RFA Lyme Bay to visit Cayman Islands
She is accompanied by HMS Chiddingfold Hunt-class mine countermeasure vessel (MCMV) seen in the background.
Four Bay Class Large Amphibious Landing Ships have been ordered with the LSD(A) construction programme well advanced.
The new ships displace 16,100 tonnes and replace RFAs Sir Galahad and Sir Tristram. Compared to their predecessors they carry more than twice as many vehicles and embarked troops. Using their stern dock for landing craft and flight deck for helicopters, they are able to offload in rougher weather twice as quickly.
The flight deck can accommodate two Merlin or Chinook helicopters, and a hanger could be fitted in future if required. The ships can carry an Embarked Military Force of 356 troops and large numbers of vehicles, although this can be increased to 500 using undesignated space.
The ships are able to position themselves dynamically using a bow thruster and their steerable azimuth thrusters to discharge equipment without the need to anchor. The previous RFA Landing ships were designed to run up on a beach to discharge their cargo of men and vehicles.
The Bay Class are designed to operate over the horizon using helicopters and landing craft through a floodable stern dock to get men and equipment ashore.
The British naval support ship RFA LYME BAY will arrive in Grand Cayman on the 15 July for a 5 day visit during her deployment to the region on Atlantic Patrol Tasking North (APT(N)). This is a year round commitment to the region in support of Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief (HADR) and Counter Narcotics Operations.
During LYME BAY’s visit the Commanding Officer will call on The Governor and The Premier; the Commanding Officer will host an onboard reception; the ship’s company will engage in a sporting event and the disaster relief teams will exercise their contingency plans
LYME BAY has loaded Humanitarian and Disaster Relief (HADR) and UK Department for International Development (DFID) stores to support relief operations in the region. Prior to deployment the ship’s company of LYME BAY and her HADR troop completed a training package which tested and developed the ship’s company’s ability to plan and deliver support to relief operations. The ship will be able to use her pre-planned visit as a chance to deliver the Governor’s new Flag Car, free of charge, from the UK.
A Royal Navy Lynx Mk8 helicopter is onboard for the deployment to conduct Counter Narcotics operations and provide an airborne asset for surveillance, stores delivery and search and rescue tasking if required.
Speaking of the visit the Ship’s Commanding Officer, Captain Kim Watts said “My Ship’s Company and I are very much looking forward to the visit and to making and remaking relationships whilst being able to liaise with Disaster Management authorities regarding our capabilities.”
1. RFA LYME BAY (L3007) is a Bay-class auxiliary landing ship dock (LSD(A)) of the British Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA). Ordered from Swan Hunter in 2000, the ship was launched in 2005. Lyme Bay entered service in late 2007; the last ship of the class to join the RFA.
2. The ships is manned by 97 Royal Fleet Auxiliary sailors, along with 23 Royal Naval personnel for helicopter operations, 18 Royal Logistic Corps soldiers to operate the mexeflote and 27 Royal Marines and Royal Engineers in the Humanitarian and Disaster Relief (HADR) Troop. (Total of 165)
4. The Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Service is a flotilla of 13 Naval Support Ships delivering afloat support to UK and Allied Armed Forces around the world. Owned by the Ministry of Defence, it is manned by British civilian sailors who are trained to Merchant Navy Standards prior to undertaking the military training required to operate alongside the Royal Navy.
5. Founded in 1905, the modern RFA is an essential element of the how the Royal Navy operates with freedom around the globe and is fully integrated into frontline groups of warships at sea and naval headquarters ashore.
6. The RFA supports a wide spectrum of operations from high tempo war-fighting to counter-piracy, disaster relief, counter-narcotics, law enforcement and evacuation operations. Perhaps the most publicised RFA action was the 1982 Falklands Conflict. The RFA’s primary roles are:
a) Underway replenishment at sea of fuel, stores and ammunition;
b) Logistic and specialist shipping support to amphibious operations;
c) Operating support platforms for Naval Aviation;
d) Medical support and casualty handling;
e) Logistic support to submarines;
f) Operating a forward repair ship facility for battle damaged ships;
g) Regional engagement in support of UK political, economic and military objectives;
h) Maritime surveillance, security and policing.
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IMAGE: en.wikipedia.org
