Editing HMS Intrepid (L11) (section)

==Service==

''Intrepid'' was the second of her class of purpose built LPDs used by Royal Navy. She was built in [[Clydebank]], [[West Dunbartonshire]], at the [[John Brown & Company]] yard and was [[Ceremonial ship launching|launched]] in 1964 before undergoing trials and [[Ship commissioning|commissioning]] in 1967. She was the last ship to be built by John Brown & Co for the Royal Navy.

The LPDs were intended to provide both a heavy lift for amphibious operations and to support a one star (Brigade) Headquarters afloat. As originally designed they could carry a load of fifteen [[main battle tank]]s (MBTs), five [[self-propelled gun]]s, eight recovery and engineer vehicles, six 3-ton trucks with trailers and twenty-eight Land Rovers and trailers, in essence an Armoured Battle Group, or any equivalent load. Accommodation was also provided for up to 450 troops.  The ships were equipped with an extensive array of communications equipment and an Amphibious Operations Room (AOR) linked to the Main Communications Office (MCO) and adjacent to the ships own Operations Room on 03 deck. The AOR was used by the Brigade Headquarters until it moved ashore. In addition to HQ 3 Commando Brigade, it could also be used by the army Brigade designated for amphibious operations. In the early 1970s this was Headquarters 24 (Airportable) Brigade based at Plymouth.

To support these roles, part of the original ship's complement included two army units, 661 Signal Troop and 506 Operating Troop RCT. The Signal Troop lived and worked with the ship's Communications Division whereas the Operating Troop, which included RCT stevedores, a Royal Engineers beach section and a REME recovery crew equipped with a Centurion Beach Armoureed Recovery Vehicle (BARV), worked as part of the Royal Marines Beach Unit. However, in the early 1970s the decision by the Royal Navy to re-role the LPDs, in rotation, as the Dartmouth Training Ship significantly reduced their availability for amphibious operations and training. The army subsequently decided to disband both units and this took place on 3 December 1973 at Devonport. Subsequently both roles were taken over by the Royal Marines.

In November 1967, ''Intrepid'' formed part of a naval task force deployed to cover the British [[Withdrawal from Aden]].<ref>Roberts 2009, pp. 79–81.</ref> On 29 March 1968, ''Intrepid'' and the frigate {{HMS|Tartar|F133|2}} were deployed to patrol off the [[Greater and Lesser Tunbs]], small islands in the [[Persian Gulf]], to deter Iran from occupying the islands.<ref>Roberts 2009, p. 82.</ref> ''Intrepid'' became the first Royal Navy warship equipped with satellite communication equipment in 1969.<ref name="jfs71 p341"/>

''Intrepid'' was the command and control ship for major disaster relief operation in East Pakistan in November 1970. The 1970 [[Bhola cyclone]] was a devastating tropical cyclone that struck [[East Pakistan]] (present-day Bangladesh) and India's [[West Bengal]] on 3 November 1970. It remains the deadliest tropical cyclone ever recorded and one of the deadliest natural disasters. Melting snow from the [[Himalayas]] met the storm surge that flooded much of the low-lying islands of the Ganges Delta. ''Intrepid'' with HMS ''Triumph'' left Singapore for the [[Bay of Bengal]] to assist with the relief efforts. Force controlled twenty helicopters, eight landing craft, 650 troops, and assisted international and civilian rescue teams distributing supplies. At least 500,000 people lost their lives in the storm. Sailors and Soldiers had to help bury the dead. A hard duty for which Navy Rum, a 200-year tradition which had recently ceased, had to be re-instated.{{citation needed|date=October 2020}}

As a result of defence cuts, ''Intrepid'' went into reserve in 1976, being brought back into active service in 1979 to allow ''Fearless'' to be refitted.<ref name="Conways47 p534">Gardiner and Chumbley 1995, p. 534.</ref>

It was announced in 1981 that the two LPDs were to be deleted,<ref name="jfs85 p632"/> though that decision was reversed just weeks prior to the outbreak of the [[Falklands War]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1982/mar/08/hms-fearless-and-intrepid#S6CV0019P0_19820308_CWA_302 | title=HMS "Fearless" and "Intrepid" (Hansard, 8 March 1982) }}</ref> ''Intrepid'' was rapidly brought back into commission, with her ship's company recalled by Commander Bryn Telfer (the Executive Officer), and Malcolm MacLeod, the crew gladly returned to form part of the [[British naval forces in the Falklands War|task group]] committed to [[Operation Corporate]], the British effort to recapture the islands. ''Intrepid'' was commanded by Captain [[Peter Dingemans]].

With elements of [[3 Commando Brigade]] embarked, ''Intrepid'' took part in the [[Falklands War#San Carlos – "Bomb Alley"|amphibious landings at San Carlos Water]]. ''Intrepid'' was under attack in San Carlos Water on 25 May 1982, with a few fatalities, mainly Royal Marines.{{Citation needed|date=August 2011}}  She came under heavy air attack once again during the operation, and was the main participant in the landings at Bluff Cove on 6 June. [[Margaret Thatcher]] and [[Sandy Woodward]] commended the efforts of the ships involved in the San Carlos attacks.

<blockquote>The ''Intrepid'' would be the last ship to arrive, the last piece in the jigsaw, and so all the timings depended on her.<ref>{{cite book|title=One Hundred Days|author=Admiral Sandy Woodward|year=1992|page=92|publisher=HarperCollins |isbn=0-00-215723-3}}</ref>
</blockquote>

As well as being one of the warships used for imprisoning the Argentine prisoners of war, the surrender ending the Falklands conflict was signed on ''Intrepid''{{'}}s deck.{{citation needed|date=May 2020}}

''Intrepid'' was refitted at [[HMNB Devonport|Devonport Royal Dockyard]] between January 1984 and June 1985,<ref name="jfs85 p632"/> with two Sea Cat launchers removed, with twin 30&nbsp;mm anti-aircraft mounts and two single 20&nbsp;mm cannon added.<ref name="cf90 p721"/> From June 1985 until 1990 she supported the sea training phase of initial officer training, undertaken at [[Britannia Royal Naval College]], as part of the Dartmouth Training Squadron. During the same period ''Intrepid'' also provided Marine Engineering Artificer Apprentices from HMS ''Sultan'' their sea training opportunity. During a three to four-month period, each entry of Artificers would spend a week working in each department aboard in order to learn more about the other trades in the Royal Navy.