1966 HMS SIR GALAHAD. One of a class of six landing ships constructed for the Royal Navy in the 1960s, designed to operate as roll-on/roll-off ferries for tracked or wheeled vehicles.
THE SIR LANCELOT CLASS
In 1960, the British Army issued a requirement for a new type of landing ship, to include the capacity to operate helicopters. The prototype, Sir Lancelot, entered service in 1965, and five more ships followed before the end of the decade. Sir Galahad (L 3005) was the third unit in the class; built by Alexander Stephen, she was launched on 19 April 1966, and entered service the following year. Like all the class, she was initially chartered to, and operated by, civilian contractors, but in 1980 was taken over by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. Sir Galahad was so badly damaged by air attack at Fitzroy on 8 June 1982, during the Falklands War, that she was later towed out to sea and sunk as a war grave.
LOGISTIC LANDING SHIPS
The Sir Lancelot-class ships were built to mercantile specification, with light construction and aluminium superstructure, and were never intended for use in opposed landings. They were essentially ferries, with bow and stern ramps, a large well-deck forward of the superstructure, served by cranes and derricks, and a helicopter landing deck aft. They were designed to carry 16 main battle tanks, 34 mixed vehicles and up to 534 troops. Sir Galahad was replaced by a much bigger ship of the same name, and with the same pennant number, in 1986.
TECHNICAL DATA
Type: Logistic/tank landing ship
Machinery: 2-shaft Mirrlees 10-cyl. diesels producing 9400bhp
Dimensions (overall): Length, 125.1 m (412ft); beam, 19.6m (59.7ft)
Displacement: 3270t light; 5675t deep load
Draught: 4.3m (1 3ft)
Complement: 68
