Amphibious ships preserve the ability to move troops into a theatre and support operations ashore. HMS Fearless was laid down in 1962, roughly twenty years before her role in recovering the Falkland Islands. Retaining an amphibious force allowed a response to a crisis that her designers had not anticipated. A future amphibious ship could develop from the LHD because heavy equipment would still require landing craft while aircraft carried personnel and lighter systems ashore. The exact aircraft cannot be predicted fifty years ahead, but these broad transport requirements provide a basis for planning.
Notable Point · 49:17-51:31
Amphibious capability prepares for an unforeseen intervention
HMS Fearless and the Falklands illustrate why preserving the ability to land forces matters before a future crisis can be identified.