HMS "Bulwark" (Hansard, 27 June 1978)

§ 4. Mr. Brotherton
asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects HMS "Bulwark" to commission.

§ The Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Royal Navy (Mr. A. E. P. Duffy)
As I told the hon. Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall) on 9th June, HMS "Bulwark" will be brought to a fully operational state in the course of this year and will rejoin the operational Fleet early in 1979.

§ Mr. Brotherton
Bearing in mind that we now have no commando ship, may I ask how long HMS "Bulwark" will take to convert from her primary role as an anti-submarine warfare carrier to a commando ship, should such a necessity arise?

§ Mr. Duffy
No such conversion is called for. The hon. Gentleman above all should know that she was withdrawn from an amphibious role and is being introduced into an ASW role, because that is where the Soviet threat is now greatest.