RFA Mounts Bay is one of four LSD (A) Class, Amphibious Support Platforms. Mounts Bay was constructed by BAE (Naval Ships) at Govan on the River Clyde, Launched by Lady Sarah Band, in April 2004, she became the first Bay class vessel to achieve completion and following extensive sea trials was first to be accepted in to service in July of 2006.

A formal service of dedication took place in September of that year to mark the Transfer of Operational Command to Fleet, with the ship honoured by the attendance of our Sponsor Lady Sarah, and her husband, Admiral Sir Jonathan Band KCB ADC, First Sea Lord.

The summer of 2007 saw RFA Mounts Bay receive the great privilege of the Honorary Freedom of her affiliated town, Falmouth and she continues to maintain close links with the Cornish region. She has two affiliated Sea Cadet Corps Units, TS Shikari (Camborne and Redruth) and TS Zephyr (Caterham) with whom close ties are maintained.

So far during operational Service, RFA Mounts Bay has already played a key role in many Amphibious Exercises, including operations off Sierra Leone, the Baltic Regions and also many more, closer to home, around the coast of the United Kingdom and Western Europe.

Mounts Bay currently sails under the direction of her Commanding Officer, Captain Ross Ferris OBE, who hails from the Falmouth Region, and has commanded the ship since conducting the first Contractors Sea Trials in September 2005.

Canon 450D, f8,1/2500sec,ISO400,220mm.