The vessels were built as aviation-capable anti-submarine warfare (ASW) platforms to counter the Cold War North Atlantic Soviet submarine threat, and initially embarked Sea Harrier aircraft and Sea King HAS.1 anti-submarine helicopters.
Kapal tersebut dibangun sebagai platform aviation-capable anti-submarine warfare (ASW) untuk melawan ancaman kapal selam Perang Dingin Atlantik Utara Soviet, dan awalnya dimulai dengan pesawat Sea Harrier dan helikopter anti-kapal selam Sea King HAS.1.