Designed as an amphibious warfare ship, Albion carries troops, normally Royal Marines, and vehicles up to the size of the Challenger 2 main battle tank.

[8] On 20 November 2024 Defence Secretary John Healey announced that both Albion and her sister Bulwark would be withdrawn from service by March 2025.

This deployment saw, for the first time, an Albion-class vessel taking part in amphibious operations with a Bay-class auxiliary landing ship dock, RFA Mounts Bay.

[12][13] In May 2010, Albion together with HMS Ocean (L12) and other Royal Navy, French and US vessels, joined the multi-national AURIGA Task Group for amphibious exercises at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.

[16][17] In March 2011, Albion took part in Exercise Green Alligator with HQ of 3 Commando Brigade, the Joint Helicopter Command, the Royal Netherlands Marines Corps and 539 Assault Squadron RM.

[19][20] In June 2011, the ship had been redeployed along with the Response Force Task Group to the Gulf of Sidra off Libya to provide assistance to the ongoing NATO-led operation there.

She subsequently continued on to the Indian Ocean, passing through the Suez Canal on 15 June, to assist with anti-piracy operations off the Horn of Africa.

[citation needed] In late 2011 Albion entered a state of "extended readiness" (joining the UK's equivalent to a Reserve Fleet), after Bulwark completed a major refit.

It was confirmed that Albion would be the first of the two vessels placed at extended readiness, for a cost of £2.5 million as Bulwark had recently finished a major refit.

In December 2014, Albion was moved into dry dock at Plymouth to allow her hull to be inspected and cleaned prior to the major work being undertaken to reactivate the ship.

The major refit, plus the associated work up period, will take approximately 2.5 years, with Albion initially slated to assume the role of Fleet Flagship in April 2017.

[30] However, in October 2017, the BBC's Newsnight reported that the Ministry of Defence was considering decommissioning Albion and Bulwark, as part of a package of cost-cutting measures intended to mitigate the expense of the Royal Navy's two new aircraft carriers.

[8] In July 2023, Albion returned to Devonport from her final deployment prior to going into a state of "reduced readiness" (skeleton crew on board for ship maintenance).

It had been anticipated that HMS Bulwark would assume Albion's former frontline role in 2024 after completing a prolonged refit, though it was then reported that she would also be retained in reserve.

[36] Albion herself had been expected to remain in "extended readiness" (uncrewed reserve) until at least 2029 with her return to active operations at that point dependent on her receiving a further refit to allow her to continue in service into the early 2030s.