250px;" | Class / Type
! scope="col" style="width: 175px;" | Ship
! scope="col" style="width: 150px;" | Pennant No.
! scope="col" style="width: 175px;" class="unsortable" | Image
! scope="col" style="width: 175px;" data-sort-type="usLongDate" | In service
! scope="col" style="width: 175px;" data-sort-type="usLongDate" | Out of service
! scope="col" style="width: 175px;" | Service life
! scope="col" style="width: 175px;" data-sort-time=date | Status
! scope="col" style="width: 100px;" class="unsortable" |
|-
! rowspan="3;" data-sort-value="Tide" | dock landing ship
! scope="row" style="background:#ffffff;" data-sort-value="1" |
! scope="row" | L3007
| frameless
| 26 November 2007
| — <!----when decommissioned, use this template: |, to calculate final value for service life---->
|
| Active as of early 2026
|
|-
! scope="row" style="background:#ffffff;" data-sort-value="1" |
! scope="row" | L3009
| frameless
| 18 December 2006
| — <!----when decommissioned, use this template: |, to calculate final value for service life---->
|
| Reported in refit as of April 2026
|
|-
! scope="row" style="background:#ffffff;" data-sort-value="1" |
! scope="row" | L3008
| frameless
| 13 July 2006
| — <!----when decommissioned, use this template: |, to calculate final value for service life---->
|
| Returning to service with full crew as of April 2026
|
|}
Out of service
Dock landing ships
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
!style="align: center; background: #B0C4DE;" colspan="9"|Former amphibious warfare ship of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary now in service with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN)
|-
!colspan="9"|Dock landing ships
|-
! scope="col" style="width: 250px;" | Class / Type
! scope="col" style="width: 175px;" | Ship
! scope="col" style="width: 150px;" | Pennant No.
! scope="col" style="width: 175px;" class="unsortable" | Image
! scope="col" style="width: 175px;" data-sort-type="usLongDate" | In service
! scope="col" style="width: 175px;" data-sort-type="usLongDate" | Out of service
! scope="col" style="width: 175px;" | Service life
! scope="col" style="width: 175px;" data-sort-time=date | Status
! scope="col" style="width: 100px;" class="unsortable" |
|-
! rowspan="3;" data-sort-value="Tide" | dock landing ship
! scope="row" style="background:#ffffff;" data-sort-value="1" |
! scope="row" | L3006
| frameless
| 17 December 2006
| 19 October 2011
|
| Sold to RAN, currently in RAN service as HMAS Choules
|
|}
Aviation support/casualty receiving ship
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
!style="align: center; background: #B0C4DE;" colspan="9"|Former Aviation support/casualty receiving ship of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary
|-
!colspan="9"| Littoral strike ship
|-
! scope="col" style="width: 250px;" | Class / Type
! scope="col" style="width: 175px;" | Ship
! scope="col" style="width: 150px;" | Pennant No.
! scope="col" style="width: 175px;" class="unsortable" | Image
! scope="col" style="width: 175px;" data-sort-type="usLongDate" | In service
! scope="col" style="width: 175px;" data-sort-type="usLongDate" | Out of service
! scope="col" style="width: 175px;" | Service life
! scope="col" style="width: 175px;" data-sort-time=date | Status
! scope="col" style="width: 100px;" class="unsortable" |
|-
! rowspan="3;" data-sort-value="Tide" | Aviation support/casualty receiving ship
! scope="row" style="background:#ffffff;" data-sort-value="1" |
! scope="row" | A135
| frameless
| 1 June 1988
| 2025
|37 years
| To be sold for breaking up
|
|}
Landing ship logistics
Round table class
The Round Table-class landing ship logistics were a class of six ships, all of which would be named after Knights of the Round Table.
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
!style="align: center; background: #B0C4DE;" colspan="9" | Former Landing ship logistics of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary
|-
!colspan="9"| Round table class
|-
! scope="col" style="width: 250px;" | Class / Type
! scope="col" style="width: 175px;" | Ship
! scope="col" style="width: 150px;" | Pennant No.
! scope="col" style="width: 175px;" class="unsortable" | Image
! scope="col" style="width: 175px;" data-sort-type="usLongDate" | In service
! scope="col" style="width: 175px;" data-sort-type="usLongDate" | Out of service
! scope="col" style="width: 175px;" | Service life
! scope="col" style="width: 175px;" data-sort-time=date | Status
! scope="col" style="width: 100px;" class="unsortable" |
|-
! rowspan="8;" data-sort-value="Round Table" | landing ship logistics
! scope="row" style="background:#ffffff;" data-sort-value="1" |
! scope="row" | L3029
| frameless
| 16 January 1964
| 31 March 1989
|
| Scrapped 2008
|
|-
! scope="row" style="background:#ffffff;" data-sort-value="1" | (I)
! scope="row" | L3005
| frameless
| 17 December 1966
| 8 June 1982
|
| Destroyed during the Falklands War - Sunk as a war grave in 1982
|
|-
! scope="row" style="background:#ffffff;" data-sort-value="1" |
! scope="row" | L3027
| frameless
| 1 January 1970
| 1 May 2003
|
| Scrapped in India 12 December 2005
|
|-
! scope="row" style="background:#ffffff;" data-sort-value="1" |
! scope="row" | L3004
| frameless
| 14 January 1970
| 18 February 2008
|
| Sold to the Brazilian Navy as Almirante Saboia, 2008. As of March 2026, she is actively sailing in Brazilian service.
|
|-
! scope="row" style="background:#ffffff;" data-sort-value="1" |
! scope="row" | L3502
| frameless
| 30 January 1970
| 16 December 2005
|
| Static training ship for Maritime Special Forces
|
|-
! scope="row" style="background:#ffffff;" data-sort-value="1" |
! scope="row" | L3036
| frameless
| 6 March 1970
| 17 August 2004
|
| Broken up 2009
|
|-
!colspan="9" | Modified Round table class
|-
! scope="row" style="background:#ffffff;" data-sort-value="1" | (II)
! scope="row" | L3005
| frameless
| 25 November 1987
| 20 July 2007
|
| Sold to the Brazilian Navy as Garcia D’Avila, 2007. Sunk as target 2024.
|
|
|-
! scope="row" style="background:#ffffff;" data-sort-value="1" |
! scope="row" | L3532
| no image
| 11 March 1983
| 20 January 1986
|
| Returned to owners. As of 2026, actively sailing as Fjärdvägen in Finland.
|
|}
Strategic Sealift
Strategic Sealift Ro/Ro
Two commercial Ro/Ro vessels bareboat chartered for additional freight carrying capacity with formation of the Joint Rapid Deployment Force (JRDF).
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
!style="align: center; background: #B0C4DE;" colspan="9" | Former strategic sealift ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary
|-
!colspan="9" | Strategic Sealift Ro-Ro
|-
! scope="col" style="width: 250px;" | Class / Type
! scope="col" style="width: 175px;" | Ship
! scope="col" style="width: 150px;" | Pennant No.
! scope="col" style="width: 175px;" class="unsortable" | Image
! scope="col" style="width: 175px;" data-sort-type="usLongDate" | In service
! scope="col" style="width: 175px;" data-sort-type="usLongDate" | Out of service
! scope="col" style="width: 175px;" | Service life
! scope="col" style="width: 175px;" data-sort-time=date | Status
! scope="col" style="width: 100px;" class="unsortable" |
|-
! rowspan="2;" data-sort-value="Tide" | Strategic Sealift Ro-Ro
! scope="row" style="background:#ffffff;" data-sort-value="1" |
! scope="row" | A96
| No image
| 10 October 1996
| 7 August 2003
|
| Returned to owners. As of 2026 she is actively sailing as Jabal Ali 11.
|
|
|}
Landing Ship Tank
Originally operated by the Royal Navy, in 1956 she was transferred to civilian administration as SS Empire Gull. She joined the RFA in 1970 and was in service until 1978, being the only Landing Ship Tank operated as a Royal Fleet Auxiliary.
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
!style="align: center; background: #B0C4DE;" colspan="9" | Former landing ship tank of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary
|-
!colspan="9" | Landing Ship Tank
|-
! scope="col" style="width: 250px;" | Class / Type
! scope="col" style="width: 175px;" | Ship
! scope="col" style="width: 150px;" | Pennant No.
! scope="col" style="width: 175px;" class="unsortable" | Image
! scope="col" style="width: 175px;" data-sort-type="usLongDate" | In service
! scope="col" style="width: 175px;" data-sort-type="usLongDate" | Out of service
! scope="col" style="width: 175px;" | Service life
! scope="col" style="width: 175px;" data-sort-time=date | Status
! scope="col" style="width: 100px;" class="unsortable" |
|-
! rowspan="3;" data-sort-value="Tide" | Landing Ship, Tank
! scope="row" style="background:#ffffff;" data-sort-value="1" |
! scope="row" | -
| frameless
| 3 February 1970
| 19 October 1978
|
| Scrapped 1980
|
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
!style="align: center; background: #B0C4DE;" colspan="9" | Former landing ship gantrys of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary
|-
!colspan="9" | Landing Ship Gantry
|-
! scope="col" style="width: 250px;" | Class / Type
! scope="col" style="width: 175px;" | Ship
! scope="col" style="width: 150px;" | Pennant No.
! scope="col" style="width: 175px;" class="unsortable" | Image
! scope="col" style="width: 175px;" data-sort-type="usLongDate" | In service
! scope="col" style="width: 175px;" data-sort-type="usLongDate" | Out of service
! scope="col" style="width: 175px;" | Service life
! scope="col" style="width: 175px;" data-sort-time=date | Status
! scope="col" style="width: 100px;" class="unsortable" |
|-
! rowspan="3;" data-sort-value="Dale" | Landing Ship Gantry
! scope="row" style="background:#ffffff;" data-sort-value="1" |
! scope="row" | A114
| No image
| 30 August 1941 (converted to LSG 1943)
| 19 May 1959 (converted back to tanker 1946)
|
| Sold commercially. Scrapped 1966.
|
|-
! scope="row" style="background:#ffffff;" data-sort-value="1" |
! scope="row" | A151
| No image
| 14 June 1941 (converted to LSG 1943)
| 6 May 1959 (converted back to tanker 1947)
|
| Broken up 1959
|
|-
! scope="row" style="background:#ffffff;" data-sort-value="1" |
! scope="row" | A173
| frameless
| 11 July 1941 (converted to LSG 1943)
| 1 March 1958 (converted back to tanker 1946)
|
| Broken up 1959–60
|
|}
See also
Roles and types
- Dock landing ship
- Landing Ship Logistics
- Landing Ship, Tank
- Amphibious transport dock
Future
- Multi-role strike ship (MRSS)