![]() |
Bay
Class Auxiliary Landing Ship Statistics:- |
| This name has not been used previously by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary,
but a Bay Class frigate of the same name served in the Royal Navy between
1945 and 1962.
The ship was completed at Leith by Henry Robb Ltd in 1945 and joined the Mediterranean Fleet in the same year. Four years later she was transferred to the Far East Station, where she remained until 1960. During her time in the Far East HMS Cardigan Bay took part in the Korean War, for which she carries the battle honour. In
1960 she returned home via the Caribbean and arrived in the UK in April 1961,
before being broken up at Troon in 1962. |
![]() |
Welcome
to the HMS Cardigan Bay Association |
| The
launch of the new RFA Cardigan Bay took place on Saturday the 9th of April 2005,
at the BAE System yard in Govan in scotland on a cold, windy and wet day. She
should have been launched on Friday the 8th of April, but due to high winds and
a lack of water in the Clyde the launch was postponed until the following day. An estimated crowed of some 13,000 were in attendance among which which were members of the HMS Cardigan Bay Association who were all shivering with the cold and desperately trying to keep warm. Some of us managed to get into the VIP reception and enjoy champagne and canopes, whilst others were left out in the cold and had to fend for themselves!!! |
Because
of the high winds there were quite a few tugs in attendance to make sure she never
got away. The tugs towed her out of the launching basin, swung her around and
then gently led her back into a docking space just across the yard from where
she was launched. It was a wonderful sight to see this ship coming into port bearing
the name CARDIGAN BAY. |
![]() |
|
Some were lucky enough to attend the
Dedication Service of the RFA Cardigan Bay which took place on the 6th
of March 2007, among them was Shipmate Rod Judge who very kindly sent
me these pictures. It would seem that a good day was had by all, good
food, good hospitality and a wonderful experience, well done and a BIG
THANK YOU to all on RFA Cardigan Bay who made our day one to remember.
|
![]() |
![]() |
| Captain Nigel Jones of the RFA Cardigan B and shipmate Eric Harris two Welshmen otherwise known as Taffies!! |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |