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Interim Sealift

ringo

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The RN RFA Sir Galahad is soon to pay off IMHO such a ship would make a excellent interim sealift vessel until the navy commissions the new support ships, both flight deck and forward vehicle deck are strenghtened for Chinook op's and a fair number of vehicles and supplies can be embarked, altough the ship can carry troops I think it likely that troops would transport by air to marry up with equipment.
 
Sir Galahad was commissioned back in 1987 and has seen some harder use then the Upholders which basically were commssioned and tied up. How good of shape do you expect this vessel to be in?
 
I don't think so Ringo, about 300 troops and a deck but no hangar.  She is designed as an adjunct to a larger flotilla.
 
Not to mention a top speed of 17 knots we would have to slow down our escort force to be able to protect her.
 
Ex-Dragoon said:
Not to mention a top speed of 17 knots we would have to slow down our escort force to be able to protect her.
...unlike our jet-propelled AORs.
 
The Upholders, as far as I know, have become quite the "hangar queens"
have this sick feeling that the Brits got the better on us once.... lets' not learn this lesson again any time soon....

Famous addage:
Fool me once - shame on you!
Fool me twice - shame on me!
 
An LSL is a basic vessel built close to commerical standards rather than complex design like a sub or frigate.
Almost any vessel/machine is better to run every day rather than be placed in storage like the upholders, maybe the Brits should give us the ship as compensation for the subs.
An LSL is small and cheap to operate I would use her as a ro/ro supply ship, troops go by air like the old CAST Canadian Air Sea Transport force.
I have read some threads suggesting Canada acquire a US San Antonio class vessel large expensive to buy and operate.
Remember LSL is to provide basic sealift only until new navy multi role support ships enter service, and only if LSL can be had for bargin price.
 
Where are you getting the info on this ship? Please post link. Thanks.
 
www.rfa.mod.uk
click enter
look for About Us
cover it
choose Flotillla from Drop Down
scroll across the ships until you hit "Sir Galahad" 
right between "Sir Bedivere" and "Sir Tristram"
 
Well, she is a LANDING Ship Logistics, a direct descendent of the LSTs (Landing Ship Tanks) used at Normandy.  In otherwords she has a flat bottom and can beach herself and kedge herself back into deep water.

http://www.btinternet.com/~warship/Today/lsl.htm
 
hmmm.......
Sir Gallahad "1"
In the earlier stages of the Falklands Conflict (May 24th) Sir Galahad was evacuated when she was hit by an enemy bomb that failed to explode. Later on in the war (June 8th) she was less lucky when she was hit by two or three 500lb bombs while she was disembarking members of the Welsh Guard. These bombs started large fires and the ship was immediately evacuated. However there had been heavy casualties and many fatalities, particular among the troops onboard, and the fire burned for days. On the 25th June she was sunk by the submarine H.M.S/m Onyx and her wreck was designated an official war grave. Her replacement, named Sir Galahad in her honour, entered service in 1985

Part "2"
Built to replace the previous vessel of the same name lost in the Falklands conflict, 1982.

I hope you're not suggesting that we buy a "deal" on Gallahad "1"...
that would really be like buying another Upholder  :-[  :eek:

what I find interesting is as follows:
The six original vessels of this class were ordered by the Ministry of Transport and were operated by the British Indian Steam Navigation Company on behalf of the British Army.... In other words - these vessels could/would be used for commercial purposes while not pressed into service by the Navy....
Then again:
However in 1970 they were transferred to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. Classified as landing ships logistics (LSL) they have often been described as a cross between a Roll On / Roll Off Vessel and landing ship.... which I would presume means that the Navy did not find the arrangement workable - prolly that the ships were not always available when they wanted them (probably at the very last second - Military planning = oxymoron)
 
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