Fearless was the first purpose built LPD used by the Royal Navy. Built in Belfast at the Harland and Wolff yard, she was launched in 1963 before undergoing trials and commissioning in 1965
Following commissioning, her first operational tasking was acting as a command platform for British Counter-Terrorism operations in Colony of Aden.Aden, operating Royal Air Force aircraft and the Irish Guards prior to the British withdrawal as Flag of a 25 platform task group# Following the Aden experiences, in 1968, she was the venue for talks between Harold Wilson and Ian Smith over the future of Rhodesia. The latter had unilaterally declared independence. Unilateral Declaration of Independence Rhodesia UDI from Britain due to Britain's insistence on the removal of white minority rule.
In 1972, Fearless ferried several Centurion AVRE demolition vehicles, derived from the Centurion tank to Northern Ireland to be deployed there as part of Operation Motorman.
Fearless featured in the 1977 James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me film. The Spy Who Loved Me as the ship which picks up Bond's escape pod. The filming took place the previous year near the island of Malta.
Fearless was part of the British naval forces in the Falklands War.British naval force committed to Operation Corporate, the 1982 Falklands War Fitted with modern satellite communications equipment, it hosted the staff of amphibious force commander. Commodore Royal Navy|Commodore Michael Clapp Commodore Amphibious Warfare COMAW, and Commanding Officer 3 Commando Brigade, Brigadier Julian Thompson and his staff, as well as elements of the landing force As a result of the conflict, Royal Marine Coxswain Corporal Alan White received a commendation from the Task Force Commander, Admiral Sir ##John Fieldhouse, Baron Fieldhouse John Fieldhouse, for his part in rescuing 41 crew from HMS Antelope. F170 HMS Antelope using Foxtrot 7, one of four LCVP landing craft carried by Fearless# Foxtrot 7 is now located in the Royal Marines Museum in Portsmouth, with detailed accounts from Corporal Alan White of the missions he took part in, including the landings at San Carlos.
She was placed out of commission for three years in 1985 prior to a two year refit at Devonport, recommissioning in 1991. During this refit, her 1940s-vintage Bofors 40 mm gun|40mm Bofors cannons and 1960s-vintage Sea Cat missile|Sea Cat anti-aircraft missile launchers were replaced by 20 mm BMARC and Phalanx CIWS guns.
From 1991 until 1995 she supported the sea training phase of initial officer training, undertaken at Britannia Royal Naval College, as part of the Dartmouth Training Squadron.
She was due to undertake an operation in the Gulf, but that was handed to HMS Ocean L12|HMS Ocean in 2000 Her last major duty was to take part in amphibious exercises shortly before decommissioning
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