Canberra-class landing helicopter dock

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Adelaide at Pearl Harbor, July 2018
Class overview
Builders
Victoria
Operators Royal Australian Navy
Preceded byHMAS Tobruk, Kanimbla class
Cost
  • A$3.1 billion (2007) for two units
  • A$1.55 billion (2007) per unit
Built2009–2015
In commission2014–present
Planned2
Completed2
Active2
General characteristics
TypeLanding helicopter dock
Displacement27,500 t (27,100 long tons) at full load
Length230.82 m (757 ft 3 in)
Beam32.0 m (105 ft 0 in)
Draft7.08 m (23 ft 3 in)
Installed power
Propulsion
  • integrated electric propulsion
  • 2 ×
    MW (15,000 shp
    ) each
Speed
  • Over 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) maximum
  • 19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph) full-load sustained
  • 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) economical
Range9,000 nmi (17,000 km; 10,000 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Boats & landing
craft carried		4 × LLC
Capacity
  • Up to 110 vehicles
  • Heavy vehicle deck: 1,410 m2 (15,200 sq ft)
  • Light vehicle deck: 1,880 m2 (20,200 sq ft)
Troops
  • 1,046 standard
  • 1,600 overload
Complement358 personnel; 293 RAN, 62 Australian Army, 3 RAAF
Sensors and
processing systems
Electronic warfare
& decoys
Armament
  • 4 ×
    Rafael Typhoon 25 mm (1.0 in) remote weapons systems
  • 6 × 12.7 mm (0.5 in) machine guns
Aircraft carried
  • 8 helicopters (standard)
  • 18 helicopters (maximum hangar space)
Aviation facilities
ski-jump
, 6 in-line deck landing spots

The Canberra class is a

Direction des Constructions Navales (DCN) and Spanish company Navantia were invited to tender proposals, with DCN offering the Mistral-class amphibious assault ship and Navantia proposing the "Buque de Proyección Estratégica" design (later commissioned as Juan Carlos I). The Spanish design was selected in 2007, with Navantia responsible for construction of the ships from the keel to the flight deck, and BAE Systems Australia handling the fabrication of the combat and communications systems.[1] Finally, Siemens (Germany) supplied and fitted the azimuth thrusters.[1]

Construction of the first ship, HMAS Canberra, commenced in late 2008, with the hull launched in early 2011, and sea trials in early 2014. Canberra was commissioned in November 2014. Work on the second vessel, HMAS Adelaide, started in early 2010. Adelaide was commissioned in December 2015. They are the largest vessels ever operated by the RAN, with a displacement of 27,500 tonnes (27,100 long tons; 30,300 short tons).

The ships are

home-ported at Fleet Base East in Sydney (which has prompted complaints from nearby residents about machinery noise, exhaust fumes, and blocked views) and will regularly operate out of Townsville, the location of Lavarack Barracks, home of the Australian Army's 3rd Brigade. In addition to being located in North Queensland close to Asia and the Pacific Islands, one of the 3rd Brigade's infantry battalions, the 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
(2 RAR), was selected to become the Army's specialist amphibious infantry battalion.

Planning and selection

Planning to replace the

LCM2000), Phases 2 and 4 were to identify, then acquire the new amphibious warfare ships, and Phase 3 covered the design and construction of compatible landing craft (12 LCM-1E, ordered on 27 September 2011).[3][5] The ships were originally to replace one of the Kanimbla-class ships and Tobruk, with the other Kanimbla-class ship later replaced by a strategic sealift ship.[3]

In January 2006, the Australian government announced the names for the planned ships:

amphibious campaign to recapture Guadalcanal and the efforts of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps in aiding Australia during World War II.[8]

Comparative statistics of proposed designs
Kanimbla class included for comparison[9]
DCN Navantia Kanimbla
Displacement (t) 24,000 27,000 8,500
Range (nmi) 11,000 9,000 14,000
Personnel 177 240 210
Troops 1,000 1,100 450
Vehicles (m2) 1,000 2,000 700
Helicopters 16 11 4
Landing spots 6 6 2/3
Landing craft 4
LCM
 4 LCM-1E 2 LCM-8

A Request For Information and invitation for tenders was sent to two European shipbuilders in February 2004; French company

Direction des Constructions Navales (DCN) and Spanish company Navantia.[10] Shipbuilders from the United States were not included, as American amphibious warfare ships were too large for Australian requirements, and were either too personnel-intensive or could not operate the number of helicopters required.[11] DCN responded with an enlarged version of the Mistral-class amphibious assault ship; 2,000 tonnes (2,000 long tons; 2,200 short tons) greater displacement than the 22,000-tonne (22,000-long-ton; 24,000-short-ton) vessels active with the French Navy.[12] A design being built by Navantia for the Spanish Navy, the "Buque de Proyección Estratégica" (Strategic Projection Ship, later commissioned as Juan Carlos I) was offered by the Spanish, partnering with Australian company Tenix Defence.[12] Although 4,000 tonnes (3,900 long tons; 4,400 short tons) larger and with an increased troop, vehicle, and helicopter carrying capability compared to the Mistrals, the Spanish ship was still under construction at the time of the offer, and was not due to enter service until late 2008.[12] On 20 June 2007, Minister for Defence Brendan Nelson announced that the A$3 billion contract to build the Canberra class had been awarded to Navantia and Tenix.[13][14] Although an unproven design, the Spanish offer was closer to the RAN's requested requirements, and there were benefits from ordering the Canberras and the new Hobart-class air warfare destroyers from the same company.[12]

At around the time the decision to purchase the ships was made, many defence analysts advocated for acquiring a larger number of smaller vessels on the grounds that this would be better suited to conditions in Australia's region.[15] However, the Navy's Sea Power Centre argued that large amphibious vessels would provide greater flexibility.[16]

Hugh White, a former leading defence planner for the Hawke and Howard Governments, ANU Professor and defence writer for the SMH, has long been a critic of the decision to acquire the Canberra-class ships. In 2004 he argued that the Australian Defence Force did not need the capacity to conduct a major opposed amphibious operation, as it was unlikely to ever be called upon to do so, and the money needed to purchase the vessels would be better spent on smaller amphibious ships and other defence capabilities.[17] In 2016 White judged the ships to be a 'terrible and heroic, waste of money and nothing more than, 'big, fat... targets in the South China Sea'.[18] which are too vulnerable for deployment in a serious crisis.

Design and capabilities

The Canberra-class vessels are 230.82 metres (757 ft 3 in)

Lloyd's Naval Rules.[4]

Propulsion is provided by two Siemens Navantia 11-megawatt (15,000 hp) azimuth thrusters, each with an onboard electric motor, driving two 4.5-metre (15 ft) diameter propellers.[19][20] The electricity is provided by a combined diesel and gas system, with a single General Electric LM2500 turbine producing 19,160 kilowatts (25,690 hp), supported by two Navantia MAN 16V32/40 diesel generators providing 7,448 kilowatts (9,988 hp).[19] The main thrusters are supplemented by two 1,500 kilowatts (2,000 hp) bow thrusters, and a 1,350-kilowatt (1,810 hp) Progener-Mitsubishi S16MPTA diesel generator is fitted as an emergency backup.[19] The vessels have a maximum speed of over 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph), a maximum sustainable full-load speed of 19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph), and an economical cruising speed of 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph), with a corresponding range of 9,000 nautical miles (17,000 km; 10,000 mi).[19] The LHDs can maintain full directional control while reversing at up to 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph).[19]

HMAS Canberra was reported to have completed a major maintenance period in the Captain Cook Graving Dock at Garden Island during which the propulsion pods were replaced including new 4 bladed propellers. At the time of reporting (March 2021) Canberra was preparing for sea trials and plans were being made for HMAS Adelaide to undergo similar maintenance.[21]

Each ship is fitted with a Saab

Rafael Typhoon 25 mm (1.0 in) remote weapons systems (one in each corner of the flight deck), six 12.7 mm (0.5 in) machine guns, an AN/SLQ-25 Nixie towed torpedo decoy, and a Nulka missile decoy.[19][22] Planned upgrades include the installation of up to three Phalanx CIWS from 2018.[23] Defence against aircraft and larger targets is to be provided by escort vessels and air support from the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).[22] The ships' companies consist of 358 personnel; 293 RAN, 62 Australian Army, and 3 RAAF.[24]

LHD Landing Craft L4408 (with a second LCC berthed behind it)

The LHDs are able to transport 1,046 soldiers and their equipment, and can carry 1,600 in overload conditions.

rigid-hulled inflatable boats (although these will not be carried as standard), and can be used by other nations' landing craft and amphibious vehicles.[19]

Stern view of Canberra

The

MH-60R anti-submarine helicopters.[32] The 990 square metres (10,700 sq ft) hangar deck can accommodate eight medium-size helicopters, and an additional ten can be carried if the light vehicle deck is used for additional helicopter space.[19] Two aircraft lifts (one large one centre-aft, and a smaller one to starboard and in front of the island superstructure) connect the flight and hangar decks.[19]

The

cross-decking with other nations' aircraft could possibly occur.[24][34][36] In May 2014, Minister for Defence David Johnston stated in media interviews that the government was considering acquiring F-35B fighters for the Canberras, and Prime Minister Tony Abbott instructed 2015 Defence White Paper planners to consider the option of embarking F-35B squadrons aboard the two ships.[37][38] This assessment found that the cost of modifying the ships to operate jets would be very high, and the idea was rejected before the completion of the White Paper.[39]

Opponents to operating F-35s from the Canberra class state that embarking enough aircraft to be an effective force would require abandoning their capability as amphibious warfare vessels, operating as an aircraft carrier would make the ships higher profile targets and need greater escorting forces, existing fuel and ordnance storage would not be able to sustain fixed-wing operations, structural modifications were needed to reinforce and heat-treat the flight deck to withstand F-35B vertical thrust, and the F-35B project itself has been the most expensive and most problematic of the three Joint Strike Fighter variants.[33][40][41] Supporters counter that providing fixed-wing air support close to amphibious operations maximises aircraft capability, other nations are already working on solutions to structural and thrust problems for other Harrier-era ships, and the presence of a ski-jump makes the vessels already more suitable for STOVL operations than equivalent amphibious ships with flat flight decks.[42]

Construction

Navantia was contracted to construct the hulls from 104 'blocks' or 'modules', which were fabricated individually at Navantia's facilities in

heavy lift ship, Blue Marlin, to Williamstown, Victoria, where the installation of the island superstructure and the internal fitout of the hull was completed by BAE Systems Australia (which acquired Tenix in mid-2008).[4][12]

Canberra fitting out at Williamstown, February 2014

Construction of Canberra began in September 2008, when the first steel was cut.

sea trials on 3 March 2014.[49] Contractor-run sea trials concluded in early September, and Canberra was commissioned into the RAN on 28 November 2014.[50][51]

Adelaide being loaded onto the heavy lift ship Blue Marlin at Vigo Bay, prior to being transported to Williamstown for completion

Work on Adelaide began during February 2010, when the first steel was cut.

Vigo Bay.[53] Blue Marlin and Adelaide arrived at Williamstown on 7 February 2014.[54] Entry into RAN service was originally planned for mid-2015, but as of July 2011, this had been pushed back to sometime in 2016.[4][43] Fitting out of the ship progressed at a faster rate than expected, which has brought the predicted commissioning date back to late 2015.[55] After sea trials ended in October, Adelaide was commissioned on 4 December 2015.[56] Although Canberra was identified as "LHD01" and Adelaide as "LHD02" during construction, the ships were commissioned with the pennant numbers LHD 02 and LHD 01 respectively.[57] The reversal of the numbers causes the new ships' pennants to correspond to the Adelaide-class frigates with the same names.[58]

The early decommissioning of the two Kanimbla-class vessels in 2011, several years before Canberra-class ships would enter service, led to the acquisition of the landing ship dock HMAS Choules and the support vessel ADV Ocean Shield.[59][60] The latter was only intended as a stop-gap acquisition, and in mid-2014, Ocean Shield was transferred to the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service.[60][61][62]

Ships

Name Pennant Number Builder Laid down Launched Commissioned Status
Canberra L02
Ferrol (Construction)
BAE Systems Australia, Williamstown
(Fitting out) 		23 September 2009 17 February 2011 28 November 2014 Active
Adelaide L01 18 February 2011 4 July 2012 4 December 2015 Active

Basing arrangements

Adelaide and Canberra berthed at Fleet Base East in December 2015
HMAS Adelaide and HMAS Canberra berthed at Fleet Base East in October 2016

The two LHDs are officially home-ported at

Garden Island was named after Captain John Robertson.[63] Robertson was commanding officer of the carrier Melbourne at the time of the Melbourne–Voyager collision in 1964, and was widely seen to be a scapegoat after the first Royal Commission found him to be at fault.[63]

Basing the two ships at Fleet Base East prompted complaints, including a short lived unsuccessful public campaign to have the ships based elsewhere from nearby residents in Potts Point and Woolloomooloo.[64] Issues raised include exhaust fumes and noise pollution from the ships' generators and machinery running around-the-clock, and that the large ships block views of Sydney Harbour.[64][65] To alleviate concerns, Defence began investigating options to relocate one or both ships to the northern portion of Garden Island, and has installed shore-powered air-conditioning units (allowing the ships' onboard generators to be shut down at night).[65] Such units were, however, not installed or deemed a requirement and local residents objection's considered either incorrect, such as the claim the ship's block views or minor when compared to the decades old Navy base as a whole such as the objections raised about noise.

The ships regularly operate out of Townsville, the base of 2RAR.[25] To this end, the Department of Defence contributed A$30 million to the A$85 million upgrade of the multi-purpose Berth 10 at the Port of Townsville, which was completed in October 2013.[66][67] Naval vessels have been allocated 45 days of berthing per year.[68] Defence also spent A$5.3 million to lease and develop a dedicated staging area for equipment and personnel within the Port of Townsville precinct.[66]

References

Citations

  1. ^ a b Engineering & Technology
  2. ^ a b Borgu, Capability of First Resort?, p. 1
  3. ^ a b c Borgu, Capability of First Resort?, p. 2
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Fish, Amphibious assault ships
  5. ^ Office of Stephen Smith MP, Minister for Defence, Projects of concern – Update
  6. ^ Department of Defence, Next generation of naval ships to reflect a rich history of service
  7. ^ Time to bring back the Pride, in The Navy, p. 2
  8. ^ Garai, Lets give the LHDs some names with meaning, pp. 33–4
  9. ^ Borgu, Capability of First Resort?, p. 6
  10. ^ Borgu, Capability of First Resort?, pp. 5–6
  11. ^ Borgu, Capability of First Resort?, p. 5
  12. ^ a b c d e Brown, Spanish designs are Australia's choice for warship programmes
  13. ^ Amphibious Ships, in Semaphore, p. 1
  14. ^ a b c d Fish, First Australian LHD takes shape
  15. ^ Snow, Deborah (25 March 2005). "Arming Australia". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
  16. ^ Sea Power Centre - Australia (October 2007). "Amphibious Ships". Royal Australian Navy.
  17. ^ White, Hugh (12 June 2004). "Big ships: too costly, too cumbersome". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
  18. ^ S.Morris. Shipping Forecast, Australia, in Monocle 91, March 2016, p 044
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Royal Australian Navy, Amphibious Assault Ship (LHD)
  20. ^ a b Amphibious Ships, in Semaphore, p. 2
  21. ^ Defence News Huge maintenance task a first
  22. ^ a b c Defense Industry Daily, Australia's Canberra class LHDs
  23. Jane's Information Group
    . Retrieved 6 July 2016.
  24. ^ a b c d e f Kerr, Amphibious Ambitions
  25. ^ a b c d McPhedran, Inside HMAS Canberra
  26. ^ a b Hawkins 2009.
  27. ^ a b Gillespie 2010.
  28. ^ a b Collingburn 2010.
  29. ^ Welfare 2012.
  30. ^ a b Kennedy, Canberra's landing craft coxswains demonstrate new skills
  31. ^ a b Rahmat, Navantia launches Australia's last LHD landing craft
  32. ^ Gillis, Interview. Landing Helicopter Dock Project – Canberra Class, pp. 28–9
  33. ^ a b Seidel, Australian Strategic Policy Institute raises doubts over Abbott Government plan to rebuild newest warships
  34. ^ a b Borgu, Capability of First Resort?, p. 11
  35. ^ Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade, Australia's Maritime Strategy, p. 95
  36. ^ a b Gillis, Interview. Landing Helicopter Dock Project – Canberra Class, p. 29
  37. ^ Kerr, Australia could buy F-35B
  38. ^ Butterly, Jump jets on Defence radar
  39. ^ Kerin, PM's floating fighter jet plan quietly sunk by Defence
  40. ^ Brabin-Smith & Schreer, Jump jets for the ADF?
  41. ^ Johnston raises possibility of acquiring F-35Bs, in Australian Aviation
  42. ^ George, LHD and STOVL: an engineer's view
  43. ^ a b c d Fish, Australia awaits new LHDs for amphibious uplift
  44. ^ Department of Defence, LHD launch paves the way for amphibious transformation
  45. ^ Cavas, Australia's Largest Ship Launched
  46. '^ Navantia efectúa con éxito el 'encaje' del 'Canberra, in Laopinióncoruña
  47. ^ El "Blue Marlin", abandonando el puerto exterior de A Coruña, in La voz de Galicia
  48. ^ Huge Navy ship hull arrives in Victoria, in ABC News
  49. ^ Kennedy, Canberra's size and power tested at sea trials
  50. ^ Kennedy, Canberra sea trials a success
  51. ^ ABC News, HMAS Canberra enters commission into Australian Navy at Sydney ceremony
  52. ^ Royal Australian Navy, Launch of second Amphibious Ship Landing Helicopter Dock
  53. ^ Otero, Perfecto embarque de un coloso del mar
  54. ^ Adelaide LHD hull arrives in Melbourne, in Australian Aviation
  55. ^ Durrant, Second LHD completes initial sea trials
  56. ^ Staples, HMAS Adelaide enters service
  57. ^ On the way to Australia, in Navy News
  58. ^ Fish, Steel cut for second Australian LHD
  59. ^ ABC News, HMAS Choules commissioned in honour of veteran
  60. ^ a b Offices of the Minister for Defence and Minister for Defence Materiel, Ocean Shield the Navy's newest humanitarian and disaster relief vessel
  61. ^ Ellery, Defence buys boat bound for Customs
  62. ^ Saunders & Philpott (eds.), IHS Jane's Fighting Ships 2015-2016, p. 39
  63. ^ a b McPhedran, Formal apology long overdue for navy hero Captain John Robertson
  64. ^ a b Hansen, Residents fume as HMAS Canberra blocks their view, keeps them awake and now there's another one on the way
  65. ^ a b Hansen, $1.5 billion navy vessel NUSHIP Adelaide docks for indefinite stay in Sydney beside HMAS Canberra
  66. ^ a b Department of Defence Ministers, Minister for Defence – Port of Townsville Berth 10 upgrade opening
  67. ^ Carter, Townsville's Berth 10 opens
  68. ^ Raggat, Townsville port's cruise terminal one of its busiest wharves

Sources

Books

  • Saunders, Stephen & Philpott, Tom, eds. (7 August 2015). IHS Jane's Fighting Ships 2015–2016.
    OCLC 919022075
    .

Journal articles and papers

News articles

Press releases

Websites

External links

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