Ship's bearing the name BULWARK stretch back to 1777 when a 3rd Rate 74-gun vessel was ordered from Portsmouth. Although work on her began in 1780, the keel was never laid and the order was subsequently cancelled.

The second BULWARKwas launched on 23rd April 1870 from Portsmouth Dockyard and during almost 20 years service , saw service in the American war of 1814-15. She as finally broken up in September 1826.

The third BULWARK was a Screwship, laid down at Chatham Dockyard on 7th March 1859. The build was suspended in March 1859. She lay dry until 1872 when she was dismantled.

The fourth BULWARK was a wooden 1st Rate 21gun battleship. She was launched from Pembroke Dock on 7th March 1886 but returned from her steam trials in 186 and was never completed for sea. After serving as part of a training establishment for boys, she was paid off in 1919.

The fifth BULWARK was a 15000 ton twin screw armoured battleship, launched on 18th October 1899 from Devonport Dockyard.

In 1908, the most junior battleship Captain commanded her at that time, Captain R F Scott, who later earned fame as the Antarctic explorer. Although active at the outbreak of the war, she sadly suffered an external explosion off Sheerness on 26th November 1914 whilst embarking ammunition. There were only 12 survivors from the ship's company of 750.

The sixth BULWARK was laid down at Harland & Wolff, Belfast as a 22000 ton Light Fleet Carrier and was launched on 22nd June 1948. Carrying 50 aircraft, she saw service in 1956 throughout the Suez crisis.

BULWARK was modified to an all-helicopter Commando Carrier in 1959, operating 16 Whirlwind. Wessex helicopters later replaced these aircraft and our Landing Craft Vehicles Personnel (LCVP) added to aid mobility. With a complement of 1035, she could carry, accommodate and support an 800-man Royal Marine Commando.

Withdrawn from service in 1976 having completed her tenth commission, she was placed in reserve. Re-commissioned in 1979 as an Anti-Submarine Warfare Carrier in 1979, she was finally listed for disposal in 1983.