Group : Replenishment Ships
Status : Active
Also Known As : ALSL (Alternative Landing Ship Logistics), HMAS Choules (Royal Australian Navy)
Origin : United Kingdom
Contractor : BAE Systems
Initial Operational Capability (IOC) : 2006
Total Production : 4

The Bay-class ships are the result of the British Alternative Landing Ship Logistics (ALSL) project. Originally, the Royal Navy intended to procure up to four Bay-class ships with the lead ship, RFA Mount Bay, scheduled to be commissioned in late 2006. In November 2001, BAE Systems was awarded a contract for two vessels. The Bay-class ships were built using commercial standards and will act as landing platform dock (LPD) ships.

Bay-class ships have been designed for amphibious assault operations transporting up to 356 (maximum 500) troops and equipment. Deployment of troops and equipment will be done through landing craft vehicles and helicopters operating from the ship's stern dock and flight deck. In addition, these ships will be provided with BOWMAN communications equipment.

Mounts Bay landing ship dock was accepted into Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) on December 15, 2005. The lead ship of the Bay-class was built by BAE Systems Naval Ships in Glasgow. RFA Mounts Bay was launched on April 8, 2004. In August 2006, the UK MoD announced that the RFA Mounts Bay had completed successfully the amphibious capability demonstration trials paving the way for the ship's in-service date declaration. RFA's Largs Bay and Cardigan Bay are scheduled to be declared operational in early 2007.