Volume I

CONTENTSAmphibious Assault Ships

leume d'fuc' Clus Helicopter Canier'Owagan' Clus landing Ships Dock (TCD)

'Ropucha' Class l,anding Ships Tank

'Alligato/ Class landing Ships Tank

Soviet Naval Infantry and Ail Cushion Vehicles'lvan Rogov' Class Amphibious Transport Docks ([PD)'Frosch' Class L,anding Ships Tank

The Soviet Amphibious Assault'Sir lancelot' and 'Sir Bedivere' Class landing Ships loglstc (l^St)

'Feuless'Class Amphibioru Trursport Dock ([PD)

FearJess in Action: Battle for the Falklands

USAmphibious Forces

'Blue Ridge'Amphibious Cbmmand Ships (tCC)'lwoJima Class Amphibious nssault Shrps Helicopter (i,PlI1

'Tuawa Class General-Purpose Amphibiors Asault Slups (l,l{A)'Raleigh' and'Austin' Class Amphibiors Transporl Docl6 [tPD)'Newport' Class Lurding Ships TarI (lST)

'Cabildo','Thomaston' and'furchonge' Class Landing Siup Dock (lrSD)

'Chuleston' Class Amphibiors Calgo Slups (l,KA)

'Grayback' Class Transport SubmuineUS New Construction Amphibious Wulue Ships'Atsumi' utd 'Mirua' Class Landing Ships Tank

Armed Forces of the World:South Africa (Part l)

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Published byOrbis Publishino Ltd@Aerospace P"ublishing Ltd 1983

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,I

The 1982 conflict in the Falklaztd Islands has demonstratedthat today, re in the Pacific opetatiotts or invasion ofocctzpied Europe &tring World War II, the atnphibious taskforce is still one of the most elfective methods of proiectingpower ovet long distances.

Amphibious warfare ships have been in service since before Christ: theRomans, for example, used such vessels to transport elements of theirlegions in cross-Channel raids in the 1st century BC before their invasionof Britain in the Ist century AD, Since then the art and tactics of conduct-rrg amphibious assaults have been continually refined, World War IIfrom 1939 to 1945 being a peak in the evolution. Particularly in theirPacific isiand-hopping campargns, the Americans created new designsof ships and equipment for amphibious landings. The war also provedthe idea ol strategic landings, such as those conducted during the June1944 D-Day assault on Normandy, in whrch whole armies and theirresources were committed in an invasion to garn a specific strategicobjective. When this war flnished the lessons learnt were applied in theI950s to the American landing at Inchon in the Korean War and to theAnglo-French landing at Suez in 1956. This latter landrng saw the use ofhelicopters by the Royal Navy in the helicopter assault role.

The Americans digested the data from these conJlicts and then pro-duced the multi-role ship concept of the modem Landing Ship Dock(LSD), Amphibious Transport Dock (LPD) and Amphibious HelicopterCarrier (LPH), in which a singrle hull could combine the roles that werepreviously undertaken by several ships, The object was both to improvethe amphiblous force's capabilities and to decrease the number ofvessels in a force. The Vietnam War allowed some validation of thesedesigns and of the combat use of helicopters and resuited in the ultimatein very large multi-purpose ships, namely the 'Tarawa' class of LHA andthe new amphlbious assault dock (LHD) class that is under construction.Both these classes are virtuaily self-contained in practically all theequipment required to conduct a landhg.

In order to operafe al fhe susfajned20-kt speed ot modern USamphibious squadrons, the latestLSTs no longer have bow doors, andvehicles are unloaded over thepointed bow by means of a ramp.

The most recent amphibior-u operatlons were conducted in 1982 asparts of the Falkland Islands war and the Israeli invasion of southernLebanon. The former was a classic by the Royal Navy in terms of theprojection of an amphibious assault force over I1250 km (7000 miles) andthen the undertaking of the assault wrthout the loss of any amphibiouswarfare vessel in an operational area only some 650 km (400 miles) fromthe enemy coast. The Israelis demorstrated that the Soviet operationaltactic (supporting ground forces by laading battalion-sled and iargrerformations of mechanized infantry rn the enemy's rear to seize specificobjectives and to cut lines of communication and supply) works ex-tremely well in practice,

One disadvantage of the amphibious assault is that it is relatively siowin its approach, although the Americans have solved this somewhat bythd use of prepositioned merchant ships carrying the heavy equipmentand supplies required, the US Marrnes to be kitted out with the equip-ment being flown into a friendly country near the scene of the confllct tomarry up with it at a suitable port. The disadvantage of this rs that friendlycountries are required to grve facilitres, whereas the amphibrous taskicrce is virtually autonomous within the operational area, The latestaddition to the amphibious warfare armoury is the Air Cushion Vehicle(ACV) to provide very rapld and relatively safe beach assault capabili-ties. The Soviet navy is the world's leading exponent of this tactic withsome four types of ACV in service. The Americans are in the process ofrntroducing this type into service over the next few years.

The amphibious assaultshipHMS Fearless and f/reV/STOL carrierHMSHermbs comple te the transfers of assault units immediately prior to the Britishassault on the Falkland Islands.

m Ti5""" d'Arc'Class Helicopter CarrierThe single vessel of the Jea-rure d Arc'class was laid down at Brest NavalDockyard in 1960, launched in 1961and commissioned in 1964. Althoughused in peacetime as a training ship for192 officer cadets, /eanne d'erc G97)can be rapidly converted for wMimeuse as an amphrbious assault, anti-submarine warfare or froop transportvessel. The helicopter piaform is 62 m(203 4 ft) wide and is connected to thehangar deck by a I22IB kq (26,935-1b)capacity elevator located at the afterend of the flight deck. The deck iscapable of flying-on two A6rospatialeSA 32 I Super Frelon heavy-lift helicop-ters and can accommodate a firrtherfour parked, The hanqar, with someinternal modificatrons, can accorrrmo-date a further eight helicopters. At theaft end extensive machine, inspectionand maintenance workshops are sitedwith weapon handling rooms andmagazines for the armaments carriedby the helicopters. In the commando-carrier or troop{ransport role the shiphas facilities for a 700-man rnfantrybattalion with light equipment in herful1y air-conditioned interior, Francehas a 9,230-man marine division andfour naval commando assault units (in-cluding one reserve) available for usefrom its amphrbious warfare ships,

A modular type action rnformationand operations room with a SENIT-2computerized tactical data handlingr

system is fitted, together with a sepa-rate helicopter control bridge and acombined command and control cen-tre for amphibious warfare operations.On each side of the firnnel two LCVPsare normally carried.

.Specification:Name: Jeanne d'ArcCominissioned: I July 1964Displacement: 12,365 tons frrl1 loadDimensions: length IB2 m (597, 1 ft);beam 24m (7B.7ft); draught 7,3m(24 ft)Propulsion: two qteared steam turbinesdeliverinq 40,000 shp to tvuo shaftsSpeed: 26.5 ktsComplement: 627 (3i officers plus 596enhsted men)Troops: 700Cargo: eight Super Frelon heavyJifthelicopters in hangar plus further sixon deck; four LCVPsArmament: four single I00 mm DPgmns, six single MM,3B Exocet surface-to-surface missile launcher-containersElectronics: one DRBV 22D air-searchradar, one DRBV 50 surface-searchradar, one DRBI l0 height-finderradar, one DRBN 32 navrgatlon radar,three DRBC 324 fire-control systems,one URN 6 TACAN, one SQS 503 sonar,two Syllex electronlc countermea-sures rocket-launchers, one SENIT-Zdata system

Above : The French navy's helicoptercarn'erlearme d'Arc. Used as atr aining ship in pe acetime, she c anbe rapidly converted inwailime to acommando ship, ASW helicoptercarrier or troop transport.

Below : C ommissioned in I 9 64, theJearme d'Arc rs equipped to act as anamphibious command ship totransport a battalion of marines, or tooperate up to I 4 Super Frelonhelicopters.

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re iU,rr"n"n'Class Landingships Dock (TcD)The 'Ouragan' class of dock landingship rs used both for amphibious war-faie and loQtistic transport by theFrench. They are fitted with a 120-m(397.7-ft) lonqwell dock that has a sterngate measuring 14 m (45.9 ft) by 5,5 m(18 ft). The well dock can accorrrmo-date two 670{on full load EDIC LCTs(carrying 1I light tanks, or I I trucks orfive LVTs) or lB LCM6s (carrying 30tons of cargo or vehicles). Above thewell deck is a 36-m (79,4-ft) long sx-section removable helicopter deckcapa-ble of operating one A6rospatialeSuper Frelon heavy{ift helicopter orthree A6rospatiale Alouette utility heh-copters, If required, a 9O-m (295.3-ft)long temporary deck can also be fittedto stow carQlo or vehicles, but its usereduces the number of landlng craftcarried as half the weil deck is takenup. If used with this extra deck as alogistic transport then the total cargocapacity of the vessel becomes some1,500 tons. This can compnse erther 18

Super Frelon or B0 Alouette helicop-ters, or 120 AMX-I3 light tanks or 84DUKW amphibious vehicles or 340jeeps or 12 50{on bargTes. There is apermanent helicopter deck for up tothree Super Frelons or l0 Alouetteslocated next to the starboard bridgearea, Two 35-ton capacity craneshandle the heavy equipment carrled.Each of the two ships also has com-mand and control facilities to operateas amphibious force flagships, Theyalso carry an extensive range ofreparr

i22

and maintalnance workshops to sup-port the units embarked, Troopaccommodation is provided for 349men under normal condrtions,although 470 can be carrted for shortdistances, Three LCVPs are carried asdeck cargo.

The Orage (1,9022) is allotted to theFrench Paciflc nuclear experimentalcentre as the logrstic trarsport to andfrom France, It is also employed as thecentre's floating headquarters, em-ploying a modular facility within thewell deck area. Both the Orage andOuragan (1,9021) are due to be re-placed in the late 1980s.

Specification:Names: Ouragan (L9021) and Orage(L9022)Commissioned: L9021 I June 1965;L9022 I April 1968Displacement: 8,500 tons fuI1 loadDimensions: length 149 m (488.9 ft);beam 23 m (75,4 ft); draught 5,4 m(17.7 ft)Propulsion: two diesels deliveringr8,600hp to two shaftsSpeed: 17 ktsComplement:211 (10 officers plus 201enlisted men)Troops: 349 (i4 officers plus 335 en-listed men) normal, or 470 overload

Cargo: 1,500 tons as logistic transportitwo LCTs, or lB LCMs plus 3 LCVP foramphibrous operationsArinament: four singrle 40-mm AAEnms, two 120-mm mortars (L9021 only)Electronics: one DRBN 32 navientionradar, one SQS 17 sonar (L9021 only)

U sed for both amphibious warfareand as a logristic lransporf, Ouragtanis capable of deploying andsupporting half a battalion ofmarines (349 men).

L Yfrtp,rcrra'Class Landing Ships TankDesignated Bol'shoy DesantnyyKorabl'(BDK) or large landing ship bythe Soviets, the'Ropucha' class hasbeen rn series production at the PolishPolnocny shipyard, Gdansk since 1975for the Soviet navy, The class is de-signed for ro11-on/roll-off operationswith both bow and stern doors, The630 m2 (6,780 sq ft) vehicle deckstretches througthout the conventionalLST-type hull. T\ro spaces for multiplerocket{aunchers are provided for-ward. Some unlts have had four quad-rupte SA-N-S 'Grail' SAM launchersfitted to supplement the two turin 57-mm AA gn:ns carried. The multi-levelsuperstructure has been speciallybuilt to accommodate the 230 men oftwo Soviet Naval Infantry companiesfor extended periods, This, togetherwith the capacity for carrying 24 AFVsor 450 tons ofcargo, allows the Sovletnavy to employ these shlps on distantocean operations. There are currentlysome 13 in sewice with the Sovietnavy, whilst another was transferred tothe Peopie's Democratic Republic ofYemen in 1979, The burlding rate iscurrently assessed at two per year,and ail those built have minor differ-ences ln appearance,

Amphibious Assault Ships

The'Ropucha' C/asscanaccommodate two companies (230men) of SovietNaval Infanfuy forextended periods, allowing the USSRnaval assault capacity far from Soviethomewaters.

Specification:Class number: 13, plus more buildingDisplacement: 4,400 tons fulI loadDimensions: lenqth 1I0m (360ft);beam 14,5m (47.6ft); draught 3.6m(11.5 ft)Propulsion: four diesels delivering10,000 hp to two shftsSpeed: 17 ktsComplement:70Troops: 230Cargo: 24 AFVs or 450 tons of storesArmament: trro tvrrin 57-mm AA quns,and four quadrupie SA-N-S SAM laun-chers on some unitsElectronics: one'Don-2' navigationradar, one 'Strut Cuwe' air-searchradar, one 'Muff Cob' 57-mm gnrn fire-control radar, one 'High Pole-B' IFFsystem

Below :'Ropucha' - class LST ; allvesse,ls of tlris c/a ss have minordifferences in appearance. Theyhave a higher troop-to-vehicleratio than the earlier'Alligator'class.

Above : A s tarboard view of a' Ropuch a' -class LST. Late s tintelligence estimates credit theSoviets with I 6 of these craft inservice, with more building inGdansk,Poland.

L liitigator' Class Landingships TankDesignated B o1'shoy DesantnYYKorab.l'(BDK) or iarge landinq ship bythe Soviets, the l4-ship'Alligatot' ciasswas built at the Kalingrad shipyard be-hveen 1964 and 1977. During this timethe roll-on/roll-off bow and stem doordesigm evolved to form four distinctsub-classes. The first tlvo seies areprimarily for the transport role whllstthe remaininq two are primarily for theover-the-beach assault role, The lattertwo classes have a navalized split 40-round BM-21 |22-mm rockellauncherpedestal mount fitted for shore bom-bardment prtrposes. The deck craneequipment also varies within thevariants: Type I has one 15-ton capac-ity and two S-ton capacity cranes,

whilst TYpes Ii, IIi and IV have onlyone l5-ton capacrty crane. The TypeIII also has a raised superstructure anda forward deckhouse for the rocket-launcher; the TYpe IV is similar to theType III but with additlonal 25-mm AAgmns.

The ships are designed to carqr theequipment requrred by a Naval Infan-try battallon landinq team, although theships can also accommodate a NavalInfantry company for iong periods, Thevehicle parking area includes the up-per deck, and both the SA-9 'Gaskin'SAM mounted on the BRDM-2 and thetracked ZSU-23-4 AA gnrn system havebeen observed on thrs deck, operatingin pairs to supplement the ship's nor-

mal AA amament. Most of the classare currently being fitted wtth twoquadruple SA-N-S 'Grarl' SAM close-range launchersystems. The Type IVshave rn additron two 25-mm AA gnmmountings on the centrelile abaft thebridgre superstructure. The class regt-ularly operates off the coastline ofWest Ajnca, in the Mediterranean andthe Indian Ocean.

Specification:Class numbers: four Tlpe I, tvuo TypeII, six Type III and two TYpe IVCommissioned: 1966 to 1977Displacement: 4,500 tons full loadDimensions: iength i14m (374ft);beam i5.5 m (50,8 ft); draught 4.5 m

(14,7 ft)Propulsion: two diesels delivering9,000 bhp to two shaftsSpeed: lB ktsComplement: 100Troops: I20 normai, 250 overloadCargo: typically 50 AFVsArmament: one twrn 57-mm AA gu4two twin 25-mm A.A gnms (TYpe IVonly), one 4O-round 122-mm rocket-launcher (TYpes III and IV), two quad-ruple SA-N-S SAM launchers beingfitted in mostElectronics: tvvo 'Don Kay' or one 'Don-2' and one 'Spin Trough' navigationradars, one 'Muff Cob' 57-mm fire-control radar in some, one 'High Pole-B' IFF system

An'Alligator' -class ISI of tlre Soviefnavy. Built infour sub-variants, thel4-ship class regrularly operates offWest Africa and in theM editerranean and I ndian Ocean.

Soviet Naval lnfcntrg cndAir CushionvehiclesFollowing the Russian revolution in 1917 and durinq tne ersJing Civil War of1917 to \gZZ the first Soviet naval inlantry units we"re fo.rred. T"hjs Force wasdisbanded at the conclusion of the Civil War and not re-established until 1939.The peak force level reached was around 500,000 during World War ll; after-wards the force was reduced in size and numbers until tt was disbandedsometime in the mid-1950s. No indication of its third re-establishment wasnoticed until after 1964. By 1977 the new Naval lnfantry had expanded to itspresent strength of 12,000 irren; these are organized into five regiments, whichare operationally subordinated to the Soviet Navy fleet commanders. Oneregiment is attached to each of the Northern, Baltic jnd Black Sea Fleets, whilstthe remaining two form a divisional grouping in the Pacific Fleet The 2,000-manstrong regiments follow the triangular organization of the Soviet army motorizedrifle regiment, with the exception tha{ its tank baitalion has a company ofmedium tanks in addition to three companies of PT-76 light amphibious tanks. ln1982 the regiments underwent a reoi'ganization proqrimme to increase theirorganic firepower. Additional medium tanks, BM-21 multiple rocket,launchers,and anti-tank guided missiles were added, together with the first tube artillery inthe form of the M1974 122-mm self-propelled gun. Before this artillery supportwas limited to that provided by naval gunfire, plus BM-21 and amphibious shiprocket fire.

Battalion Assault ForceAs witn all Soviet forces, the Naval Infantry can be qu crly expanded in

wartime by the mobilization of trained reserve personnel and stoikpiled reserveequipment. The basis of the regiment is the battalion, made up of three infantrycompanies, a mortar platoon. and supporting supply and maintainance, medicaland communications units. When reinforced the battalion constitutes the mainamphibious assault unit, the Battalion Assault Force (BAF) The company isdivibed into a small headquarters unit and three platoons, each of whlch hasthree squads carried in BTR-60 APCs. The medium tanks are usually assigned onthe basis of one platoon of three tanks to support a naval rnfantry company. The

,Insenrcesrnce 1952,thePT-T6lighttankhasexcellentamphibiousqualities.,ceen ft ere bern g loaded onto a'Polnocny'-class LCT of the Baltic Fleet, the?T-76 provides firesupport tothe firstwaves ofan assaull.

An 'Aist'-class air cushion vessel ofthe Soviet navy. Currently still inproduction at Leningnad,'Ajsf'-classvessels bear the Soviet designationMaly desantnyy korabl' na vJzdushnoypodushke (sma 1l air cushion vehicle).

medium tanks usually disembark in shallow water behind the PT-76 and BTR-60first or second assault waves. One platoon of medium tanks is beiieved to beequipped with the flamethrower version of the T-54l55 MBT for reduction ofstrongpoints.

The primary mission of the Naval lnfantry rs the amphibious assault. This isdivided into several categories depending upon the scale and mission of thelandings. The categories are, firstly, strategic landings which are conducted insupport oi lheatre forces lo open up a new front of operations {though theSovrets are believed not to have developed this capability as yet and probablywill not for the foreseeable future). Secondly, there are oieraiional laridings toassist ground or naval forces in coastal areas to surround and destroy eriemyground or naval units, or to cqpture major objectives within the area (usually aregimental-sized ooeration). Thirdly, there are tactical landings to strike at therear or flank of enemy units along a coastline or to capture spdcific oblectives (abattalion- or regimental-sized operation). Fourthlv, there are reconnais'sance andsabotage landings to reconnoitie areas. to inflict significant material and installa-tion losses, and to create diversions (a battalion-, company- or platoon-sizedoperation).

The secondary role assigned to the Naval lnfantry is to participate in coastaldefence-operations. However, in practice this is rarely likely to occur as it is awaste of a valuable combat resource.

One unique feature of the operations is the extensive use of amphibious-assault air-cushion vehicles. There are currently four types available. The smal-lest oI these is t.he 'Gus' class, of which there aTe some 33 in service with theBaltic, Black Sea and Pacific Fleets. The 'Lebed' class is in service with the Balticand Pacitic Fleets for initial assault and logistic support duties; around 12 are inservice with more being. built. Both the Gus' and the 'Lebed' (in a preloadedstate) can be used from the 'lvan Rogov' class LPD. The largest ACV in use is the'Aist' class, of which some 'l 3 are in iervice with the Baltic-and Black Sea Fleets.Additional units are under construct;on, together with the new 'Uterok' classwhich is the follow-on to the 'Gus' class. Sbme four 'Uteroks' are currently inservice.

Standard APC of the Soviet Naval I nfantry, the BTR-60P hasbeen rn usesinceabou t I 9 60. F ully amphibiou s, it has been produce d both with an open topandwith an armoured top allowing fulINEC protection.

ffi :iu"" Rogov' Class Amphibious Transport Docks (LPD)Given the designation Bo)'shoy De-santnyy Korabl'(BDK) or large landingcraft by the Soviets, theftzarRogrovwaslaunched in 1976 at the Kalingrrad ship-yard, The vessel entered servrce inI97B as the largest amphibious warfareship yet built by the Sovrets, A secondunit of the lvan Rogov ciass was laiddown in 1979 but has apparently suf-fered delays in its construction. Thevessel is capable of carrying a rein-forced Navai Infantry battalion landilgteam with all its APCs and other vehi-cles plus 10 PT-76 light amphibtoustanks. An alternative load is the tankbattalion of the Soviet Naval Infantryregrment, The lvan Rogtov is umque inSovret amphibious ship design as it hasboth a well dock and a helicopterflightdeck and hangar. This allows theship to perform not only the tradrtionalrole of over{he-beach assault by useof bow doors and ramp, but also thestand-offassault role using a mixhrre ofhelicopters, landinq craft, air cushionvehicles and amphibious vehicles.

The bow doors and internal rampposition provrde access to a vehicleparkinq deck iocated in the lower for-ward part of the ship, Further vehiclescan be accommodated in the midshipsarea of the upper deck, access to thisbeing by hydraulically operatedramps that lead from the bow doorsand the docking well. The vehicledeck itself leads directly into the flood-able well whlch is some 79 m (259,2 ft)long with a stern door some 13 m(42.6 ft) across. The well canaccommodate either two preloaded'Lebed' class air cushion vehicles(ACV) and a l4Ston firll load'Ondatra'class LCM, or three 'Gus' class ACVassault troop carriers.

Two helicopter landing spots areprovided, one forward wlth its ovmflight control station, and one aff on aflight deck located above the welldeck, This also has its own flight con-trol station. Both spots have access tothe massive block superstructure; the

forward pad by a ramp leading up tothe hanger and the aft by a set of haa-qar doors, The hanqar has sufficientspace for up to five Kamov Ka-25 'Hor-mone-C' utility helicopters to bestowed. It is probabie that these wllleventually be replaced by the utilityversion of the new Kamov Ka-32 'Helix'helicopter that rs curently entenngserrnce wrth the Soviet navy. Accom-modatlon for the embarked Naval in-fantry units is located within the super-struch.re block itself. Vehicle and heli-copter maintenance workshops arealso located there, To starboard, im-mediately in front of the block is a talldeck house on top of whrch is mounteda navalized version of the Soviet army's122-mm BM-ZI rocket-launcher sys-tem. This uses tvvo 20-round packs oflauncher hrbes, one to each side of apedestal mounting that trains them inazimuth and elevation. The rockets areused to provide a saturation shorebombardment capability for theassault units, A ftrin 76-mm DP gnrn

tufiet is located on the forecastle,whiist a hvin rail pop-up SA-N-4 SAMiauncher bin unit and four 30-mmCIWS Gatling gmns are mountedontopof the main superstructure block toprovide au defence. Extensive com-mand, control and suweillance equrp-ment ls fitted for amphibious forceflagship duties. The Ivan Rogrov hxserved wrth the Baltrc and Pacific fleetsand it rs thouetht likely that a total of fourwill be built, permitting one to servewith each of the four fleet commands.

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A.bove : The first Soviet LPD, lft e IvanRogov. Capab,le of transporting areinforced N aval I nIantry battalion,the ship also operates four or five'Hormone-C' helicopters, several aircuslrrbn vefticles and an LCM.

Rr'ght: Tft e Ivan Rogovftasbeen gnventhe Soviet designafibn Bol'shoydesantnyy korabl (large landing ship).In I 982 the second ship of the class,Aleksarrdr Nikolaev, was completedat the naval shipyard in Kalingrad.

Specification:Name: lvan Rogorz plus three(?) othersunder constructlonCommissioned: l97BDisplacement: 13,000 tors fuI] loadDimensions: iength 159 m (52i.6 ft);beam 24,5m (B0.2ft); draught 6,5m(zt 2 fr)Propu]sion: two gas turbines deliver-ing 45,000 shp to two shaftsSpeed: 26 ktsComplement: 250Troops: 550Cargo: typrcally 40-50 AFVs; two'Lebed' class ACVs ph.rs one 'Ondatra'class LCM or three 'Gus' class ACVs;five'Hormone-C' helicoptersArmament: one twrn SA-N-4 SAM laun-cher, one twin 76-mm DP gnrn, four 30-mm ADG6-30 AA guns, one 4O-round

122-mm rocketlauncherElectronics: two 'Don Kay' heltcopie:control and navigation radars, or:'Head Net-C' arr-search ,radar, or:'Owl Screech' 76-mm gun f,re-contr:-radar, one 'Pop Group' SA-N-4 missil=fire-control radar, two 'Bass Till ADC€-30 flre-control radars, one 'Hiqh Pole-B' lFF system, two 'Bell Shroud' ECl"ltwo '8e11 Squat' ECM and two cha-launchers It,Tfie.LPD lvan Rogov.

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@ iloliit'Class Landinsships TankThe 'Frosch I' class ships are similarbut not identical to the Soviet 'Ropucha'ciass of LST. They are smaller, have ablunter bow shape and are fitted with abow ramp and a much heavrer arma-ment (two tu/in 57-mm and two twin30-mm). The 12-ship class was builtbetween 1975 and 1979 to replace theobsolete 'Robbe' and 'Labo' classes oflanding ships. The single vehicle deckis capable of transporting some 800tons of cargo orup to 12 MBTs. Thereisno roll-on/roll-off capability due to theabsence of stem vehicle ramps. For-ward, on the empty deck space be-trrveen the bridgie and the forward hvin57-mm mountinq, two 122-mm 40-round navalized split BM-21 pedestalrocket-launcher moultinqs have beenfitted for saturatron shore-bombardment purposes. The 'Frosch I'

may also be used for mineiaying, themines being laid through two stemhatches. The presence of a large num-ber ofradio antennae sugqtests that thevessels can also. undertake amphi-bious operation command and controlduties. In 1980 tlvo additional units, de-signated'Frosch II', were built at thesame Peenewerft shipyard at Wolerastthat built the 'Frosch I'shtps, Thesediffer from the original class tn having aS{on capacity crane amidships andhvo iarqe carqo hatches. No rocket-launchers or 30-mm AA guns are car-ried, although two twin 25-mm AAgurs are mounted right forward to cov-er the beach during a landing. It isthought that these craft act as assaultcargo ships during amphibious opera-tions, possibly carryinq munitions. TheEast Germans have no naval infantry

but instead have trained a motorizedrifle regiment (believed to be the 26th)of three motorized rifle battalions and atank battalion to act rn the amphibiousassault role, The East Germans alsooperate with the Pohsh army's 7th Sealanding Division of three assault regrim-ents and a tank battalion and a SovietNaval Infantry regriment durinq War-saw Pact amphibrous assaull exercrsesin the Baltic.

Specification:Class number: 12 'Frosch I' and 2'Frosch II'Commissioned: 'Frosch I' ]976-79 and'Frosch II' l9B0Displacement:'Frosch I' 1,950 tons and'Frosh I1' 2,000 tons full load

Dimensions: length 91 m (298 { ..beam llm (36.1ft); draught 23r(92f0Propulsion: two diesels powerLn; :;. :

shaftsSpeed: 16 ktsComplement: 40Troops: normal 80, for limited tune -: -Cargo: i2 MBTs, or 16 AFVs or 6l'l :----of storesArmament: two twrn 57-mm ,4,:. ;---.two twin 30-mm AA gn-rrs (or 1..',: -.'.--25-mm AA gmns in'Frosch II) .,';: i.barrel 122-mm rocket-launchers

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in 'Frosch II'). mine numl:e:s . --.according to type carrledElectronics: one 'Strut Cu-,i ---search radar, one 'Square H:-': Jlsyslem, one 'High Pole-B IFF r. r:-.one 'Mufl Cob fire-contrcl :::-- . -=TSR333 navigation radar

The Sovief Amphibious AssaukSoviet amphibious assault tactics are thorough, well-defined and well practisedby the Naval lnfantry, the organic amphibious forces of the Soviet navy. Theiroperations fall into five parts. Firstly, there is the preparation of the equipmentand units, which are trained to begin operations either when already at sea orfrom an alert state at their land base. Secondly, when alerted at the shore basethe amphibious assault units man their equipment and proceed to the embarka-tion ports for loading onto ships and transports, which arrive shortly before theassault force units to preclude any bunbhing of the equipment and personnel.Durlng loading the vehicles are driven on in reverse order so that the assaultvehicles disembark first at the landing zone. Thirdly, after loading, the ships forma convoy under the protection of escort vessels and aircraft to protect againstany enemy air and sea attacks during the transit voyage to the beach-headdesignated for the force. During the passage the units' political officers addressthe troops to build up theirfighting Spirit, the men check theirvehicles, weaponsand equipment, and the commanders review their missions and orders. Fourth-ly. the battle for the beach-head is initiated when the naval gunfire support shipsopen fire on the defending artillery, positions, troop concentrations and obsta-cies. The Naval lnfantry then lands in assault formation. Fifthly, the landing offollow-up Soviet army ground forces permits the withdrawal of the Navallnfantry and any supporting units.

To illustrate the last two phases a typical Soviet Naval lnfantry battalionassault force landing is described below. The force consists of a Naval lnfantrybattaiion, a PT-76 amphibious light tank company, an engineer platoon, a recon-naissance platoon, a mortar platoon, an anti-tank platoon and an air defenceplatoon of four SA-9 'Gaskin' SAM vehicles. The force is landed to link up with acompany of Soviet army airborne troops parachuted behind the coastal de-fences. Close air support is provided by a squadron of Soviet air force fighter-bombers, whilst naval vessels provide artillery support, ASW, minesweepingand rescue services.

The convoy of assault ships and transports transits to the operational areaunder cover of darkness whilst observing strict radio silence- Once there theyand their escorts deploy lnto the f inal assault formation, with the minesweepersconducting clearance operations right up to the beach-head. As dawn breaks theescorts tasked with naval gunfire support and the landing ships fitted withmultiple rocket-launchers begin the pre-planned bombardment of the shoredefences. Whilst this is in progress the unit commanders review their orders,conf irm that the units understand their missions, and order the equipment to bereadied for use.

Under cover of the bombardment a flight of Antonov An-l 2 'Cub' four-enginetransports drops the paratroop company and its equipment into the rear of thedefences to disrupt lines of communication, to block any approch of reinforce-ments and to secure several key features of terrain. As the airdrop is in progressthe reconnaissance troop of three BRDM-2 amphibious armoured cars and aPT-76 light tank disembark into the surf some 600 m (655 yards) offshore andbegin their swim-in to the beach, several Soviet naval airforce Kamov Ka-25'Hormone'C' helicopters and a 'Gus' air-cushion vehicle having paved the wayby delivering the combat engineer platoon to the landing area and its approachesin order to clear and mark three lanes for the assault waves. ln doing this theengineers lose over half their numbers as dead or wounded- As the reconnaiss-ance team lands the naval gunfire switches to engage inland targets to covertheir lnfiltration from the beach. The team remains in contact with the battalionforce commander at all times by radio whilst it is reconnoitring enemy positionsand the terrain.. The remaining engineers are meanwhile clearing of mines thebeach and routes inland, and set up a traffic-control point before the ffieult

'Aist'-class air cushion vehicles are capable of carrying up to four PT-76lighttanks and 1 50 naval infantrgen. With a maximum speed of 75 mph( I 20 lan/ h), and true amphibious capability, the'Aist' class is a significantaddition to Soviet assault capacity.

waves start to disembark. The squadron of newly-arrived fighter-bombers isdirected to attack the defensive positions that have survived the bombardmentand to establish combat air patrols over the landing ships and beach-head.

The first assault wave of three PT-76s with a company of naval infantry in 10BTRSO APCs then disembarks and begins its swim-in to the beach. As they doso the tanks engage several positions, firing at them with their 76-mm mainguns, while the BTR-60s fire at any enemy troops and light vehicles they seewith their 14.S-mm heavy machineguns. The force lands without any vehicle

Stage 1Under cover ofship-to-shore bombardment a flight ofAntonovAn-12s based on friendlysoil drops an advance party ofspecial force paras to disrupt enemy communications,.delaydefensive reinforcements and secure key terrain features.

Stage2Helicopters from landing ships and hovercraft delivercombat engineers ashore to clearmines, obstructions and barriers and mark lanesforthe following assaultwaves. Areconnaissance platoon arrives on the beach-head in three BTR-60s and a PT-76.

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tf-clasr<_a-ir cushionvehicles are_gapable of carrying up to four pT_Z6light,ls,and I 50 naval infantrymen. Witn a maximud sfui of ZS mphO-.Ian/ h), gnd true amphibious capability, the,Aisi' class is a significantlition to Saviet assault capacity.

ves start to disembark. The squadron of newly-arrived fighter-bombers is*ted to attack the defensive positions that have survivea t6e oomoarominiI to-establish combat air patrols over the landino ships and beach_head.he f rrst assault wave of three PT-76s with a com-panv of naval infantrv in 10}60 APCs then disembarks and begins its swim-in td the #;ch. A;lfie;;;the tanks.eng_ag_e several posrtions-, firing at them withtheliT6 m;-mui;rs, while the BTR-60s fire at any enemy iroops and light vehicles thev seeh their 14.5-mm heavy machine-guns. ihe fdrce rand6 wittro"iinv veitrtrelgeller cover of ship-to-shore bombardment a flight ofAntonov An-1 2s based on friendlvlg.q:3^.1:d^"_q199

party of specialforce paras-to disrupt enemy communications, deiaylnsrve ret nlorcements and secu re key tertain features.

r+te2copters from landing ships and hovercraft derivercombat engineers ashore to creares, obstructtons and barriers and mark lanes for the followinq-assault waves. Annaissance platoon arrives on the beach-head in th ree giR_6Gind i Fi_7e

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losses and only minor personnel casualties. The vehicles then deploy intolrne-abreast formation and advance in order to,widen the beach-head, ihe Navallnfantry dismounting as necessary to neutralize dug-in enemy poiitions ifrathave not been previously destroyed by gunfire or airEttack. As ifrey do this thesecond wave, conf igured like the f irst, disembarks with the mortar, dnti-tank andarr defence troops into the surf. The battalion commanderalso accompanies thiswave, leaving the control of the attack in the hands of the naval comm'anderuntithe reaches shore. The control of the tactical air strikes and naval ounfire is alsopassed to the specialist observer teams landed with the f irst wave"and who nowaccurately direct the fire to support the wave's push inland.

Whilst the first wave attacks iirland the second wave lands on its left flank tobroaden the beach-head further, the battalioh commander personally directingthe accompanying support units to set up defensive posiiions to protect th6beach-head and to engage targets as designated by the assault waves. The thirdand tinal wave, again configured like the other two, is then launched with therear seryice units following behind This wav6 is directed by the battalioncommander, now ashore with his headquarters group, to land on the riqht flankof the first wave. Once it achieves this and push-es f6rward to the sam; line asthe first and second waves, then the whole battalion attacks in line formation toexpand and deepen the beach-head to secure it for the follow-up formations.The rear service units which have meanwhile landed set up their resupply andcasualty evacuation routes on the beach itself.

lnland from the beach-head the reconnaissance platoon has met up withelements of the airborne company that is advancinq towards it. Once this hashappened and the main battaiion force is judged to have met its obiective bvclearing the routes inland, then all the units will wait rn place for the'follow-u6formations of the Soviet army to land and relieve them. These are directed ihtheir tasks and deployment by the beachmaster in order to maintain the direc-tron and momentum of the attack inland. The surviving remnants of both thebattalion assault force and the paratroop company are-then withdrawn to thelanding ships for the return to the homd port fbr r6-equipment and regroupingbefore the next assaltlt

Stage3The first assau lt waves of naval infantry in armou red personnel carriers su Doorted bv lio httanksareputashorefromseveral 'Polnocny'-classlandingships,whicncair'useitratiovi'water and can beach well up on the shore.

Stage4

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osses and only minor personnel casualties. The vehicles then deptoy intone-abreast formation and advance in orderto'widen the beach-head, the Navaln'antry dismounting as necessary to neutralize dug-in enemy positlons that.ave not been previously destroyed by gunfire or air attack. As they do this thesecond wave. conf igured like the f irst, disembarks with the mortar, anti-tank ande r def ence troops into the surf . The battalion commander also accompanies thiswave, Ieaving ihe control of the attack in the hands of the naval commander untilre reaches shore. The control of the tactical air strikes and naval gunfire is alsorassed to the specialist observer teams landed with the f irst wave and who nowaccurately direct the fire to support the wave's push inland.

Whilst the first wave attacks inland the second wave lands on its left flank torroaden the beach-head further, the battalion commander personally directing:ne accompanying support units to set up defenslve positions to protect theceach-head and to engage targets as designated by the assault waves. The thirdand final wave. again configured like the other two, is then launched with the'ear service units following behind. This wave is directed by the battalioncommander, now ashore with his headquarters group, to land on the right flankof the first wave. Once it achieves this and pushes forward to the same line asihe first and second waves, then the whole battalion attacks in line formation toexpand and deepen the beach-head to secure it for the follow-up formations.The rear service units which have meanwhile landed set up their resupply andcasualty evacuation routes on the beach itself.

Inland from the beach-head the reconnaissance platoon has met up withelements of the airborne company that is advancing towards it. Once this hasnappened and the main battalion force is judged to have met its objective byclearing the routes inland, then all the units will wait in place for the follow-upiormations of the Soviet army to land and relieve them. These are directed intheir tasks and deployment by the beachmaster in order to maintain the direc-tion and momentum of the attack inland. The surviving remnants of both thecattalion assault force and the paratroop company are then withdrawn to the:anding ships for the return to the home port for re-equipment and regroupingbefore the next assault.

Stage 3The first assault waves of naval infantry in armoured person nel ca rriers supported by I ightta n ks are put ashore from several 'Polnocnylclass landing ships, which can use shaliowwater and can beach well up on the shore.

Stage4

S_ovie,tNavallnfantry coming ashore from'Polnocny'-class tandingships.WithPT-76light tanks prouiding covering fire and BTR-60P APCs providingmobility, the Naval Infantry are reputed to be amongst the best troop, in theSoviet armed forces.

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f ii, l,"r,"elot' and'Sir Bedivere' Class Landing Ships Logistic (tSL)The Sir Lancelol was ordered in 1963as the prototype 'Sir Lancelot' classship of an eventual sx-ship LST typedesigm for the British army. The re-maininq flve ships were built to aslightiy modified desigrn and called the'Sir Bedivere'class, all six ships beingnamed after the knights of KlngArthur's 'round table'. Since then Au-stralia has built HMAS Tobruk to amodified'Su Bedlvere' deslqn. In 1970the army ships passed to the control ofthe Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA), whichmans them today. During the Falk-lands war all six ships were used, andboth the Sir Galahad arl,d Sir Tristramwere severely damaged by Argentt-nian bombs at Blu-ff Cove, the formerbeing subsequently towed out andsunk and the latter being towed backto the UK for repair after use as anaccommodation ship at Port Stanley,

Built into the bow and stern areramps and doors for a roll-or/roll-offcapability and over-the-beach assaultfacrlity, whllst interior ramps connectthe two cargo decks, Onboard arbfacilities for vehicle maintenance, andtwo Mexeflottes can be carried on thehull sides for use as pontoons to ferrytroops and vehicles ashore. A helicop-ter ianding platform is located at thestem, with a second pad available onthe foredeck, No hangar or mainte-nance faciiities are carried. A replace-ment for the .S-r7 Galahad is to beordered, whrlst in the interim two com-mercial roll-on/ro1l-off vehicle ferrieshave been obtained as replacements.

Specification:Names: Sir Lancelot (L3029) Sir Bedi-rere (L3004), Sir Geraint (L3027) andSr Percjral (13036)Commissioned: L3029 16 January 1964,L3004 B May 1967, L3027 12 July 1967and L3036 23 March 1968Displacement: L3029 5,550 tons andrest 5,674 tons firll loadDimensions: lenqth 125.1 m (412, I ft);beam 19.6m (59.Bft); draught 4.3m(r3 ff)Propulsion: two dieseis deliveringr9,400bhp (L3029 9,520bhp) to twoshaftsSpeed: 17 ktsComplement: 69 (lB officers and 5lmen)Troops: 340 normal, 534 maxrmumCargo: maximum 18 MBTs and 32 4{ontrucks plus 90 tons of general cargo,120 tons of petrol, oil and lubricants,and 30 tons of ammunition (L3029 thesame except only 16 MBTs and 25 4-ton trucks); two Mexeflottes; threeWestland Wessex HU.Mk 5 or twoWestland Sea King HC.Mk 4 or threeA6rospatiale Gazelle or WestlandLyrx helicoptersArmament: tvtro lv{k 9 40-mm AA gmsplus variable number of 7,62-mm (0.3-tn) GPMGs and Blowpipe hand-heldSAM laulchers (normally no anna-ment is camed)Electronics: one Type 1006 navrgationradar

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Above: HMSEearless and tfie,LSi SirTristram undergroin g along s i derefuelling at speed from one of theRFA's old'Leaf'-c,lass supporf sftips.

Below: The LSL Sir Bedivere under atiattack in 'Bomb AIIey' (San CarlosWater) by an Argentine Dagger inMay 1982.

The'Sir Lancelot' and 'Sir Bedivere'classoILSL. Mannedby theRFA, theLSLs were heauily committed to theF alklands war. One tie Sir Galahad,was lostwhilst another, theSirTristraro suffered su cfi severedamage that she will have to be arebuilt.

ffi iiearless'Class Amphibious Transport Dock (tPD)The hvo Britrsh LPDs, Fearless and 1n-trepid, are under the command of FlagOfficer Third Flotilla (FOF3) who isconcerned with the lareter warships ofthe Royal Navy and the naval air ele-ments, The infamous l9Bl Defence Re-view forecast the disposal of Intrepid(L]1) in 1982 and ofFeariess (Li0) in1984, but sanity finally prevailed withinthe Minlstry of Defence in Februaryi982, and rt was decided that bothships would continue in service, theirworth later being proved during theFalkland Islands war, since withoutthem there could not have been anassault landlnq to recapture the is-lands,

The'Fearless' class ships are taskedto provide amphlbious assault lift capa-bilrties using an onboard naval assaultgrroup,4crigade headquarters unit witha fully equipped assault operationsroom from which the force comman-ders can moult and contiol all the air,sea and land force assets required for

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the operation. The ships also carry anamphibious detachment that consistsof an assault squadron subdmded intoa landing craft (l,C) squadron with fourLCUs (ex-LCM9s) and four LCVPs, anamphibious beach umt (ABI-|) with itsowrr lrand Rover and a CenturionBeach Armoured Recovery Vehicle(BARV) to attend to stranded vehiclesand landrng craft, and a vehicle deckparty (VDP) for marshalling vehiclesfor embarkation on the landing craft.An l,CU can carry either one Chieftainor huo Cenh.rion MBTs, or four 4{ontrucks or eight Land Rovers and trail-ers, or 100 tons of cargTo, or 250 troopsas its payload, The LCVP carrreseither 35 troops or fuvo Land Rovers,

A 50,29-m (I65-ft) by 22,86-m (75-ft)flight deck rs built over the well deckand is capable of operatrng mostNATO helicopter tlpes or, ifrequired,BAe Sea Harrier VTOL fighter aircraft.Three vehicle decks are provided, inthe form of one for tracked vehicles

such as tanks or self-propelled gnrrs,one for wheeled trucks, and a hali-deck that is reserved for Land Rovervehicles and trailers. The overloadtroop capacity is sufficient for a lightinfantry battalion or Royal MarineCommando with an attached artillerybattery. Further light vehicle stowagespace can be obtained by using thehelicopter flight deck. The vessels canalso act as tr4ininq ships, in which I50midshipmen and naval cadets can beembarked for nine-week courses,

Specification:Names: Fear/ess (L10) and Intrepid(Llr)Commissioned: L10 25 November 1965and L]] I1 March 1967Displacement: 12,210 tons full loadDimensions: length 158,5m (520ft);beam 24.4 m (B0ft); draught 6.2m(20.s ft)Propulsion: two geared steam turbines

delivering 22,000 shp to two shaftsSpeed: 2l ktsComplement: 617 (37 officers, 500 rat-ings and B0 Royai Marines)Troops:330 normai, 500 overload and670 maxirnumCargo: maxrmum 20 MBT, one BARV,45 4{on trucks with 50 tons ofstores, orup to 2, 100 tons ofstores; four LCUs andfour LCVPs; five Westiand.WessexHU.Mk 5 or four Westland Sea KingHC.Mk 4 plus three A6rospatialeGazelle or Westland Lynx helicoptersArmament: four GWS20 QuadrupleSea Cat SAM launchers, two Mk 9 40-mm AA gnrns plr.rs variable number of7.62-mm (0.3-in) GPMGs and Blowpipehand-held SAM launchersElectronics: one Type 978 navientionradar, one type 994 air- and surface-search radar, one SCOT satellite com-munications system, one ESM systemwith Knebworth/Corvus chaff-launchers, one CAAIS operationsroom command and control system

Fearless in Actflotr:Bqftle for fhe Fslklands- -ir,IS fearless is not a particularly attractrvesrrp Berng an assault support shrpshe has nocartrcular reason to have attractive ltnes. but:-: angular appearance of rhe vessels hroh'-:uard superstructLire and the long low he-Ii-:opter landinq deck are hrghly functional, Theblunt stern hrdes the fact that she has an inter-nal landinE craft 'hangar', and the relativelycroad hull hrdes the large numbers of storej,accommodation decks, workshops, offices andcommunications centres that an assault shiprequires in action, Apart from a.tl these facilttiesiear/ess has to find room for her ship's comple-nent of 580 men, and additional volume has toce found for her helicopters, aircrew and main-ia_rners to say nothing of the 380-400 Royalllarines who regard the ship as home.

Fearless was compieted in 1963 anci spentmany years providing amphibious operationssuppo-rt in all oarls oJ the world, but increasingly in Scandrnavian waters as the vears rolle"dby. However. the operating expense ol Fear-less grew even hrgher as general costs roseand items of equipment started to wear out untilin i981 she was earmarked for layrng-off in1984; but strings were pulled in hrgh plaCes andFearless was reprieved, Thus rn barly 1g82Fearless was tied up at her usual wharf inPortsmouth Dockyard undergoing an exten-sive refit and refurbtshtng programme on allparts of the shrp,

Events rn the South Atlantrc chanqed all thatovernighr. The dockyard maries worked immensely long hours to put Fearless back intocommission, and they achieved virtual mira,cles as_the ship was due to sail on Tt_resday 6Aprrl As ii was the ship saited out oi poitsmouth on only one boiler as the other was strllrecoveringt from extensive repairs But to thewatching public all appeoreo /, er- crS rhey gavethe smali convoy a rousing send-cff into thJwetmist of the Solent,

At that sta-ge Fearless was sttll relativelyempty apart from the usual mountain of storespacked into all parts of the shrp includrng ihe

gangways On board were CommodoreMrchaei Clapp (Commodore AmphibiousWarfare), hrs stalf and elements of No. 3 Com-mar.do Brrraoe lincluding the headquarlerst,lhree West-and Sea Krng HC Mk 4s irom No846 Navai Air Squadron and three WestlandScout AH,N{k ls of No, 3 Commando Brioade.As Fearless moved south 'o Ascension Ii andthe shrp's company gradualiy sorted out thestate of the ship and tried to establish whereeverything had been stacked, The Comman-dos carried out as much training as they could,

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Fearless in Action

and life was busy as Ascension loomed on thehorizon.

At Ascension things grew even busier. Fromthe moment Fearless arrived she assumed arole that was to continue until the end of Opera-tion 'Corporate', as the operation to repossessthe Falklands had been named, Fearless ar-rived at Ascension on 17 April, and on the verynext day there began a series of exercises totrain the landing craft crews and their charges,and a iong series of shifting about of men andstores from one vessel to another, nearly a1l thework being carried out by helicopter. To addto this, the crew of Fearless began a largenumber of operations to provide technicai andother assistance to other ships in the force thatwas gradually assembiing. (HMS 1nlrepld thesistership of Fearless, arrived on 15 April after

an even more involved dockyard operationthan that needed by Fearless) Techniciansfrom Fearless were transported around thefleet carryinq out all manner oftasks from elec-trical repairs to removing the deck side-wallsfrom a chartered Ro-Ro (roil-on/ro1i-off) ferry toconvert it into a helicopter landing-deckedstores vessel.

On 7 May Fearless and a small fleet of sup-port vessels of all kinds left Ascension andmoved south towards the Falklands. She wasvery crowded: more stores and supplies hadbeen taken on at Ascension, more RoyalMarine and assorted 'brown jobs' (soldiers)were on board and some extra helicopters hadbeen accumuiated. More were yet to join,Among the many ships moving south was theCanberra, soon to be immortalized as 'the

One of the LPDs,f/MSFearless orHMSIntrepm"under attack by an Argentine Dagger in San CaiwWater. The camouflaged aircraft can be seenpassing just in front of the mainmastand alrncsdbridgelevel.

Great White Whale', and from her Fea:emrtook on board the 600 or more men oi l's: r$fCommando plus all their kit and another l*:nof stores and equipment, This brought :: :1*board total to well over I,500 men, who :,=r rsleep and live where and how they could :'1:hmess, gangway, odd corner and cubb_,-::,*iwas crarnmed with men and equipmen-- rlrsomehow they managed to Iive withor: r:urmuch rn the way of problems.

That was on 19 May, by which time Fea:,srwas in good company. Sailing with her -r=:rIhe Canberra, the iil-fated AUanttc Conve;:rlhe Ewopic Ferry, the E1k, the RFA Strom:=.=the Intrepid, and as escorts there were I.FArden f and HMS Argonaut. Fearless was c:-e :rthe centrai vessels ol this small fleet, for i: r,'-f,:on board that most of the expedition's comn :-ders were based. It was on boardFear/es-s --:,a:

the assault commanders learned of their ll:-jected ianding beach at San Carlos (that was :r10 May). The landing operations (Opera::n

I

One of the LPDs, ffMS Fearless orIlMS Intrepid,under attack by an Argeitine Dagger in San CarlosWaten The camouflaged aircraft can be seenpassing j ust in front of the mainmast and almost atbridgelevel.

Great White Whale', and from her Fearlesstook on board the 600 or more men of No. 40Commando plus all their kit and another heapof stores and equipment, This brought the on-board total to well over I,500 men, who had tosleep and live where and how they could. Eachmess, gangway, odd corner and cubby-holewas crammed with men and equipment, butsomehow they managed to live without toomuch in the way of problems.

That was on 19 May, by which timeFear/esswas in good company. Sailing with her wereIhe Canberra, the iii-fated AUantic Conveyor,Ihe Europic F erry, the Elk, the RFA Stromness,lhe Intrepid, and as escorts there were HMSArdent andHMS Argonaut Fearless was one ofthe central vessels of this small fleet, for it wason board that most of the expedition's comman-ders were based. It was on board Fearless thatthe assault commanders learned of their pro-iected landing beach at San Carlos (that was onl0 May). The landing operations (Operation

'sutton') then had to be prepared, but as they BAC Canbena ii: :"r- r*rqdid so the weather got worse as the 'Roaring Fear.less s:a:::i ':: w

Forties' were passed; then on 20 May Fearless vengeance -::-; -- i:: aenteredtheTotalExclusionZone(TEZ)around inthestern \: il l:rrpnrthe Falkland Islands. By then the force around ashore. The i::.i-'l :l-ui i;Fear/ess aryllntrepidhhdincreased: theCan- fgll-scale 311et-:,1;5 rq'rr::r'

berra, Europic Ferry, EIk andStromness were many years c: =: - ':a- :f l-still there, but to these had been added the well. Thelanoi-:sm,'=r-r.l=;]RFAs Sf Percjval, Sir Geratnt, Sir Galahad, Sir a result ma:i1 --1 1 :r--,; I

Lancelot, Sir Tistram andFort Austin Escorts against Arge-::,;: r:'s :

now included HMS Broadsword, Billiant, Ar- Carried ou: c: -{ l-t1-t :udent, Argonaut, Antrim, Hymouth and Yar- modelofc.onri-:r+L :cFiai:[mouth. - backed uP a S-=+: = -r-:

As this force approached San Carlos Water it destroyed "ir:r=, =': = ;was spotted bya lone Argentinian air force -"+15?# *;:i=*;.=

=Fearless w'as a: -:e

=,r,r:= :

bckfard operationriess.j TechniciansFrld around ther of:asks lrom elec-fu deck side-wails[-cn roll-off) ferry toer iandrng-decked

a s:rnall fleet of sup-bfr Ascension andFalldaads She wass and supplies hadrsion. more Royalmr jobs' (soldiers)ftahelicopters hadl were yet to join,r-mg south was thermccalzed as 'the

Right and belor,'Ead c( tu ijthewelld*koflfu6 Feds:or up to 250 trcr:.p. fh€ig'rPssu pe r s tru cture can ect :ryLand Rovers. Ajr defw:sf

N *o-oj"t*..t]ansmss

i , \-*_ 1

\ ', \- l,--\ \\': .F*=--

Sutton') then had to be prepared, but as theydrd so the weather got worse as the 'RoaringForties'were passed; then on 20 MayFearlessentered the Total ExclusionZone (TEZ) aroundthe Faikland Islands. By then the ljrrce aroundFearless andlntrepid had increased: the Can-berra, Europic Ferry, Elk andStromness werestill there, but to these had been added theRFAs Srr Percival, Sir Geraint, Sir Galahad, Sirlancelot, Sir Tistram andFort Austin Escortsnow included HMS Broadsword, Billiant, Ar-dent, Argonaut, Antrim, Plymouth and Yar-:nouth.

As this force approached San Carlos Water itwas spotted by a lone Argentinian air force

BAC Canberra, but by then it was too late.Fear-1ess started her war work with avengeance: using the four ianding craft carriedin the stern, No. 40 Commando started to moveashore. The landing cra-ft carried out the firstfull-scale amphibious landing in earnest formany years on the night of 21 May, and all wentwell. The landings went largely unopposed, asa result mainly of a small-scale operationagainst Argentinian units on Pebble Island.Carried out on 14 May, this operation was amodel of combined operations as naval gunflrebacked up a Special Air Sewices raid thatdestroyed aircraft and the vital warning radarinstalled on the island.

The very next day the arr attacks started,Fearless was at the centre of it all as Argenti-

Right and below: Each of the four LCUs carried inthewell deckof HMS Fearless can carrytwoMBTsor up to 250 traops. The ICVPs slung on thesuperstradure can each carry 35 troops or twoLandRovers. Air defence is providedbyfourqu adrup le S ea C at launcher s.

!!I-1

I

nian air force Dassault Mirages and McDonnellDouglas Skyhawks swung into action, Fear/esswas an obvious target, but somehow she man-aged to escape the worst, Bombs fell close by,but the ship's defences of two 40 mm L/60Bofors gmns (dating from Worid War II) andfour Sea Cat missile-launchers added their bitto the wall of defensive fire that greeted theattackers, Coming in low and relativeiystrarght, the Argentinians presented good, iffast, targets and they suffered accordingly.That first day's tally was 17 Argentinian airforce aircra-ft shot down, and from then on SanCarlos Water became known as 'Death Alley'to the attackers, but they kept coming backwith a degree of courage which defles descrip-tion, On the debit side lor the Britrsh was theIoss of HMSArdenl, so for the British San CarlosWater became 'Bomb Alley'.

There were no air attacks on22May. Fear'less concentrated on getting men and storesashore to consolidate the beach-head. Herlanding craft fussed around the Water carryingmen and supplies from ship to ship and work-ing for as iong as the light held. The next daywas another matter. The Argenttnian air forcereturned rn strength; this time the attackers hitand destroyed HMS Antelope. Before thespectacular exploslon that made such photo-graphic history took place, the little iandingcraft from Fearless were able to take off nearlyall her crew and that nightFearless provided aplace of rest for the homeless 'Antelopes'.

On 24 May the air attacks continued andFearless received three casualties, the onlyones of her whole campaign: three men on aBofors Qnrnwere wounded by shrapnel and one

had to be taken ashore for treatment. Belowdecks things were as busy as ever, the meninvolved having little or no idea of what wasgoing on above decks. They had to keep work-rng rn the engine rooms, communications cen-tles, landing craft well, stores and all the manyother hidden workplaces while above thembombs dropped and gnrns thumped away.

It was on 24 May that Fearless really startedher 'mother' role in earnest. From thp start ofthe campaign the ship had been loaning tech-nicians and manpower to other ships, but nowFearless started to send battle damage partiesto stricken ships, The LSL Slr.Lancelol wasstruck by two unexploded bombs (UXB) andthe crew had to be removed. As they left par-ties from Fearless moved in, Electrlcal cableswere replaced, temporary repairs broughtback hqhting and power, new galley equip-ment was fitted and once the bombs had beenrendered safe the crew returned, Thls wastlpical of other Fearless support operationsafter bomb damage: a party fromFearle,ss car-ried out extensive repairs lo Argonaut afler araid; during June a further Fearless partyassisted rn putting out fires on HMS Plymouthand clearing a path to unexploded bombs; re-pair work was carried out on the ly'ordic Ferryand the lug lishman; and so it went on.

Perhaps the saddest task that men fromFear.less had to perform was on I I June. Using aBoerng Vertol Chinook helicopter this partyhad to suwey the wreck of the Str Tnstram,damaged severely during the Bluff Cove op-eration. Despite the severe damage from firethe vessel was repaired to the extent that itcould be used for much-needed troop accom-

After the fuiitial landing at San Cailos thehelicopter deckofHMS Intrepid was used enseveral occasions as a diversionary landing padand forward operating base for BAe Sea HarrierFRS.Mk I fighters from the carriersHMS HermesandHMSlnvincible.

modation once the islands had been reposses-sed.

FearJess did not remain in San Carlos Waterthroughout all the air attacks. On 28 May shewas out at sea ready to take on Major GeneralMoore and his staff alongwith Brigadier Wilson(commander of the Sth Infantry Brigade, themain army force for the final land operations).They were all back in 'Bomb A-lley' next day,and there Fearless remained until 6 June. Onthat day Fearless's manpower strength againwent over the 1,500 mark as Welsh Guardscame aboard ready for the move to Elephantisland, where the landing craft once more putthe Guards ashore.

In purely military terms that was one of theship's last contributions to the retaking of theFalkland Islands. In practical terms it meantbusiness as before. In her role of 'mother'Fear-Jess continued to support operations ashore,though in one sense she had been ashore fromthe first day after the landings: her MedicalSection had moved ashore at Ajax Bay and wasa major force behind the small hospital that hadbeen set up in a dlsused refrigerator plant,There men frornFear,/ess tended the woundedfrom both sides and did their best to repair theresults of modern infantry combat. The shipbecame a fount of medical supplies that had tocome all the way from the Royal Naval Hospitalat Haslar. Back on board the ship's Com-munications Group handled thousands of sig-

HMS Fearless cutaw_Aydrawing key

I

1 Navigation radar2 Airsearchradar3 Main mast struclure4 Forefunnel{behindmain

mast)5 Chute6 Radarcontrolroom7 Operations room8 Main bridge9 40-mm/T0Boforsgun

10 Bridqehouse11 Foremaststructure'12 Liferafts13 OuadmountSea-Cat

surface-to-air missiie14 Anchor'15 Troopdeck/stores(1)'16 Troopdeck/stores(2)17 Troopdeck/stores(3)'18 Light lorries deck19 Tankdeck

,38

IIMS Fearless un der aerial attack at San Carlos.Note what appear to be near misses in the wateraround the ship either from aircraft cannon fire or'friendly' anti- aircraft fire.

nals and wore out a copying machine in theprocess, The ship's resident helicopters wereconstantly at work: when they were not car-rying men ashore or from ship to ship, theywere carrying stores, ammunition and fuel, No.846 Navat Arr Squadron operated irom shorebases once in the Falklands, but frequently hadto return for repairs and rest, Including No. 846Squadron's operations, Fearless's heiicopterdeck logged no fewer than 5,000 iandingi bythe time she sailed from Port Stanley. The ahip'-smeteorological men constantly compiled anddellvered weather reports andforecasts for theTask Force. Her one-man photographic de-partment carried out the hundred-and-onetasks that were required, somehow managingto take no fewer than 9,404 photographs. TheSupply and Secretarial Department sbmehowmanaged to keep everyone fed, even whenmess halls were covered in weary soldiers; italso managed to keep tabs on all ihe suppliesmoved or consumed (7,474 tons of dresel oil.5.73 toas of AVCAT, 14,088 tons of water pro-duced by the ship's condensers, some of ii foruse by other ships, etc). Over SI40 000 in che-ques were cashed and f60,000 was handedover to the army ashore for its needs, The list ofsuch deeds is endiess but the men of the ship's

laundry should not be forgotten, Eight Chinesenot only did all the laundry (for over 1,000 men)but aiso managed to cut hair and do sometarloring!

It is not possible to mention all the sections ofthe ship. All were busy and all worked long andhard hours to supply the needs ofthe thousand-and-one customers who looked to Fearless forsupport. Once Port Stanley had been retakenFearless was stitl busy assisting in the clearing-up operations ashore and even taking over anex-Argentinian tender, There was one momentof quiet triumph when General Menendezwastaken aboard on 15 June, but he was not the firstArgentinian to set foot on the ship: on 25 May anun-fortunate Argentiman pilot had to eject fiomhis alrcraft dlrectly overFearlessand was pick-ed up and cared for after his ordeal, OtherArgentrnian additions to the ship were various

20-mm and 35-mm anti-aircraft guns cap:_:=:ashore and gladly pressed lnto use at ;ar-:'-.points around the decks,

On 25 June Fearless left the Falkla::is --lsailed north. It had not been a bad effoa r::: =ship that had once been almost assicrned:: -:,:scrap-heap. For long and dangeror-L cja.,.s s:_:had been in the thick of it all witn nonils:i.:::everywhere around her, Her crunners :-=jscored some kilis and many m6n ha: :'_:accommodated in her metal interior He::_=_-copters had kept men and supplies i:-.',-:-;--all directions. Her damage parties :rai <=:lships afloat and her engineermg t:r's ,=;churned out parts for all manner oin:ac:_:=

WithoutFearless the Falkland Islalds :ce-,tions would probably riot have bee: c,: r. - _: -not a bad thing for a ship and her :j:.ce:_t -:

.,,

_!

Iook back on.

20 Landingcraftdavit2l Landinq craft LCVP, caDacitv

36troopsortwo LandRovers with crew

22 Pulleysystem forraisingramp, upperand lower

23 Mobile ramo formovinoAFVfrom one deck to anoth-er

24 Ship'slaunch25 AlvisScorpiontanU

reconnaissance vehicle(FV101)

26 Fixed loading ramp, shiprclanding craft

'Er fil T {

= fit r" Ridge,Amphibious Command Ships (LCC)i-:= :r-r tslue Ridge' ciass integrated. - =j:d and sea amphibious assault:::::-ald ships are the first and only:.-!s Jonsuucted by any nation solely,r-: -:at role, A thud ship of the class:s3med at the outset for both amphi-

:-:- and fleet command) was also;::;i:ammed but was subsequently:-:elled. In the late i970s, as a result:: :e retirement of the elderly 'Cleve-;:-i class flagship cruisers the two--:e Ridge' vessels also took on fleet'.rship duties, the Blue &dge herself:e:oming the flagship of the West?ajic 7th fleet and Mount Whttney-:-: fiagship of the Atlantic 2nd fleet,

The basic hull design and pro-pi;lsron machinery is similar to that of:e 'Iwo Jima' class LPHs, with the lar-ger hangar area devoted to accom-rodation, offices and operations::oms required by the maximumpossilcle 200 officers and 500 enlistednen of the embarked flag grroup, Theshrps have comprehensive satellitecommunications, command, controland intelligence analysis facilitiesitted. These rnclude the AmphlbiousCommand Information System (ACIS);'ire Naval Intelligence Processing Sys-tem (NIPS); the Naval Tactical DataSystem (NTDS) with its AN/UYK-20ard AN/UYK-7 digital computers toqlve an overali picture of the tactical

tic data transmission systems to allowthe exchange of tactical tnformationwith NTDS-equrpped ships and Air-borne Tactical Data System (ATDS)-equipped aircraft; extensive photo-eiraphic laboratories and documentpublication facilities; aad the satellitecommunications system with OEB2antenna, SSR-I receiver and WSC-3transceiver,

The vessels each carry three LCPs,hvo LCVPs and one 10-m (32.8-ft) per-sonnel launch in Weivin davtts sihratedin prominent sponsons projecting fromthe ships' sides, A helicopter landingarea is located at the stem but thereare no hangar or maintenance facilitiesaboard. A small vehicie garaqe andelevator are provided. When neces-sary the ships operate two small utilityhelicopters as the ship's flight.

Specification:Names: BIue Ridge (LCC19) andMount Whitnev 0CC20)Commissioned: LCC19 14 November1970 and LCC20 16 January 1971Displacement: 19,290 tons full loadDimensions: length 189 m (620 ft);beam 25 m (82 ft); draught B.B m (29 ft)Propulsion: one greared steam turbinedelivering 22,000 shp to one shaftSpeed: 23 kls maximum and 20 k1s sus-tained

(41 officers plw 475 enlisted men)Flag gnoup: LCC l9 250 (50 officers plus200 entisted men) and LCC2O 4ZO (t6Oofficers plus 260 enlisted men)Armament: two hvin Mk 33 Z6-mm (3-in) AA two B-hrbe Mk 25 Sea SparrowBPDMS launchers (two 20-mm Mk 16Phalanx CIWS to be fitted)Electronics: one SPS-48 3D-searchradar, one SPS-10 surface-searchradar, one SPS-40 air-search radar,huo Mk 115.missi1e fire-control sys-

The nerve centre of an atnphibiousassaulf, the command ship t/SS BtueRidge (ICCJ 9). ?ie Blue Ridge a/sosenresas tfte US TthFletflagship and,k homeported a t Yokosuka. J apn-

tems, one target desigmara:. --_;s.::-two Mk 56 gmn fue-conE.l --_,::e:-.-.two Mk 35 fire-control raCa:s ::-: l.l.:36 Super RBOC Chaftoc lau:cr.::5s-Iem and associated ESM ec:::----one URN20 TACAN.

'uderwater, surface and air warfare Complement: l,CC19 799 (41 officersstuations; Link i I and Link i4 automa- plus 758 enlisted men) and LCC20 516

USS BIue SJdge (LCC I 9). Fitted with avast array ofcommand, control andammunications systems, ffi e yesse,lis well suited for its additional role ofFleetflagship.

= ft"Jima'Class Amphibious Assault Ships Helicopter (LpH)

clearance can accommodate i9 CH-46s or 1l CH-53s. The normal air grrouprs a mixffie of 24 CH-46, CH-53, BellAH-l and Bell UH-l hehcopters. OnLPH2,3, 1I and 12 rwofoldable22727-kg (50,1001b) capacity deck-edge hftsare carried, whilst on LPH7, 9 and I0the lifts have been reduced to 20000-

kg (44,090-1b) capacity. Because (withthe exception of LPHI2 which has twoLCVPs on davrS) they do not carryIanding craft, the ships are limited iirthe sue of equipment they can carryfor the embarked US Mdrines, Twosmall elevators carry palletized cargofrom the cargo holds to the fliqht deck,

whilst a small parlong area fo: .;:_:vehicles and towed artllery pte:es -.also provrded.

Durtng 1972 to 1974 LPH9 opera:e;as an interim sea controi ship cd:i.:;BAe AV-BA Hamer VTOL flohters :-.Skorsky SH-3 Sea Krng ASW i:e-:::-ters, When converted back r: ::. -lj-:

The 'IwoJima'-class LPH. This wastheworld's firsf sfup c/ass deslgme.dand cons tructed s perifi caJly t ooperate he Ecopters. E a ch LP H arcarry a Marine battalion landingteant with alI its equipmenL areinforced helicopter squadron" aicsupporting personnel.

iver since 1955, when the former:scort carrier Thetis Bay was con-',-efied to a helicopter assault ship, the.ruted States Navy has maintained a'iertical airlift capability for the US)r'farine Corps. The 'Iwo Jima ciasssiips were built to an improved World'Yar II escort carrier design withiccommodation for a US Marine infan-:ry battalion landing team fore and aft:: the centrally located box hangar.-lese vessels were the first in any-1!ry to be designed specifically to:::ry and operate helicopters, and asr-:h no catapuit or arrester gear is-*ed. The flight deck is able to operate-: recover up to seven Boerng Vertol3:I-46 Sea Knight or four Sikorsky CH--.: Sea Stallions simultaneously, The:.::Ear deck, wrth a 6, l-m (20-ft) height

.J

I

L

'Iwo ]ima' Class (continued)

LPH9, USS Guarl carrying threeMarine Corps AV-9A Harrier aircraft.I n 1 97 I the Gvan was modified tooperate as an intefim Sea ControlShip, carrying both Harriers and SeaKingASWhelicopters.

she retained the Air Surface Classifica-tion and Analysis Centre (ASCAC) thatwas fitted for the experimental role.Several other LPHs have also operatedas minesweepinq headquarters boats,embarking US Navy RH-53 helicopterminesweeptnq units, These vesselscleared North Vietnamese Ports in1973 and the Suez Canal in 1974. Allhelicopter operations are controlledfrom a dedicated command and con-trol centre iocated in the flight deckisiand. Atl except LPH1O carry thesame sateliite communjcations equip-ment as the LCCs. They have the same300-bed hospital unit as the LHAs, Fourships sewe with the Atlantic fleets andthree with the Pacific fleets.

Specification:Names: Iwo Jima (LPH2), Okinawa(l,PH3) Guadalcanal (LPH7), Guam(LPH9), Trbo1i (LPHl0), New Orleans(LPHI 1) and lncion (LPHI2)Commissioned:, LPHZ 26 August i96 I,LPH3 14 April 1962, LPHZ 20 July 1963,

LPHS 16 January 1965, LPHI0 6 August1966, LPHII i6 November 1968 andLPHI? 20 June 1970Displacement: 18,300 tons fr.rll load

Dimensions: lengrth 183.7 m (602.3 ft);beam 25.6 m (84 ft); draught 7.9 m(26 f0Propulsion: one geared steam turbinedelivering 22,000 shp to one shaftSpeed: 23 kts maximum and 20 kts sus-tainedComplement: 652 (47 officers plus 605eniisted men)Troops: 2,090 (190 officers and i,900enusted men)Cargo: total 399.6-m2 (4,300-sq ft) vehi-cle parkinq area; LPHI2 two LCVPs;maximum 19 CH-46 helicopters in han-gar plus seven on deck; 24605 litres(6,500 US gal) MOGAS vehicle tuel;1533090 litres (405,000 US sal) JPS avia-tion tuel: 1059.8 m3 (37 ,425 cu ft) palle-tized storesArmament: tuvo hvin Mk 33 76-mm (3-in) AA gmns, two B-hrbe Mk 25 SeaSparrow BPDMS launchers; hvo 40-mm saluting guns; two 20-mm Mk 16Phalanx CIWS to be fittedElectronics: one SPS-I0 surface-search radar, one SPS-40 air-searchradar, one SPN-10 or SPN-43 aircraftlanding aid radar system, one Mk 36Super RBOC Chaffroc launcher systemwith associated ESM equipment, oneURN-20 TACAN

Based on an improvedWorldlA/ar IIescort carrier design, the'Iwo Jima'-cJass vesse/s were the first tos p ecifr c aIIy ac com m od atehelicopters. Here USS Inchon(LPH I 2)is shown with CH-46s on deck.

E fi"r"*"'Class General-Purpose Amphibious Assault Ships (tHA)The 'Tarawa class ships are the largestamphibious warfare ships yet con-structed. They are intended to com-blne the capabilities of the LPH, theLPD, the LCC and the LKA in a singlehuli. The class was origrinaly to havenumbered nine, but as a result oftheend of the Vietnam War and budget-ary constraints the eventual numberbuilt was five, The Litton/lngalls Pasca-goula shipyard built them by means ofits multi-ship construction techniquebetween 1971 and 1979.

The ship's sides are vertical forsome hvo-thirds of the lengrth in orderto maximize the internal space avail-able for cargo. An 81.7 m (268 ft) longby 23.8 m (78 ft) wide hangar with a6. t m (20 ft) overhead is iocated abovea srmilarly sized well deck set into thestern, The hangar is served by anl8l82-kg (40,085-ib) capacity side liftto port and a largrer 36364-kg (80,170-ib) capacity centreline lift at the stem.The dockingweil, vehicle deck, cargtoholds and hangar deck are connectedby a series offive elevators capable ofcanyrng 1000-kg (2,205-lb) palletizedlcads. The three forward elevatorsserse the vehicie deck and use a con--,'ey'or belt system, whilst the aft two-^levators (located at the other end of::e beit) sewe .both the well deck,rtere ar overhead cargo-carryingi:ororail system takes the paliets onto-:€ larding craft, and the hangar deck,I-: argled ramp ftom the hangar deck-:ais lo the flight deck to allow direct.:a j-:g oi heLicopters,

tselcm :'f ar aw a' -cla.s,s LHA.

Above : Lead ship of the LHA class,USS Tarawa about to recover aM arine C orps Vl STOL AV - 8A H anierduring the 1980 Philippines TaliantBlitz'exercke.

Rr:gfi f : As a resu lt of post-Vietnambudget restraints, onlY one moreLIlAwas built alter LISS Nassau(LH A4), instead of the five Planned.

q:-=ffi,

Tarawa' Class (continued)

iorward of the docking well (andr::rrected to it and the flight deck by::nps) are the vehicle Qecks. These-,:rmally accommodater 160 trackedrehicles, artillery pieces and trucks:4tether wlth 40 LVTP-7 amphibiouss.sault personnel carriers, The welljeck can accommodate up to four-CUs or two I:CUs and three LCMBs or-7 LCM6s. The four LCUs and eight-VTP-7s can be launched simul-:aneously from the well deck, The ves-sels themselves normally carry twoLCMOs and tvvo LCPs stowed on decktbr launch by a larqe deck crane. Theaircraft hanqar has the capacity for 30Boeingr Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight or 19Srkorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion helicop-ters, although the normal air groupembarked tends to be either 12 CH-46s, six CH-53s, four Bell AH-] Sea-Cobra gmnships and two Bell UH-1 util-ity or six CH-46s, mne CH-53s, fourAH-ls and the hvo UH-I helicopters,Both the BAe AV-BA Harrier and theRockwell OV-i0 Bronco fixed-wingaucraft have ajso been operated, theformer being a VTOL close-supportf,ghter and the latter a STOL observa-tion/attack aircraft, A 464,5m2(5,000sqft) trarning and acclimatiza-tion room rs fitted for the 1,900-manreinforced US Marine battalion carriedto exercise in a controlled environ-ment, A 300-bed medical unit (wrthoperating rooms, X-ray room, isolationward, hospital ward, laboratories,

phalmacy, dentistry room, morhtaryand medical store rooms) is also car-ried.

To act as an amphrbious squadronflagshrp the LHA is fitted with the Tac-tical Amphibious Warfare Data System(TAWDS) to provide command andcontrol over the group's aircraft,weapons, sensors and landing craft.The same satellite communicationssystem and data links as fitted to theLCCs are carried. Two of the LHAs areassigined to the Atlantic fleets while theother three are with the Pacific fleets,

Specification:Names: Tarawa (LHAI), Saipan(LHA2), B elleau lzTood (LHA3), .lr'assau(LHA4), Pelelu (LHAS)Commissioned: LHAI 29 May 1976,LHA2 15 October 1977, LHA3 23September 1978, LHA4 28 July 1979and LHAS 3 May l9B0Displacement: 39,300 tons full loadDimensions: length 250 m (820 ft):beam 32.3m (106ft); draught 7.9m(26 ft)Propulsion: two geared steam twbinesdelivering 70,000 shp to two shaftsSpeed: 24 kts maxrmum and 22 kts sus-tainedComplement: 902 (90 officers plus 812enlisted men)Troops: 1,903 (172 ofhcers plus 1,73ienlisted men)Cargo: total of 3134-m2 (33,735-sqft)vehicle parking area; four LCUs or two

LCUs and three LCMBs or 17 LCM6splus two LCM6s and two LCPs; max-imum 30 CH-46 plus 12 on flight deck;37855 litres (10,000 US qal) of MOGASvehicle fue1; 378540 htres (100,000 USgal) of JPS aviation fuel; 33ll m3(t 16,925 cu ft) palletized storesArmament: three sinqle Mk 45 127 -mm(S-in) DP qnrns, six sinqie Mk 62 20-mmAA gmns, two B{ube Mk 25 Sea Spar-row BPDMS launchers, to be replacedby two 20-mm Mk 16 phatanx CIWSElectronics: one SPS-S2B 3D-searchradar, one SPS-408 air-search radar,one SPS-lOF au-search radar, one Mk86 gnrn fire-control system, two Mk 115

Ampldbious Ass,ault Strips

LHA2 USS Satpan- The LIIA clas llritsbe joinedbyupto 12 of thesimilarbut slightly larger LIID clas, thetrrstfive of which will augiment the WNavy's current anphi,bious Iiftassek. The remaining sevenwillreplace the LPH s from the late I gg&-on a one-for-one basls.

missile f,re-control systerns, cne S?360 fire-controi radar, one SPG3i::=control radar, one SPN-35 Da-;31::.tadar, one SPS-53 naviga:c: -::jone Mk 36 Super RBOC Chali:;.-.cher system with associated =\{equipment, one URN-20 TAC;_\

fitted with a variable 17.7 m (58 ft) toi9.5 m (64 ft) Ions, 5.8 m (19 ft) to 7,3 m(24 ft) wide hangrar that can be ex-tended to about 24.4 m (80 ft) long frequired. Up to six CH-46s can beoperated, although the hangrar canaccommodate only one utilrty helicop-ter. The LVTP-7 capaclty is increased

Right: Similar to but larger than HMSFearless, USS Shreveport (LPD I 2),can, like several of her sisters, act asan am phibiou s s quadron flag s hip.

Below: The Austin class LPD USSD:buque. From 1986 onwards thisclass, together with the 'lwoJima'-class LPHs, will undergo a service Irteex tens ion programme (SLE P ).

= fialeigh' and'Austin' Class Amphibious Transport Docks (LpD)

The LPD is a fi:rther development ofthe dock landing ship (LSD) wrth anincreased troop and vehicle capacityat the expense of a reduction in thedock weli size. The LPD essentiallycombines the troop-carying of theAPA with pa]-t of the cargo-carryrngAKA, and the vehicle and landing craftcapabiltties of the LSD designs in onehuli. Of the three-ship 'Raleigh' classone has been converted to the Com-mand Middle East Force (COM-IDEASTFOR) flasship. This ship, USSIa Salle, sewes wrth the Indian Oceantask forces. The 'Raleiqh' class shipshave a stern docking we]l 51,2m(168 ft) lonq and 15.2 m (50 ft) wide thatcan accommodate one LCU and threeLCM6s, or four LCMBs, or 20 LVTP-7amphibious vehicles. In addition twoLCM6s or four LCPLs are carried onihe helicopter and lifted overboard bycrale, The helicopter deck covers thelandmg cra1t well, but there are nocnboard hangar or maintenalce facili-les Up to six Boeing Verlol CH-46helicopters can be operated for short:mes from the deck. An overheadi:ronorail stores-transfer system is-jsed to ioad the landrng craft in thel;ell deck from the forward cargo;olds. Ramps cohnect the vehicle3ecks, docking well and flight deck,mhich can also be used to park addi-:onal vehicles ifrequired. Side ports inre hull provide a roll-on/roll-off capa-:ility when docks are available,

The later 'Austih' class ships are en--r-ged versions of the 'Raleigh' class,-ae doclcng well is the same size, but= -2-m (39,4-ft) extension has been in-

=rled just forward of the well to in-

::ease the vehicle- and cargo-=:rying capacities, A fixed flight deck"s located above the well with two;:Cing spots. All except LPD4 are

Jil'

'Raleigh and'Austin Class (continued)

to 28 wrth aitemative ioads of one LCUand three LCM6s or nlne LCM6s orfow LCMBs. LPDT to LPD 13 are fittedwith amphibious squadron flagshipduties with an additional superstruc-h:re deck. Both classes have satellitecommunications systelns of the typefitted to the LCCs, One 'Raleigh' andseven 'Austin class ships sewe withthe Atlantic fleets, whilst srx 'Austinclass and the other 'Raleigh class shrlps

sewe in the Pacfic fleets

Specification:Names: Raleigh (l,PDi) and Vancouv-er (i,PD2): Auslrn (l,PD4), Ogden(LPDS), Duluth (LPD6), Cleveland

(I,PDZ), Dubuque (IJPD8), DenverilPng) /uneau (l,PD10), Coronadoil,pot i)

- S,lreveport (LPD12), /Vasfi -

vrlle (l,PltS), Trenton (i,PD14) andPonce (i,PDIS)Commissioned: 1962 to 1971

Dsplacement: LPDI/2 13,900 tors fullloait: LPD4/6 15,900 tons fuil load;LPDT/IO 16,550 tons full load: LPDI I/1316,900 tons fi:ll load: l,PD14/i5 17'000tons fir]l loadDimensions: (LPDI and LPD2) Iength159, I m (521.8 ft); beam 30.5 m (100 ft);

drauqht 6.7 m (22 ft); (i,PD4 to l,PD15)lensrth U3.8m (570ft); beam 30,5m(100 ft); draught 7 m (23 ft)iropulsion: two geared steam twbines

dellvering 24,000 shp to two shaftsSpeed: 2I lcts maximum aird 20 kts sus-tainedComplement: LPDI 4I3 (24 officerspius ggg enlisted men); LPD2 410 (23

officers plus 387 enlisted men); l,PD4to LPD15 410-447 (24-5 officers pltts386-442 enhsted men)Flag grroup: LPDT to LPDI3 90Troops: LPD1 to LPD6 930; LPDT toLPD13 840; LPD14 and LPDIS 930Cargo: LPD4 to LPDIS (LPDI/Z figuresare reduced shghtly) total 1034 1-m'(1 l, I30-sq ft) vehicle parking area; oneLCU and three LCM6s or nine LCMOqoitout t Ctr4gs or 28 LVTP-7s; 616 m3(2I,750cuft) of palletized stores or

472 m3 (16,670 cuft) of ammunttlon;5900 litres (22,335 US sat) of MOGASvehicle tuel; 368425 litres (97,328 USqal) of AVGAS aviation fuel; 17035litres (4,500 US gal) of AV-LUB oil;850095 litres (224,572 US gal) of JPSavration fuelArmament: LPDI/2 three twm Mk 33?6,mm (3-in) AA gnins, l,PD4/15 twotwin Mk 33 76-mm (3-in) AA sruns; a[ tobe fitted with two 20-mm Mk 16 Pha-lanx CIWSElectronics: one SPS-I0 surface-search radar, one SPS-40 air-searchradar, one URN-20 TACAN; one Mk 36Super RBOC Chaftoc system to befitted in all

€ lii"*port'ctass Landing Ships Tank (tsr)The 'Newport' class rePresents theultimate desigm in post-World War 11

LST desien. The vesseis use a porntedbow which allows them to sustain thespeed of 20 kts required by Americanamphibious ships. There are both bowand stern ramps for unloading vehi-cles. The 34{on aluminlum bow ramPis34.14 m (112 ff) Iongandcancarryupto 75{on loads. It is handled over thebow by hvo supporting derrick armsThe stern ramp has direct access tothe tank deck to allow the unloadlng ofLVTP-7s directiy into the water' Thestern ramps can also be mated to alandrng ciaJt or a pier for unloadingpurposes. Vehicies are driven onto theIower deck via a 75ton capacity rampor throuqh a passaele in the superstruc-hne that leads to the helicopter deckaft. This has no hangar or helicoptermaintenance facllities. Four pontooncauseway sections can be carried onthe hull iides. These are handled bytwo derrick cranes located im-mediately aft of the hvo funnel intakes.The vehicle decks canaltematlvely ber:sed for 500 tons of general cargo ifreqtured. Cargo space for ammurution'diesel tuel, MOGAS tuel and AVGASzupplies are also available. A total ofnine shios are wrth the Atlantic fleets'ard ninb wrth the Pacrfic fleets Theremarning two are vflth the Naval Re-sewe Foice, one in the Atlantic andone in the Pacific. An OEB2 satellite

USS Newpon (trST I I 79) standing iustoffshore and in the Process oflowering her bow ramP for vehicledisembarkation during a landingexercise.

communicatiors antenna and WSC-3transceiver is fitted on all shrPs

Soecification:Ciass: Ner,rzport plus 19 othersCommissioned: 1969-72Displacement: 8342-8450 tors full loadDirnensions: lengrth 159.2 m (522.3 ft):

beam ZLZm (69.5f0; draught 5.3m(17.5 ft)iropuision: six diesels delivering16,500 bhp to huo shaftsSpeed: 20 kts sustainedCbmplement: 225 (14 officers Plus 211

enlisted men)Trmps: 43I (20 officers Plus 211 en-listed men)Carqo: totai 1765-m'z ( 19,000-sq ft) vehi-cle iarlcrnq area for 25 LVTP-7s and 17

272-ton trutks, or 21 M4BiM6O MBTsand. l'I ZVz'Ion trucks, or 500 tons ofgeneral cargo; three LCVPs and oneLCpt';zZ3 m3 (2,550 cu ft) ammunition;508900 litres (134,438 US ga1) ofAVGAS aviation fuel; 27230 litres (7, 194

US sal) of MOGAS vehicle tuel; 96i50lrtres (25,400 US qal) of diesel fuelAmament: lwo twin Mk 33 76-mm (3-

in) AA gnrns (to be rePlaced bY two20-mm Mk 16 Phalanx CIWS)Electronics: one SPS-10 surface-search radar, one LN/66 navig'ationradar, one Mk 36 SuPer RBOC Chaf-froc launcher system

F r om above, U,SS Harlan CountY&ST 1 I 96) displays the unusual linesof the'Newport' class. Visible on thehull sides astern of the funnek aref ou r d e t achab le p on toon / c au s ew aysecdons.

E ,d"nitao','Thomaston' and'Anchorage' Class Landing Ships Dock (tSD)

-The LSD ts a World War II desrgm forc.arryrng landing craft and heavy-veht-:]es-such as tanks. There are no 'Cabil-do' class LSDs still ln service wlth the

-:.-Lted States Navy, but three remain insen'rce wrth other navies: the Cfteng.::: r'ath Taiwan, the l/a.flraloussa as-:e HQ landing ship of the Greek navY

=i'ie Galicra with Spain. The 9,375-::: .-ll load 'Cabildo' class can carry::ae I CUs or 18 LCM6s or 32 LVTP-S/

- :::lribrous carriers in its 103 mi,:: it :cng. I3.3 m (43,66 ft) wide well:::i lie class ca:r also carry i,347::= :- :ergo. and 100 2/z{on trucks or

- - l'14t )'BTs or 1 t hehcopters as well.l::,:: ::::rrmodation G ilmited to 137

:;=::-;-: :: llc icr short daY rurs, The:::-o:--::-:ers lE cficers and 283 en-

-:-::: :::- luh:-,r:rum sPeed rs 15 4 ks::--- -:= -i=:j::3ll?:s a vanabie num-:q: -i 1---:- .Li guls. A helicoPter: --rl : '. i::=: :;er the well deck

= -: -l- -.. :=.;-. lI malnienance

r :i:

The 'Thomaston' class was the firstoost-World War II LSD design. anditemmed from Korean War exPeri-ences. The dockinq well rs 1192m(391ft) lonq and 14.6m (48ft) wide,utra cin aciommodate three LCUs or19 LCM6s or nine LCMBs or 48 LVTP-7s. A vehicle-parking area forward ofthe dock can accommodate a further30 LVTPs ifrequrred. The slup carriestwo LCVPs and two LCPLs in davits'but no palletized carqo is carrred. The'Thomaston' class ships are due to berelaced by the new Whidbey Island'class,

The 'Anchorage' class is simtlar tothe 'Thomaston' class, but the shiPshave a tripod mast to drstingnlsh them

USS Pensacola (lSD 38) oft the coast ofMassaciusetfs.'Anchorage'-classlSDs were designed to incorPorateIessons Jearne d in World W ar I I andKorea, and are similar to the' T hom as ton' - cI ass lSDs.

€abildo','Thomaston' and'Anchorage' Class (continued)

l- :emovable helicopter landing plat-j::= is fitted over the major part of the':,:i<rng well; the sue of which has:rer increased to I31, I m (430 ft) lonq:1 i3.2 m (50 ft) wrde to accommodate.::ee LCUs or 21 LCMGs or eight-'lMBs or 50 LVTP-7s. The vessels also:-::ry one or two LCM6s stowed on:=:k and one LCPL and one LCVP on::;its. Troop capacity is aiso in--:ased, Three Anchorage' class and.'-':r Thomaston' class ships serve wrth-:-: Atlaltic fleets whilst two 'Anchor-

=3e' and four 'Thomaston' class shipsre with the Pacific fleets. Both classes:=-,'e the LCC satellite communrca-:::u fit,

Specification:Names: Tiomaston (LSDZB), Plymouth-irk (LSD29), Fort Snellins (LSD30),? cnt Defiance (LSD3 l), Spiegel Grore.-SD32),, lamo (LSD33), Hermitase.-SD34) and Monticello (LSD35);.i.nchorge (LSD36), Poruand (LSD37),Fensacola (LSD3B), Mount Vernon:-SD39) and Fort Fisher (LSD40)Commissioned: i954 to 1972

Displacement: LSD2Bi3l and LSD35i1,270 tons tu]I load; LSD3Z34 12, 150tons tull load; LSD36/40 13,700 tons firllloadDimensions: (LSD2B to LSD35) lengrth155,5m (510f1), beam 25.6m (B4ft);drausht 5.8 m (19 ft); (LSD36 to LSD40)lensth 168,6 m (553.3 ft); beam 25,6 m(84 ft); draught 6 m (20 ft)Propulsion: hvo geared steam twbinesdehvering 24,000 shp to tvrio shaftsSpeed: 22.5kts maximum and 20ktssustainedComplement: LSD2Bi35 33I-341 (iBoff,cers plus 313-323 enhsted men),and l,SD36/40 341-345 (18 officers pltis323-328 enlisted men)Troops: LSD2B/35 340, and LSD36/40376Cargo: LSD2B/35 (LSD36/40 1115-m2(12,000-sq ft) vehicle parhng area) tot-al 975-m'z,(10,500-sq ft) vehrcle parkingarea; three LCUs or 19 LCM6s orLCMBs or 4B LVTP-7s; B5 m3(3,000 cu ft) ammunition; 4540 litres(1,200 US gal) of AVGAS aviation orMOGAS vehicle fuel; 147650 litres(39,000 US sal) of dlesel tue]Armament: three twin Mk 33 76-mm

(3-in) AA gnms; two 20-mm Mk 16 Pha-lanx CIWS to be fittedElectronics: one SPS-10 surface-search radar, one SPS-6 (or SPS-40 inLSD36/40) au-search radar, one Mk 36Super RBOC Chaffroc system withassociated ESM equrpment

Amphibious assault ships

US.S Anchorage (LS D 36 ) is verygimilar to theearlier and marginallysmaller'T homaston' class ofiSDs.She can accommodate three LCUs orup to 48 Marine LWP-7 amphibians.

='iitrarleston' Class .tunphibious Cargo Ships (tKA)

'3lrrent1y only one of the five'Charles-ton' class LKAs is assigmed as a firllyactive umt, The vessel is assigined to-:re Atlantic fleet whilst the others are:ssigned in parrs to the Navai Reseweicrce Umts of the Atlantic ald Pacificfeets. The LKA rs desigmed to carry allJre heavy equipment and supphes forae amphibious assault lalding, andare the first to be desigmedspecifcally::rd built for the role. All previous shipsrf either the LKA or assau-lt tansport..PA) types were either ionvertedlom or built to merchant ship desigms.The class is fitted with a hehcopterianding pad aft but no hanqar or

=aintenance facilities are carried.Troop accommodation ls limitedlo 226.ut four LCMBs, four LCM6s, two-

CVPs and two LCPs are normally car-:-ed as deck cargo. The landing craft::d super heaw equipment are of-.:aded by two 78.4-ton capacily:ealyiift cranes. There are also twoll-ton capacity boorns and eight 15{on:apacity booms aboard. Cargo holds-:r palletued stores and ammunition-e provided together with vehicle;arking areas.

O riginally designated Attack C argoS hip (AKA), USS Durham rasredes igmated Amphibious C argoShip (LI(A) in 1 969. The five-vessel'Charleston' class was the first classin the US Navy fitted with fullyautomated main propulsi'n plants.

Specification:Names: Charleston (LKAI l3), Durham(LKAI14), Mohle (LKAI15), Sf -Lours(LKA] 16) and El Paso (LKA] 17)Commissioned: LKA]13 19 December1968, LKA114 24 May 1969, LKA115 29September 1969, LKAl16 22 Novem-ber 1969 and LKAl17 17 January 1970Displacement: 18,600 tons flrll loadDimensions: lenqth 175.4 m (575.5 ft);beam 1B.9m (62ft); draught 7,7m(2s s ft)Propulsion: one steam turbine deliver-rng 19,250 shp to one shaftSpeed: 20 lts sustainedComplement: 325 (24 officers and 30Ier:listed men)Ttoops: 226 (15 officers pltts 211 en-hsted men)

Cargo: not knownArmament: three twin Mk 33 76-mm(3-in) AA gms; two 20-mm Mk 16 Pha-lanx CIWS to be fitted

Electronics: One LN/66 naviqationradar, one SPS-10 surface-searchradar, one Mk 36 Super RBOC Chaf-fooc launcher system

='6rayUack' Class Transport Submarine

srx sr\rlrnmer delivery vehicles (SDV)and to be used to launch and recoverboth the SDVs and scuba-equipped dr-vers underwater. The fin height was

i-Ithouqh now classed as an attack sub-:anne (SS) the USS Graybackwas orl-;rally built wrth her near sister, USSSrowler, as a cruise-missile sub-::rine fitted to carry four Regulus I

=ateqdc missiles in hvo hangars lo-

=red forward, The Grayback oper-=:ed rn this role until she decommrs-:::red on 25 May 1964, She was then:::rverted as a 'Grayback' class tras-!c:i submadne and listed as APSS. In-:--1ust 1968 this designation was::a;rged to LPSS and then to SS in 1975

for administratlve reasons, to allowcontinued funding suppod foom the USCongrress.

The conversion to the transport rolewas carried out at the Mare IslandNaval Shipyard, San Francisco Bayfrom November 1967 to May 1969, aridinvolved lengthening the hull from98,25m (322.33ft) to l01.Bm (334ft)and fitting mess and sleeping accom-modatron for the 67 troops to be car-ried, The work also involved the mod-ificatron of the missile hangars to carry

also increased and a Sperry BQG-4Passive Underwater Fire Control Sys-tem (PUFFS) sonar was fitted.

The submarine isusedto carry com-

USS Grayback, on e of the US Navy'slast five conventional poweredsubmarines still in seruice. Since theIate 1960s she has acledas atransport submarine for the UnitedS tates military covert action SpecialForces Unik, seeing action duringtheVietnamWar.

,A

Gra.yback Class (continued)

USS Grayback3 bulbous hangar sformerly housed four Regrulus cruisernissrTes, which were launched fromjust ahead of the conning tower.

Mk 48 rs not carried because of thelack of support facilitles at Subic Bay,The torpedo flre control system ls theMk i06 Model 12,

Specification:Name: Graybac,k (SS574)Commissioned: 9 May 1969 (as LPSS)Displacement: 2,670 tons surfaced and3,650 tons divedDimensions: length 101.8 m (334 ft);beam 8.3 m (21.2 ft); draught 5,8 m(re ft)Propulsion: three diesels delivering4,800 shp and two electric motors de-livering 5,500 shp to two shafts

Speed: 20 kts sMaced and 16.7 kts di-vedComplement: 96 (10 officers plus 86enlisted men)Troops: 67 (seven officers plus 60 en-

listed men)Cargo: six SDVsTorpedo tr:bes: six 533-mm (21-in) Mk52 bow and two 533-mm (21-in) stemSonar: one BQS-4, one BQG-4 (PUFFS)

E tib w"* Construction Amphibious Warfare Ships-:-e first ol the new constructlon'Whidbey Island' class was latd down:- -i^:-rgust 1981 wrth an in-service date:- 1384. The class is due to replace the:-rht-ship 'Thomaston' class, which is:pproachrnq the end of its US NavY:a-reer. The flnal total of the 'Whidbey;iaiid ciass is expected to be 10. Thel-.'stEE'I rs that of a modified 'Anchor-age one with a 134, t m (440 ft) lonq by-a 2 m (50 ft) wide well deck for either-: .:r preloaded amphibious air cushion';erlcles (LCAC) or three LCUs, or 2l-3MOs, or 64 LVTP-7s. The helicopteri:ck is iaised above the well deck in:rjer to provide all-round ventilation-:r Lhe qas-turbine LCACs. No hangar-::Ities are provided, but the deck ls:acable of taking tvvo Sikorsky CH-53

Sea Stallions simultaneously. An addi-tional two LCPLs, one LCVP and anLCMO will be carried as deck cargoand handled by two large cranes. For-ward of the dockrng well are the vehi-cle parking areas whilst a small palle-tued cargo hold is available.

The other new shlp under construc-tion is known as the AmphibiousAssault Ship Multi-Purpose (LHD),This is reminiscent in appearance toan LHA but combines the features ofthe LHA with an LPD. The LHD willtransport more assault landing craft,includinq the LCAC, and have a grrea-ter helicopter capacity than the LHA.The cargo fignrres are up to 38 BoeingVertol CH-46s in the hanqar plus moreon deck. two LCACs or 12 LCM6s,

3l30 m2 (33.700 sq tQ of vehicle park-ing space. 1700 m' (60,000 cu ft) ofpalletized stores and a troop capacttyof around 1,800, The first of the classwill enter service in 1989 to replace theLPHs, Maximum speed will be 24 lts,and the fuIl-load displacement 39,500tons on a lengrth of 249 m (817 ft) and abeam of 32.3 m (106 ft),

Specification:Name'. Whidbey /s1and (LSD41) plusnine othersCommissioning: 1984Displacement: 15,726 tons fulI loadDimensions: length 185.6m (609f1);beam 25,6m (B4ft); draught 6.3m(20.5 ft)Propulsion: four diesels delivering

41,600 bhp to hvo shaftsSpeed: 22 ktsComplement: 376 (20 officers plus 356enlisted men)Troops: 440Cargo: total l2 I 4-m'z ( I 3,075-sq ft) vehi-cle parking area; four LCACs or threeLCUs or 2i LCM6s or 64 LVTP-7s plusone LCM6, two LCPLs and one LCVP;149 m3 (5,250 cu ft) of palletized storesArmament: two 20-mm Mk 16 PhalanxCIWSElectronics: one SPS-49 air-searchradar, one SPS-67 surface-searchradar, one LN/66 navigation radar, oneMk 36 Super RBOC Chaffooc systemwrth associated SLQ(V)- I ESM system,one URN-25 TACAN

JAPAN

a 'Atsumi' and'Miura' Class Landing Ships Tankand can carry more carqo, The 'Atsu-mi' class was built by Sasebo HeavYIndustries and commisstoned be-tween 1972 and 1977, whilst the Miuraclass was built by the ishikawajimaHarima shipyard of Tokyo and com-missioned between 1975 and 1977. The'Atsumi'c1ass can carry 130 troops and20 vehicles, together with two LCVPsin davits and a third on deck,amidships, The'Miura' class ships cancarry 190 troops and I,800 tons of cargtoor lO type 74 MBTs plus two LCVPs indavits and two LCM6s on deck. TheLCMs are handled by a travelling gan-try with folding rails that extend overthe ship's side to lower the craft into thewater, Any grround forces embarked

would have to come from the JapaneseGround Self-Defense Force.

Specification:Names: -Atsumi, Motobu and -l/emuro;Miura, Ojika and SafsumaCommissioned:'Atsumi' class 1972-7;'Miura'class 1975-7Displacement: 'Atsumi' 2,400 tons and'Miura' 3,200 tons full loadDimensions: 'Atsumi' class length 89 m(291,9 ft); beam 13 m (42.6 ft); drauqht2.6 m (8.5 ft); and'Miura' class lengrth98m (321.4ft): beam i4m (45.9f1);draught 3m (9.Bft)Propulsion: two diesels delivering4,400 hp to two shaftsSpeed: 14 kts

Complement: 'Atsumi' 100 and 'Miura'118Troops: 'Atsumi' 130 and 'Miura' 190

Cargo: 'Atsumi' 20 vehicles and threeLCVPs; 'Miura' 1,800 tons of stores orvehicles, or l0 MBTs, plus two LCVPsand two LCM6sArmament: 'Atsumr' two twin 40-mmAA gnrns; 'Miura' one twrn 76-mm (3-in)Mk 33 AA gun, one twin 40-mm AA gmn

Electronics: 'Atsumi' one OPS-9 radar;'Miura' one OPS-14 radar, one OPS-16radar, one GFCS1 fue-control system

In spite of her many klands,JaPandoes not maintain asignificantamphibious warfare capability. The/arEresf vesse/,s, the'Miura' class, canaccommodate and land up to ) 90troops at a time, togetherwithup to10 MBTs.

South African Army. he South AfiiCan Army may be regarded as a:itizen's army, with its main strength found by con-scripts formed around a nucleus of regular person-rel. The regular force consists of about 1 b,500 per-sonnel (excluding 2,000 women, but including b,5003lack and Coloured regulars) who administer and:rain some 50,000 conscripts at any one time. Theseconscripts serve two years initially, and then spend12 years on an active reserve with annual trainingoeriods amounting to a Iotal of 720 days during thatperiod. After the 12-year period most citizens aretransferred to the Active Citizen Force for possiblerecall to the army up to the age of 60, and thereafterihey may join Commando local-defence forces. Tothese military formations can be added the policeand Police Reserves, and also the special defence=orces responsible for the local defence of key in-dustrial and military sites. Active reserves total130,000.

Since the United Nations arms embargo of .1967

South Af rica has spent a great deal of time and effortto build up its own indigenous arms industry. As aresult of licence production agreements and theefforts of local design establishments, South Africas now completely independent in arms production,producing everything from ammunition to vehiclesand artillery. This includes electronics, optics andcommunication equipment. Some existing equip-ment has been updated to increase its useful ser-r,ice life, a typical example being the development ofrew ammunition for the ex-British 140-mm (5.S-in)guns. The standard service rifle is now the locally-croduced 5.56-mm (0.22-inl G4 rifle, a local deriva-: on of the lsraeli Galil. Also in service is th e-7 .62-mm0.3-in)and Heckler Koch G-3. Machineguns include

--ne Belgian FN GPMG and the Browning machine-guns. Of the latter the 7.62-mm (0.3-in); version iscroduced locally with some modifications. Trucksand mechanized infantry combat vehicles are allocally designed and produced, as is much of thegeneral support equipment such as trailers and'nedical equipment.

The army is divided among nine territorial com-'nands, a recent addition being the South Westifrica Territory Force (SWATF) operating only inSouth West Africa (Namibia). The army containsroth all-white and all-Black and Coloured regiments.-i.re standard language is Afrikaans. only on-e regim-ent using English. Some mechanized regiments areall-white, but many of the infantry regiments are:!l-Black, including some locally-recruited units such:s the Bushman's Battalions. Most of the mecha-

Part t

nized regiments rely on reserve personnel io bringtheir operational numbers up to strength in aiemergency.

The standard South African tank is the Olifant, anupdated Centurion, of which some 2b0 are in ser-vice, while reconnaissance units use the Eland MklV, a locally-produced armoured car of French ori-gins. Some .1,400

Elands are currently in use. TheMICV is the Ratel, produced to the extent of j,200vehicles in severai forms, and additional protectedmobility is derived from the widespread use of ab_out 500 mine-proof vehicles such as the Buffel andBulldog. Mine-proofing is also used on severalvariants of the locally-produced SAMIL trucks, andon some special patrol and police vehicles such asthe Wildebeest. The bulk of the artillery uses about75 140-mm guns (ex-British b.S-in), 40 or more ofthe new 1 55-mm (6.1-in) G-S howitzer and some 65elderly 25-pdrs. Anti-aircraft defence is provided by25 40-mm Bofors guns, 15 94-mm (3.7-ln) AA guns,55 K-63 twin 35-mm AA cannon, 24 Cactus and 54

The I 55-mm G-5 howitzer has a range of ahout30 lcrn (18 miles).In addition to its HE projectiles ithasbeen credited with nuclear capahility.

RATEL is an infantry fighting vehicle develo@ tareplace the British-supplied S aracen ApC. M atnarmament can be a 20-mm cannon, 60-mm mor,,ator, as here, a 90-mm Wn.

Tigercat SAMs, and a number of 20-mm AA. *--:-Rocket artillery is provided by the 127-r- :--Valkiri, and the infantry uses 106-mm 14.17-,r -e:;,-, -less rifles, some 90-mm (3.5a-in) guns o^ €-:,:-anti-tank gun carriages, about 90 Gpdr ano ---:,:-anti-tank guns, and SS.11 and about 120 r!.-:_anti-tank guided missiles. Mortars include &C---81-mm and 120-mm weapons.

One arm of the SADF separate from the .:s: :.the army is the Surgeon-General's Arm, Th s s --sponsible for all medical services includinc a-:_-lance, field medical services and military hisc -: -The SADF is unique in this aspect of having a s::e-rate medical arm.

The bulk of the South African army's activ,t es -recent years has been anti-SWApO operat.o-s :-and over the Angolan border. These operai:--<often take theform of deep penetrations inio A-j: :by mechanized columns backed up by aircraft :-:some special-force units such as the speciai re::-_naissance SAS-type unit and parachute units. Tre.:penetration units will gradually be replacec i.SWATF units, which will be South West A'rca- -name only as most of the personnel will cont i- -: ::be SADF in origin.

South African Army order of battletwo divisional HOs (one armoured and one infari-,one armoured brigade (two tan k and two mec- a- :::

infantry batralionslone mechanized brigade (one tank and three - +_ -r:- :::

infantry battalions)four motorized bn_oades (one armoured -:,=-:: ,:r- :-r:

rhree infantry bailalionsione parachute brigade lthree battaliorsone spectal recor ^arssance Commara:four medium artrllerv reoimentsnine field artrllerv r#im5nt.seven light anti-airciaft artilteye_c : e- :

"one anti-aircraft missile reqimb- r ",,

ve -::- ::1 5 field engineersquadronsthree signals regiments

L