HMS Albion (L14)

The ninth and current HMS "Albion" (2001-present) is a Landing Platform Dock (LPD) ship of the Royal Navy built in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England, UK. "Albion" is one of the newest ships of the Navy and provides an amphibious assault capability. She is the nameship of the "Albion" class landing platform dock, which also includes HMS "Bulwark". The ship also carries a permanently-embarked Royal Marines landing craft unit, 6 Assault Squadron, Royal Marines.

She was launched on 9 March 2001 and was commissioned on 19 June 2003 by her sponsor The Princess Royal.

In 2003 she received the Freedom of the Chester City and also had a prominent role in the Queen's Colour Parade for the Royal Navy in Plymouth Sound only the third time a Fleet Colour has been given in the Royal Navy's history.

In early 2004 the ship deployed on a multinational exercise for the first time, taking part in Exercise Joint Winter 04 off Norway, following which she was declared fully operational. Her next deployment was the Aurora exercises on the eastern seaboard of the United States. On 11 November 2004 the ship was directed towards Côte d'Ivoire to support Operation Phillis. "Albion" underwent a refit in early 2006. The refit included the installation of a new command, control and communications suite.

HMS "Albion" attended the HMNB Devonport Navy Days, August 26th - 28th 2006. Also in attendance was sister ship HMS "Bulwark", just recently returned from the Lebanon evacuation. HMS "Ocean" was unable to attend the Navy Days due to three sailors contracting Tuberculosis. For public safety reasons, "Ocean" was moved to HMNB Portsmouth.

During the Vela Deployment to West Africa, [http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.6802] "Albion" acted as the Amphibious Task Group flagship. The deployment lasted from 11 September 2006 until 22 November 2006. In total approximately 3,000 British personnel and 11 ships of the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary was involved. This deployment saw, for the first time, an "Albion" class vessel taking part in amphibious operations with a Bay class auxiliary landing ship dock, RFA "Mounts Bay".

In late July and early August 2007, "Albion" was docked at Sunderland during the city's Airshow.

Affiliations

*Chester
*The Mercian Regiment
*Plymouth Albion R.F.C.
*West Bromwich Albion F.C.
*Worshipful Company of Brewers

External links

* [http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/server/show/nav.00h001001005002 RN website: Albion Class]