[5] For self-defence, Cardigan Bay is armed with two 30 mm DS30B cannons, four Mk.44 miniguns (replaced by .50 heavy machine guns as of 2023), six 7.62mm L7 GPMGs, and two Phalanx CIWS.

[5] As a sealift ship, Cardigan Bay is capable of carrying up to 24 Challenger 2 tanks or 150 light trucks in 1,150 linear metres of space.

[5] Cardigan Bay has been deployed as part of the Royal Navy Response Force Task Group, carrying elements of 40 Commando.

[9][10] In June 2011, the vessel headed to Yemen to aid with the potential evacuation of British citizens affected by the ongoing unrest in the country.

This was part of Exercise Somaliland Cougar, an operation to train Somali coastguards in anti-piracy techniques and to establish relationships with tribal leaders.

[15] Upon her return to the UK, Cardigan Bay underwent a major refit in Falmouth followed by sea trials and FOST in April 2017 in preparation for deployment later in the year.

[16] By June 2017, Cardigan Bay was back in the Indian Ocean and assisted HMS Monmouth in the rescue of a crewman from the sunken tanker Rama 2.

[19] In May 2022 it was reported that the ship had completed refit in Falmouth and was earmarked to return to the Persian Gulf, replacing Lyme Bay.

However, due to accute personnel shortages and labour action by RFA sailors over low pay, the movement of the vessel to the Falmouth shipyard for refit was delayed.