Australia's Canberra class LHDs/assault carriers

[OTR1]

Navy has six MRHs, Army the remaining 41.

Navy only uses them for Vertrep, Pedro, admiral's taxi, et al, and they're fine for that.

As for Army, they'd quite happily use them as fuel for the biggest bonfire in Oz history.

They are not and never will be the tac battle cabs that Army needs, no matter what fixes they get over the next few years.

Spec Ops guys have successfully got the ear of the PM, and it seems that (Blackhawk) Mikes could be ordered for them, much sooner rather than later.

Please note that there is not - I say again, not - a sole satisfied customer of the NH/MRH-90, and all for the same reasons.

The French must have awesome sales and PR staff.

BTW - HMAS Canberra is now heading south, chasing cold weather and oomphy sea states south of Tasmania. Interesting flying ahead, and I hope they stowed plenty of Dramamine.  Pic attached of initial night flying trials, courtesy of Lt Cdr Paul Moggach.

 

[OTR1]

Helo on late finals during recent trials.

Bonus fun fact.....the Seahawk on deck has a nifty Star Wars stormtrooper motif, and a stuffed Yoda frequently scored a ride, overseeing pilot and self-loading luggage from a perch on the control panel.  8)

 

[CougarKing]

A belated post from earlier in July: It seems the Canberra class LHDs won't be carrying these anytime soon:

Defencetech.org

Australian Navy Cancels Order for the F-35B Joint Strike Fighter
by KRIS OSBORN on JULY 10, 2015

F35 Sea TrialsThe Australian military has decided to cancel plans to purchase F-35B Joint Strike Fighter short-take-off-and-vertical landing aircraft and place 12 of the aircraft on two of their larger assault ships, citing the challenges of needing to rework the ships to accommodate the plane, according to published reports.

“Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s proposal to put F-35 fighter jets on the Navy’s two 27,000-tonne troop transport assault ships has been quietly dropped,” writes The Australian Financial Review.

The two assault ships, which are the largest in the Australian Navy, would need a massive amount of modifications in order to host the F-35B, the report said.

(...SNIPPED)

 

[CougarKing]

How credible are the ASPI's analyses in Canberra's political/defence circles?

Diplomat

Australia Lacks Expertise to Deploy World-Class Amphibious Warfare Capability

A new study by a leading Australian think tank urges reforms

L1001025
By Franz-Stefan Gady
August 01, 2015

As the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is preparing to commission its second Canberra-class landing helicopter dock (LHD) HMAS Adelaide — at 27,800 tons, the RAN’s largest-ever ship class — by the end of 2015, a new study by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) finds critical gaps in Australia’s amphibious warfare capabilities.

“Australia’s position in the world makes the effort a strategic imperative, but the ADF still has a long way to go and many critical decisions ahead if it’s to develop an amphibious warfare capability that’s ready for future challenges,” the paper notes.

The first ship of the new class, the HMAS Canberra, was commissioned nine months ago. The ship can carry up to 1,046 troops and their equipment, around 110 vehicles and between eight to 18 helicopters that can airlift 220 soldiers at a time.

(...SNIPPED)

 

[CougarKing]

And speaking of amphibious capabilities:

Asian Defence News blog

SEPTEMBER 27, 2015
Australian Defence Forces Test Latest Amphibious Capability of HMAS Canberra

The Australian Defence Force is testing its newest amphibious capability ahead of the upcoming cyclone season. Exercise SEA RAIDER in Far North Queensland involves some 1400 troops embarked in HMAS Canberra with medium lift helicopters, landing craft and small boats, trucks, troop carriers and other vehicles.

Conducted by the Brisbane based Deployable Joint Force Headquarters, under command of Major General Stuart Smith, Exercise SEA RAIDER is supported by HMAS Stuart, Air Force assets and Commando forces as well as other Government agencies.


The ADF works closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade as the lead agency for Australian Government responses to overseas emergencies. MAJGEN Smith said inter-agency exercises were designed to help the ADF and DFAT work together efficiently and cooperatively in a crisis.“This amphibious force has been tested in scenarios that reflect tasks the Australian Government may direct in response to local and regional emergencies,” he said.
Commander of the Amphibious Task Force, Captain Jay Bannister RAN, stressed the importance of Exercise SEA RAIDER.

(...SNIPPED)

 

[CougarKing]

The RAN's 2nd LHD HMAS Adelaide is about to be commissioned today!

News.Navy.gov.Au

NUSHIP Adelaide prepares for commissioning

Published on 02 December 2015 Ms Natalie Staples (author), LSIS Peter Thompson (photographer)

Location(s): Sydney

Dress rehearsals have started for the commissioning of NUSHIP Adelaide this Friday, as the second Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) prepares to enter service with the Royal Australian Navy.

The 400 crew members of the Amphibious Assault Ship are readying themselves for the historic occasion.

Leading Seaman Electronics Technician Hamish Donaldson, whose primary role involves looking after Adelaide’s radars and navigation equipment, will be part of the guard and says he is looking forward to commissioning the ship.

“It’s a pretty big honour, I was part of HMAS Betano’s decommissioning crew, but this is the first one I’ve commissioned. It’ll be good to get up there,” Leading Seaman Donaldson said.

“Moving from a Landing Craft Heavy (LCH) to a LHD has been pretty interesting. The smaller ships are a little less formal than the majors, but I’m part of a great department. The whole crew is pretty amazing so I’m really happy.”

(...SNIPPED)

 

[CougarKing]

And the RAN's 2nd LHD enters service!

news.Navy.gov.au

HMAS Adelaide enters service

Published on 04 December 2015 Ms Natalie Staples (author), LSIS Nina Fogliani (photographer)

Location(s): Fleet Base East

Members of the ship's company of HMAS Adelaide raise the Australian White Ensign up the ship's mast for the first time, during the Landing Helicopter Dock's Commisioning ceremony.
HMAS Adelaide, the second of two Landing Helicopter Docks (LHDs) built for the Royal Australian Navy, was commissioned into the Fleet today, alongside Garden Island, Sydney.

The Governor-General, His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove, together with the Minister for Defence, Senator the Honourable Marise Payne, and Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Tim Barrett, attended the traditional ceremony held on Adelaide's aircraft hangar deck.

Around 1,000 guests made up of family, industry and government representatives from Australia and Spain watched the proud Commissioning crew of Navy, Army and Air Force members march onboard and saw the Australian White Ensign being raised for the first time, signifying Adelaide's entry into naval service.

 

[OTR1]

Motion picture of the festivities, avec Oz's new and generously girthed defence minister.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6w1y1GdSx_I

She departed Sydney a few days after the commissioning, doing shakedown stuff, and whatnot.

 

[CougarKing]

Australia sends an LHD to help in Fiji's typhoon relief efforts:

AustralianDefence.com.au

Operation Fiji Assist widens - LHD deployed 24 Feb 2016

"In the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Winston which struck the islands of Fiji last weekend Australia has contributed significant Defence assets and personnel to Operation Fiji Assist, with the Minister for Defence confirming that the LHD HMAS Canberra would be despatched to arrive in the disaster zone by March 1....

..."Yesterday the Government of Fiji requested the deployment of HMAS Canberra to assist in the relief operation and the ADF is undertaking some 'quite detailed preparations' to deploy [the ship] and she is anticipated to arrive on or around 1 March – it is worthy to note that there is a cyclone of varying [strength] between us and Fiji still, so that is a detailed process.

"This will be the first deployment of HMAS Canberra in a humanitarian and disaster relief (HADR) operation overseas. Secondly, a P-3C Orion surveillance aircraft has also been tasked to assist in the damage assessment - I also refer to the work of the NZDF and one of their Orions earlier in the week," Minister Payne said in response to questions in the Senate. 

 

[CougarKing]

Chinooks on LHDs:

Navy Recognition

Royal Australian Navy LHD HMAS Canberra in Deck and Handling Trials with Chinook Helicopters

Amphibious ship, HMAS Canberra has conducted deck and handling trials with two Chinook helicopters alongside in Sydney recently. The aircraft, from the 5th Aviation Regiment, based in Townsville will go on to conduct first of class flight trials with Canberra's sister ship, HMAS Adelaide.

(...SNIPPED)

 

[CougarKing]

Australia's 2nd LHD working up:

Naval Techology

Australian Navy’s HMAS Adelaide participates in tri-service exercise Sea Explorer

The Royal Australian Navy's (RAN) second Canberra-class landing helicopter dock (LHD) ship HMAS Adelaide has participated in the tri-service exercise, Sea Explorer, off the North Queensland coast. An additional 800 personnel besides its crew, including Townsville-based 2nd Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment and Royal Australian Air Force elements were embarked on the ship.

Amphibious Task Group commander captain Brett Sonter said Adelaide undertook several concurrent activities as part of Sea Explorer. Sonter said: "As part of the exercise, the ship is being assessed against operational capability requirements."

 

[OTR1]

Playtime with a USMC Osprey at Rimpac.

https://youtu.be/ZvBdVofqA2c

First non-Oz crossdecker was an RNZN Sea Sprite, about three weeks ago.

 

[CougarKing]

USN LCACs dock with HMAS Canberra:

Navy Daily (RAN Official Newsfeed)

US Navy LCAC docks successfully with HMAS Canberra


HMAS Canberra has successfully received a United States Navy Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC) within its internal well dock, marking a world-first for the class of ship.

The docking is the first for Spanish designed Navantia Juan Carlos I-class multi-purpose amphibious ships and the Royal Australian Navy.

The US Navy LCAC is a high speed, "over the beach" fully amphibious landing craft (or hovercraft) capable of carrying up to 75 tonnes of cargo at speeds of over 40 knots.

It is used to transport United States Marine Corps personnel and equipment from ship to shore and across the beach in either amphibious assault or humanitarian and disaster relief operations.

(...SNIPPED)