RFA Sir Galahad (L3005) was a Round Table-class landing ship logistics vessel operated by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary of the United Kingdom. Launched in 1966 by Stephens, she displaced approximately 3,322 tonnes and was designed to carry both troops and cargo, serving as a vital logistical support vessel. The ship was capable of transporting up to 340 troops, with a short-term capacity of 534, and could carry a variety of military vehicles, including 16 light tanks and 34 mixed vehicles. Her cargo capacity included 122 tonnes of fuel and 31 tonnes of ammunition. The vessel was equipped with three onboard cranes for unloading and could carry landing craft in place of traditional lifeboats. Initially managed by the British-India Steam Navigation Company for the British Army, Sir Galahad transferred to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary in 1970. Her crew comprised British officers and Hong Kong Chinese civilians. Notably, she participated in humanitarian missions such as Operation Burlap in late 1970, providing aid to East Pakistan following a cyclone. The vessel’s most significant service was during the Falklands War in 1982. She deployed from HMNB Devonport on 6 April with 350 Royal Marines and arrived at San Carlos Water, East Falkland, on 21 May. On 24 May, Sir Galahad was attacked by Argentine aircraft, including McDonnell Douglas A-4 Skyhawks and IAI Daggers. A live 1,000 lb bomb lodged inside the ship after a Skyhawk attack but did not detonate. Later, on 8 June, while preparing to unload soldiers at Fitzroy, she was struck by multiple bombs dropped by Argentine Skyhawks, causing catastrophic fires. The attack resulted in the deaths of 48 crew and soldiers. During the firefighting and evacuation, her Royal Marine detachment played a crucial role, managing life rafts and helicopter evacuations. Seaman Chiu Yiu-Nam was awarded the George Medal for rescuing ten men trapped by fire, and Captain Philip Roberts received the Distinguished Service Order for leadership. The ship’s hulk was eventually towed out to sea and sunk by HMS Onyx on 21 June 1982, becoming an official war grave protected under law. The attack on Sir Galahad remains a significant event, symbolizing the human cost of the Falklands conflict.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.