HMAS Canberra 3
HMAS Canberra and HMAS Adelaide
The Canberra class Landing Helicopter Dock are new amphibious assault ships being developed for the Royal Australian Navy. The Australian Government has approved a AU$3 billion project to build two LHDs, which will have air support, amphibious assault, transport and command centre roles. They are planned to replace in turn HMAS Tobruk and one of the RAN's two current Kanimbla class vessels.
General Information
The Australian government's requirements include the capacity to transport up to 1,000 troops and 150 vehicles, including the new M1A1 Abrams tank in service with the Australian Army, have six helicopter spots on a full length flight deck for a mix of both transport and battlefield support helicopters, and a fully equipped hospital. On 20 January 2006, it was announced that the two ships would be named Canberra and Adelaide.[2]
In August 2005, the government chose two designs to participate in a run off.[3] The first was a modified version of the French Mistral class, which was proposed by the French company Armaris. The second design was based on the Spanish Buque de Proyección Estratégica design, proposed by the Spanish company Navantia.[4] The Navantia design was larger, at approximately 27,000 tonnes gross displacement, but the first unit for the Spanish Navy had only just started construction, making it an unknown quantity in terms of capability. By contrast, the French design was smaller, at approximately 24,000 tonnes, but had entered service with the French Navy.
In June 2007, the Australian Minister for Defence announced that Tenix Defence was the preferred tenderer for the construction of the two large amphibious landing ships at a cost of $3 billion.[2] The ships are due to enter service from 2013. Tenix had proposed to build the Navantia design in partnership with the Spanish company.
The Australian Government stated that around 25 percent of the value of the project would involve work in Australia. This would be largely limited to construction of the superstructures of the two ships in Tenix's (now BAE Systems') shipyard in Williamstown, Victoria, with some systems work done in South Australia. Consolidation of the two ships and systems integration would occur in Williamstown. To allow work to be done at Williamstown, financial support has been provided by the State Government of Victoria "to prepare the Williamstown shipyard to participate in future projects such as AWD module construction and the large amphibious ships project. The Government is also supporting a skills training program for these projects."[5]
On 24 September 2009 a keel laying ceremony took place for LHD 01 vessel at the Navantia shipbuilding yard, Ferrol, Spain. The Minister announced that
After completion of the hulls for the Amphibious Ships they will be transported to Australia. The superstructures will then be constructed, fitted out and integrated with the hulls at BAE Systems’ Williamstown dockyard. The combat system is to be provided by Saab Systems Australia, which will also integrate the combat management system; and the communications system will be supplied by L-3 Communications.[6]
The launch of LHD 01 will be in Spain during March 2011, with expected arrival at Williamstown dockyard in 2012. LHD 02 hull is expected to arrive in 2014.
The Canberra class Landing Helicopter Dock are new amphibious assault ships being developed for the Royal Australian Navy. The Australian Government has approved a AU$3 billion project to build two LHDs, which will have air support, amphibious assault, transport and command centre roles. They are planned to replace in turn HMAS Tobruk and one of the RAN's two current Kanimbla class vessels.
The keel of HMAS Canberra 3 being laid in Spain October 2009
LHD Juan Carlos 1 - Video
Video Taken during Sea Trials of the new LHD Juan Carlos in Spain, the new Canberra Class is based on this design. Run time 4 Min 43 Secs
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