Remembering that
"Amateurs talk about tactics, but professionals study logistics."
(attributed to Gen. Robert H. Barrow, USMC (Commandant of the Marine Corps) noted in 1980 at
https://www.military-quotes.com/forum/logistics-quotes-t511.html)...
I found
https://www.thinkdefence.co.uk/ship-to-shore-logistics/uk-amphibious-doctrine/ very useful to understand what is actually required to come over the beach in order to rebuild a port facility. It equally applies to post opposed landings and unopposed or HR/DA ops.
I used to be of the opinion that some form of 2nd tier LHA should be what we should aspire to, my preference being Canberra but including Mistral, but as of late I've changed more to Chris' line of thought. Which doesn't change the fact we should have snapped up the Russian Mistrals when we had the chance...
My proposal starts with what Atlantic Conveyor was transformed into to support air ops before she was dispatched by the Argentinians, but closer to what Contender Bezant was possibly:
Atlantic Conveyor as converted to air ops
Contender Bezant; notice the container cranes.
https://www.thinkdefence.co.uk/2012/04/the-atlantic-conveyor-falklands30/
It also includes the concept of a stern ramp onto lighterage; ie no well deck:
Maritime Prepositioning Force (Enhanced) ship USNS Gunnery Sgt. Fred W. Stockham's stern ramp is resting on lighter platforms, forming a roll-on/roll-off discharge facility to unload Navy vehicles. Rebecca Rogers photo
https://www.msc.navy.mil/sealift/2003/April/prepositioned.htm
Finally, it includes the concept of how Federal Fleet Service has obtained and operates the Asterix; ie civilian crew and master with a military detachment (including a lot of loggies).
Obtain two Ro-Ros with stern ramps (big ones!). Converted the container deck to a flat landing pad, but still with the capability to put containers on top. Include an elevator to get down to the top vehicle deck so you can store helos down there, and maybe even use it as a hanger for maintenance. Include one travelling crane which move along tracks at the port and starboard side of said deck, and includes fold down wings to extend over the side. Build in modular spaces for operations, berthing for an embarked force, and hospital.
Normal loadout would be modular space, hangar, and vehicles and equipment below, one spot flight deck, say two spots unusable as they have embarked lighterage, and the rest containers.
When you have to go over the beach, some of the lighterage is used as a stern "jetty," and the rest is used as the ship to shore connector. As soon as you put the lighterage over the side you free up helo spots for more intense operations. Containers can be hoisted over the side onto lighterage.
When in protected waters but no shore facilities are (yet) available, you can bring STUFT (ships taken up from trade) Ro-Ros along side and they can use your lighterage to put down their ramp and unload, and your crane to pick containers of, stage them, and then over the side onto lighterage.
When you obtain jetty space but not yet have the infrastructure up to move containers use shore cranes you can put them over the side yourself, and you can bring another container ship alongside you and move theirs.
When container cranes are available you load and unload just like a normal Ro-Ro.
Finally, if you want to go air heavy, get rid of the lighterage before deploying, carry no containers topside and all your air stores, hangars, and accommodation below, and have 4-5 spots topside. Park the crane out of the way back by the bridge.
For completeness, *possible* include two RAS spots , one each side immediately forward of the bridge. Or may the crane could be used to erect RAS gear; an expert on RAS would have to weigh in.
To me, one of these on each coast would give us a very flexible asset we could bring to any littoral ops, and then we wouldn't just show up. We'd have a credible asset to bring to the mix.
