The ships' roles are "to act as the afloat command platform for the Royal Navy's Amphibious Task Force and Landing Force Commanders when embarked" and "to embark, transport, deploy and recover troops with their equipment and vehicles which form part of an amphibious assault force". They are larger and more capable than the "Fearless" class, and formed part of a modernization programme of the British amphibious fleet, which includes the helicopter carrier , the s of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and the s.