RFA Sir Galahad (1966)
Coordinates: 51°50′28″S 58°12′40″W / 51.841°S 58.211°W / -51.841; -58.211
RFA Sir Galahad (L3005) was a Round Table class landing ship logistics (LSL) vessel belonging to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary of the United Kingdom. She was first managed for the British Army by the British-India Steam Navigation Company, before being transferred in 1970 to the RFA.
Design and construction
The Sir Galahad was a 3,322-tonne LSL built by Stephens and launched in 1966. She could carry 340 troops or, when necessary, 534 for short periods. Cargo capacity could include 16 light tanks, 34 mixed vehicles, 122 tonnes of fuel and 31 tonnes of ammunition. Landing craft could be carried in place of lifeboats, but unloading was mainly handled by three onboard cranes.
Service history
In November and December 1970 Sir Galahad was involved in Operation Burlap giving humanitarian assistance to East Pakistan after a cyclone caused extensive damage and flooding.
Falklands War
Sir Galahad was active during the Falklands War, sailing from HMNB Devonport on 6 April with 350 Royal Marines and entering San Carlos Water on 21 May. On 24 May 1982 in San Carlos Water she was attacked by A-4 Skyhawks of the Argentine Air Force's IV Brigada Aérea and was hit by a 1000 pound bomb dropped by Lt. Luis Alberto "Tucu" Cervera's A-4, (which did not detonate) then strafed by Dagger fighter bombers. After removal of the unexploded bomb, she carried out supply runs to Teal Inlet along with RFA Sir Percivale.
HMS Sir Galahad
Three ships of the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary have been named Sir Galahad, after the knight of Arthurian legend.
RFA Sir Galahad (1987)
RFA Sir Galahad (L3005) was a landing ship logistics (LSL) of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, currently in service with the Brazilian Navy as the Garcia D'Avila.
History
RFA Sir Galahad was built by Swan Hunter and entered service in 1988. She was named and given the identical pennant number to the Sir Galahad sunk in the Falklands War. Built as a combined landing craft and ferry with two flight decks for helicopters and bow and stern doors, there was capacity for around 400 troops and 3,440 tonnes of supplies.
She was deployed in 1991 for Operation Granby and in 2003 for Operation Telic to transport supplies. In 2003 Sir Galahad transported humanitarian aid, docking in Umm Qasr Port on 28 March, 2003, after being delayed while naval mines were cleared.
On 26 April, 2007, it was announced that she was to be purchased by Brazil. On 20 July, 2006, the ship sailed from Marchwood to Portsmouth, to be decommissioned.
She was commissioned into the Brazilian Navy as Garcia D'Avila on 4 December, 2007.
