Landing Ship Logistics

The Landing Ship Logistic (LSL) is a term used by the UK armed forces to describe the Round table class landing ship used for support of amphibious warfare missions. These ships are operated by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. The last ship in service, "Sir Bedivere",sailed home for the last time ond 20th February 2008, and the class has been replaced by the new Bay class which are described as landing ship dock (LSD).

The landing ships logistics are often been described as a cross between a roll-on/roll-off vessel and a landing ship.

Their main roles and capabilities are:

* To transport troops vehicles and equipment (often between Marchwood and Antwerp).
* To do this the vessels have doors and ramps at the stern and bow and internal ramps between decks making them truly drive through. They also have a crane forward of the superstructure for on/off loading equipment
* They can carry aircraft on the helicopter pad behind the main superstructure and on the vehicle deck.
* They also have facilities to carry ammunition, repair vehicles and equipment.
* These vessels also have the capability of offloading directly onto a beach. To do this they have a shallow draughts and two large anchors at the stern which they drop at sea before beaching and later use to pull themselves back out to sea. The ships are also capable of carrying Mexeflote rafts which can support military vehicles.

References

* [http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/server/show/nav.5415 RFA Website LSL page]
* [http://www.rfaaplymouth.org/GGMlsl2.htm LSL Photo Gallery]