Education >> Browse Articles >> The Royal Navy Fleet
HMS Bulwark
HMS Bulwark
Former WO1(GSM) Peter Padley MBE
The first ship to be named Bulwark, ordered in 1778, was a 74 gun third rate ship. The order for this ship was cancelled in 1783. There were to be 4 ‘Bulwarks’ powered by sail until the fifth ship, a London Class Predreadnought Battleship, powered by steam and weighing approximately 15,400 tons was ordered in June 1898. This ship was destroyed in November 1914 when anchored off Sheerness. An internal explosion tore the ship apart killing all her crew of 750 officers and men. There were 12 survivors, all of whom were seriously injured.
The sixth HMS Bulwark was a Centaur Class Light Fleet Aircraft Carrier built at Harland and Wolff, Belfast. She weighed 22,000 tons and although launched in June 1948 was not commissioned until November 1954.
Like her sister ship, HMS Albion, Bulwark deployed to the Mediterranean where she took part in the Suez Crisis with her air wing providing air cover to troops on the ground and attacking Egyptian airfields.
Bulwark was paid off at Portsmouth in 1958 and was subsequently converted into a Commando Carrier. In 1961 she took 42 Commando to Kuwait to deter the anticipated invasion by Iraq and moved to the Far East to assist in operations taking place during the Indonesian Confrontation. She took part in the withdrawal of Aden and embarked the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders for passage to the United Kingdom. Further deployments saw her operating in the Arctic and the Mediterranean area. Whilst in the Mediterranean she was the command ship for the withdrawal from Malta.
Affectionately known as ‘The Rusty B’ by those who served on her, HMS Bulwark was scrapped in 1984.
The current HMS Bulwark is an Albion Class Landing Platform dock (LPD) ship built by BAE Systems Marine at Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria. Bulwark was launched on 15th November 2001 by Lady Walker, the wife of the Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Michael Walker, and was commissioned 3 years later on 10th December 2004.
Equipped with a flight deck large enough to operate two CH-47 Chinook twin rotor heavy lift helicopters and a floodable dock capable of holding 4 large landing craft HMS Bulwark, when coupled with her sister ship, HMS Albion, and the larger Landing Platform Helicopter (LPH) HMS Ocean, provides a potent amphibious capability for the Royal Navy. HMS Bulwark has dedicated long term accommodation for approximately 200 Royal Marines but can carry 500 Royal Marines in more austere conditions for shorter periods.
HMS Bulwark’s first ‘East of Suez’ deployment was in early 2006 where she conducted counter terrorist and counter piracy operations close to the Horn of Africa. On completion of this deployment she moved to the northern Persian Gulf where her command and control (C2) capabilities were used to good effect as the flagship of Task Force 158 where she coordinated and took part in ensuring the security of Iraqi oil platforms. Returning to the UK in July 2006 HMS Bulwark was redeployed to Lebanon to evacuate British nationals during the Israel-Lebanon crisis and on 20th July 2006 she took on board approximately 1,300 persons at Beirut and evacuated them to Cyprus.
In February 2009 HMS Bulwark departed HMNB Devonport as the flagship to Commander UK Amphibious Task Group for the period of the TAURUS 09 six month deployment in the Near and Far East. During this deployment, designed to enhance interoperability and demonstrate the United Kingdom’s commitment to the stability and security of the Mediterranean, Middle East and South East Asia, HMS Bulwark was joined by the LPH HMS Ocean, the Type 23 Frigates HMS Argyll and HMS Somerset as well as ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. The purpose of TAURUS 09 was to rehearse the projection, by sea and air, of land forces and their equipment in Cyprus before moving on to Turkey to take part in a series of joint and combined amphibious landings. On completion of the Turkey phase of TAURUS 09 the HMS Bulwark Task Group sailed through the Suez Canal en-route to Brunei where multi-national jungle training was carried out by embarked personnel.
HMS Bulwark – Post SDSR
In the spring of 2010 HMS Bulwark entered HMNB Devonport for refit and it was while she was in dry dock that the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) was announced. With the fleet decimated it was announced that HMS Bulwark would assume the role of Fleet Flagship in late 2011 – and so with communications, IT equipment and main propulsion upgrades completed on time as well as improvements to living quarters bathrooms and toilets, main galley and laundry and dining areas modernised and sea trials completed HMS Bulwark is Royal Navy Fleet Flagship from October 2011.
Previous Section: The Current Ships of the Royal Navy
See our Short History of the Royal Navy and Aircraft Carriers of the Royal Navy
