Editing Round Table-class landing ship logistics (section)

==Class history==
In December 1961, the [[Department for Transport|Ministry of Transport]] ordered the first in a new class of 6,000-ton military supply vessels from [[Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company]] of [[Govan]]. The class was designed to replace the World War II-era [[Mark 8 Landing Craft Tank]] vessels in service.<ref name='Historical RFA'/> The first ship, {{ship|RFA|Sir Lancelot|L3029|2}}, was launched in June 1963.<ref name="historicalrfa">{{cite web |url= http://www.historicalrfa.org/rfa-sir-lancelot-ships-details |first1=Christopher J |last1=White |first2=Peter |last2=Robinson |title=RFA Sir Lancelot |work=historicalrfa.org |year=2012 |access-date=23 October 2012}}</ref> In March 1963, two more vessels were ordered, with {{ship|RFA|Sir Galahad|1966|2}} and {{ship|RFA|Sir Geraint|L3027|2}} launched by [[Alexander Stephen and Sons]] of [[Linthouse]] in April 1966 and January 1967. The final three ships were ordered in April 1965; {{ship|RFA|Sir Bedivere|L3004|2}} and {{ship|RFA|Sir Tristram|L3505|2}} were launched by [[Hawthorn Leslie and Company]] of [[Hebburn]] in July and December 1966, followed by {{ship|RFA|Sir Percivale|L3036|2}} from [[Swan Hunter]] of [[Wallsend]] in October 1967.<ref name="historicalrfa"/> At {{GRT|6390}}, ''Sir Lancelot'' was slightly larger than her successors, and was powered by two 12-cylinder [[Sulzer (manufacturer)|Sulzer]] diesel engines, while the others were {{GRT|4473}} and had two 10-cylinder Mirrlees Monarch engines.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.merchantnavyofficers.com/LSLclass.html |title=The LSL Class |work=merchantnavyofficers.com |year=2007 |access-date=23 October 2012}}</ref>

The ships had both bow and stern doors leading onto the main vehicle deck, making them [[roll-on/roll-off]], combined with ramps that led to upper and lower vehicle decks. Thanks to their shallow [[draught (ship)|draught]], they could beach themselves and use the bow doors for speedy unloading of troops and equipment. The ships also had [[helicopter deck]]s on both the upper vehicle deck and behind the superstructure.

[[File:HMAS Tobruk (L 50).jpg|thumb|left|The Australian Landing Ship Heavy {{HMAS|Tobruk|L 50|6}} is a modified derivative of the Round Table class design.]]
The ships were operated and managed by the [[British India Steam Navigation Company]] for the [[Royal Army Service Corps]] until January 1970, then were transferred to the [[Royal Fleet Auxiliary]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.biship.com/fleetlists/fleetManagedvessels3.htm |title=British India SN Fleet list – Managed vessels |work=biship.com |year=2012 |access-date=23 October 2012}}</ref> One vessel, {{ship|RFA|Sir Galahad|1966|2}}, was lost during the [[Falklands War]], while another, {{ship|RFA|Sir Tristram|L3505|2}}, was badly damaged. The former was replaced by a new, {{GT|8,861}} [[RFA Sir Galahad (1987)|vessel of the same name]], while the latter was rebuilt and returned to service. All of the vessels in this class were replaced by the {{sclass2|Bay|landing ship|4}},<ref>{{cite book |title=Jane's Fighting Ships 2008–2009 |editor-last=Saunders |editor-first=Stephen  |publisher=Jane's Information Group |location=Surrey |year=2008 |edition=111th |series=Jane's Fighting Ships |isbn=978-0-7106-2845-9 |oclc=225431774 |page=876}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/bay_class/ |title=Bay Class LSD(A) Alternative Landing Ship Logistic (ALSL) |work=naval-technology.com |year=2012 |access-date=23 October 2012}}</ref> with {{ship|RFA|Sir Bedivere|L3004|2}} the last to leave service in 2008.

{{HMAS|Tobruk|L 50|6}}, formerly operated by the [[Royal Australian Navy]], was based on the Round Table design.<ref>{{cite book |last=Jones |first=Peter |editor=Stevens, David |title=The Royal Australian Navy |series=The Australian Centenary History of Defence |volume=III |year=2001 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=South Melbourne, VIC |isbn=0-19-555542-2 |oclc=50418095 |chapter=Towards Self Reliance; A Period of Change and Uncertainty |page=222}}</ref>
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