English: RFA Lyme Bay is pictured operating near Kuwait during a maritime capability and security demonstration.

She is accompanied by HMS Chiddingfold Hunt-class mine countermeasure vessel (MCMV) seen in the background.

Four Bay Class Large Amphibious Landing Ships have been ordered with the LSD(A) construction programme well advanced.

The new ships displace 16,100 tonnes and replace RFAs Sir Galahad and Sir Tristram. Compared to their predecessors they carry more than twice as many vehicles and embarked troops. Using their stern dock for landing craft and flight deck for helicopters, they are able to offload in rougher weather twice as quickly.

The flight deck can accommodate two Merlin or Chinook helicopters, and a hanger could be fitted in future if required. The ships can carry an Embarked Military Force of 356 troops and large numbers of vehicles, although this can be increased to 500 using undesignated space.

The ships are able to position themselves dynamically using a bow thruster and their steerable azimuth thrusters to discharge equipment without the need to anchor. The previous RFA Landing ships were designed to run up on a beach to discharge their cargo of men and vehicles.

The Bay Class are designed to operate over the horizon using helicopters and landing craft through a floodable stern dock to get men and equipment ashore.

• Organization: Royal Navy
• Object Name: 04139429
• Category: MOD
• Supplemental Categories: Equipment, Ships, RFA Vessels
• Keywords: RFA Lyme bay, Bay Class, LSD, Landing Ship Dock, RFA, Royal Fleet Auxiliary, Ship, Equipment, Royal Navy
• Country: Kuwait