Dates: 1984 - 2007
HMS Intrepid (L11) was a Royal Navy ship which served from 1967 until 1999. One of two from the Landing Platform Dock (LPD) class she was based in HM Naval Base, Devonport, Plymouth, Devon and HM Naval Base Portsmouth and saw service around the world over her 32 year life.
The LPDs provided support to a Royal Marines amphibious assault force and provided a platform for a the Headquarters capability prior to, and during, the assault phase.
Service
Intrepid was the second of her class of purpose built LPDs used by Royal Navy, built in Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, at the John Brown & Company yard she was launched in 1964 before undergoing trials and commissioning in 1967. Incidentally, she was the last ship built by John Brown & Co for the Royal Navy.
Intrepid was undergoing decommissioning in 1982 at the outbreak of the Falklands War, however was brought back into commission, with her ships company recalled by Commander Bryn Telfer (the Executive Officer), and Malcolm MacLeod, the crew gladly returned to form part of the 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 amphibious landings at San Carlos Water. HMS Intrepid was under attack in San Carlos Water on 25 May 1982, with a few fatalities, mainly Royal Marines (citation?). The Nordic Ferry was also under attack. 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.
She [Intrepid] would be the last ship to arrive, the last piece in the jigsaw, and so all the timings depended on her.
The ship was also one of the warships used for imprisoning the Argentinian prisoners of war.
From 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.
Intrepid was placed in reserve status in 1991, laid up at HM Naval Base Portsmouth, being used as a source of spares for her sister ship, HMS Fearless. She was decommissioned in 1999 and awaited her disposal, by scrapping, in Fareham Creek, Hampshire.
Replacement LPDs were ordered during the 1990s with HMS Albion being commissioned in 2003
On February 12, 2007, the MoD announced that HMS Intrepid is to be recycled at a British facility. Leavesley International was selected as the preferred bidder, pending license acquisition.
Forces Reunited Forum Posts involving HMS Intrepid
" Thank you very much for welcoming us to the site. We are looking into our grandfathers history within the navy. We are looking to hear from some body or who has known any body that served on HMS Sussex HMS Intrepid HMS Verstalie We think it was roung about the 1940’s a bit ..."
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" My husband and i looking at our grandfathers lives during the war, we are particulary interested in their past when they were serving within the navy round about the late 1930’s/1940’s There ships were HMS Intrepid HMS Versatile HMS Sussex My grandfathers name was John Alfred ..."
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" Quoting: joanne howarth My husband and i looking at our grandfathers lives during the war, we are particulary interested in their past when they were serving within the navy round about the late 1930’s/1940’s There ships were HMS Intrepid HMS Versatile HMS Sussex My grandfathers name was ..."
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" Quoting: George Runacus John, I’ve pinched the poem and now I want the crest or something like it. There must have been many memento’s. Anybody any ideas what they were? George George I dont know if I am doing this right but in respect of the momentos of the last issue of navy rum. I ..."
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" Dear all During the Conflict I got around a lot more than most. I was on the Sir Tristram, HMS Fearless, Intrepid, Argonaut, Antrim, Plymouth and a few more. "What was I? Some sort of gypsy?" Well yes, sort of. I was with the MCD (Mine Clearance Divers). I wrote a 60 page diary whilst down ..."
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"Being a friend and visitor while working at Martines Nightclub and socialising in the Mucky Duck in Portsmouth. Would like to say hi to everyone I knew, especially Taff (Steve)"
