Standby to Beach
The Landing Ships and Landing Craft
The Landing Craft Utility (LCU)
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The Fearless was built by Harland & Wolff, Launched: 19th December 1963' Commissioned
25th November 1965
The
Fearless carries a crew of 580 including 90 Royal Marines and landing craft
crews. This also includes an amphibious beach unit. The docking area can
be flooded, and troops can embark directly from their mess decks onto the
landing craft and allow the LCUs to swim out of the stern. The 4 LCVPs
are slung from davits on the upper deck. Fearless's younger sister
HMS Intrepid also sailed with the Task Force, landing 3 Para at San Carlos
on D-Day
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Weight |
12.120 tons (16.950 with dock flooded) |
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Length (m): |
158.8m |
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Beam (m): |
24.4m |
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Draught: |
7.0m forward.9.8m aft |
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Propulsion: |
2 English Electric steam turbines. |
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Speed |
21 knots |
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Armament: |
2x40mm Bofors, 4x Seacat systems (GWS 20), 2X Rheinmetall AA guns |
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Aircraft: |
Up to 4 Sea King helicopters. |
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Landing Craft: |
4x LCU (Landing Craft Utility) 4x LCVP (Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel) |
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Assault Force: |
RM Commando (650 men)+ logistic elements.
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On the run -in to the beach it was decided to mount a Scorpion and Scimitar side by side in the bows of the landing craft ready to blast at any enemy on the beach when the bow ramp was lowered, thus giving the LCU formidable fire power. The Scorpion mounts a 76mm L23 gun, and the Scimitar has a 30mm Rarden cannon. One of HMS Fearless's LCUs was lost during the Falklands War. Foxtrot Four, skippered by Colour Sergeant Brian Johnston and his crew of three Royal Marines and two naval rating were killed on 8th of June when Foxtrot Four was bombed and sunk by Argentine aircraft in Choiseul Sound. Johnstone was awarded the Queens Gallantry Medal for his bravery in rescuing survivors from HMS Antelope earlier in the campaign.
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This craft could carry an infantry platoon of 30 men or Land Rover & trailer, crewed by a JNCO as coxswain with 2 Marines as deck hands.
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The rigid Raiders are from Ist Raiding Squadron RM, stationed in Plymouth with 3BDE HQ, The unit consists of about 17 craft, powered by Johnson outboards speed in excess of 30 knots, The unit is commanded by a Capt. RM, They are used to insert small groups of raiders into certain locations, (fast in fast out) and can carry about 8 men and equipment.
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The Mexeflotes are crewed by 17 Port Regiment RCT, Basically large pontoon craft driven by a rather large outboard's, they operate from the LSLs, 3 used in the Falklands. Standard raft was 126ft.
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