Name Sir Lancelot Ordered December 1961 Commissioned 16 January 1964 Launched 25 June 1963 Draft 4 m | Namesake Lancelot Laid down March 1962 Construction started March 1962 Length 126 m | |
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Operator British-India Steam Navigation Company (1964-1970)
Royal Fleet Auxiliary (1970-1989) Builder Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company | ||
RFA Sir Lancelot (L3029) was the lead ship and prototype of the Round Table class landing ship logistics, an amphibious warfare design operated by the British Armed Forces. Commissioned in 1964, the ship was initially operated by the British-India Steam Navigation Company, then was transferred to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary in 1970. Sir Lancelot was decommissioned and sold in 1989 to the South African company Lowline; she was renamed Lowland Lancer, and was used as a Channel ferry, then a floating casino. The vessel was purchased by the Republic of Singapore Navy in 1992, and was commissioned as RSS Perseverance (L206) in 1994. She was sold again in 2003, to Glenn Defense Marine Asia, which renamed the ship Glenn Braveheart. In early 2008, the ship was sold for breaking up as scrap, and taken to Bangladesh.
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Design and construction
Constructed by Fairfield S&E, the vessel was laid down in March 1962, launched on 25 June 1963, and commissioned on 16 January 1964.
United Kingdom
The ship was initially managed for the British Army by the British-India Steam Navigation Company, then was transferred to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary in 1970.
In 1982, as part of the Amphibious Task Group engaged in the Falklands war, she entered San Carlos Water on 21 May and uniquely remained there for the duration of the conflict. On the 24 May at around 10:15, she was hit by a 1,000 lb (450 kg) bomb, which failed to explode, from one of four Argentinian Air Force A-4 Skyhawks. This bomb penetrated her starboard side of the ship and she was temporarily evacuated pending its removal. Thereafter she remained in San Carlos Water providing accommodation and base facilities to a variety of military units. Following the cessation of hostilities and some repairs, she operated around the Falklands until 26 July, returning to Portsmouth on 18 August.
Lowline
Sir Lancelot was decommissioned on 31 March 1989, and sold in June 1989 to the British company Lowline, which renamed the vessel Lowland Lancer. She initially operated as a cross-channel ferry on the Weymouth, Dorset to Cherbourg route. This was followed by a spell as the replacement Royal Mail ship while RMS St Helena was undergoing repairs. On arrival in Cape Town, the vessel stayed in South Africa and opened as a floating casino.
Singapore
The ship was sold on in 1992 to the Republic of Singapore Navy, was renamed RSS Perseverance (L206), and was commissioned on 5 May 1994 following a two-year refit. Perseverance was deployed to East Timor as part of the Australian-led INTERFET peacekeeping taskforce from 9 January to 17 February 2000.
Glenn Defense
In December 2003, the ship was sold to Glenn Defense Marine Asia, which renamed the ship Glenn Braveheart. According to US Court records relating to the extensive corruption scandal and convictions of very senior US Navy officers and other personnel involving bribery, fraud and "Sex-for-secrets" on the part of Glenn Defense relating to the service and resupply of Navy ships at Asian ports, the vessel would often deploy alongside the USS Blue Ridge, the 7th Fleet’s flagship. When in port, the Braveheart would serve as "a giant party boat, with prostitutes in the wardroom to entertain US officers."
Fate
In early 2008, the ship was sold for breaking. She was taken to Chittagong, Bangladesh, to be broken up for scrap.