An artist's impression of Canberra and Adelaide conducting an amphibious operation |
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders: | Navantia, Ferrol, Spain and BAE Systems Australia, Victoria |
| Operators: | Royal Australian Navy |
| Preceded by: | HMAS Tobruk, Kanimbla class |
| Built: | 2009–2016 (planned) |
| In commission: | 2014 onwards |
| Building: | 2 |
| Planned: | 2 |
| Completed: | 0 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Landing Helicopter Dock |
| Displacement: | 27,851 tonnes (27,411 long tons; 30,700 short tons) maximum |
| Length: | 230.8 m (757 ft) |
| Beam: | 32.0 m (105.0 ft) |
| Draft: | 7.18 m (23.6 ft) |
| Propulsion: | 1 x GE LM 2500 (17.4 MW) Combined diesel and gas turbine (CODAG), 2 x 7.2 MW diesels, 2 x 11 MW azimuth thrusters |
| Speed: | 20.5 knots (38.0 km/h; 23.6 mph) |
| Range: | 8,000 nautical miles (15,000 km; 9,200 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) 9,250 nautical miles (17,130 km; 10,640 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) |
| Endurance: | 50 days before requiring replenishment |
| Boats and landing craft carried: |
4 x LCM-1E |
| Capacity: |
830 lane metres (3,290 m2) Heavy vehicle deck: 1,410 m2 (15,200 sq ft) |
| Troops: | 978 (+ 146 additional) |
| Complement: | 243 core (+ 36 additional) |
| Sensors and processing systems: |
Giraffe AMB radar, Saab 9LV combat system |
| Armament: | 4 x 25 mm Rafael Stabilized Deck Guns (Naval Bushmaster M242) |
| Aircraft carried: | Between 16 and 24 helicopters |
| Aviation facilities: | Flight deck with 13 degree ski-jump, 6 in-line deck landing spots and permanent deck parking space for 6 extra aircraft. |
The Canberra class is a ship class of two Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) ships being built for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Planning to upgrade the navy's amphibious fleet began in 2000, based on Australian experiences leading the International Force for East Timor peacekeeping operation. In 2004, French company Direction des Constructions Navales (DCN) and Spanish company Navantia were invited to tender proposals, with the companies offering the Mistral class amphibious assault ship and the "Buque de Proyección Estratégica" design (later commissioned as Juan Carlos I) respectively. The Spanish design was selected in 2007, with Navantia responsible for construction of the ships from the keel to the flight deck, after which the hulls will be transported to Australia for completion by BAE Systems Australia.
Construction of the first ship, HMAS Canberra, commenced in late 2008, and the hull was launched in early 2011. Work on the second vessel, HMAS Adelaide, started in early 2010. The ships are expected to enter service during 2014 and 2015, to replace one of the Kanimbla class landing platform amphibious ships and the heavy landing ship Tobruk. At over 27,851 tonnes (27,411 long tons; 30,700 short tons) displacement, they will be the largest warships ever operated by the RAN.
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Planning to replace the Kanimbla class landing platform amphibious ships Kanimbla and Manoora, and the heavy landing ship Tobruk began as early as 2000, with the intention announced in the Defence 2000: Our Future Defence Force white paper.[1] The importance of amphibious warfare had been demonstrated during Australia's leadership of the International Force for East Timor peacekeeping operation, and the difficulty in supporting an expeditionary force to one of Australia's nearest neighbours demonstrated that an improved amphibious sealift capability was needed.[2][3] In November 2003, the Minister for Defence, Robert Hill, released a Defence Capability Review, which stated that two ships of at least 20,000 tonnes (20,000 long tons; 22,000 short tons) displacement and capable of launching five to six helicopters simultaneously were being sought.[1] The acquisition was included under the procurement designation Project JP2048: although Phase 1 of JP2048 looked at a new type of landing craft for the Kanimbla class (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 landing craft to operate with the new ships (12 LCM-1E ordered 27 September 2011).[2][4] The ships were to replace one of the Kanimbla class ships and Tobruk; the other Kanimbla class ship is to be replaced by a strategic sealift ship.[2]
In January 2006, the Australian government announced the names for the planned ships: Canberra and Adelaide.[5] After the announcement, suggestions for alternate names were expressed in several venues. The Navy League of Australia proposed that Adelaide should instead be named Australia; using the name of the nation and its capital for the RAN's two most powerful ships, as had been the case with the navy's two World War II-era County class cruisers, while freeing the name up for the League's proposed fourth Hobart class destroyer.[6] Alternately, a member of the Australian Naval Institute opined that the ships should be named Gallipoli and Guadalcanal; the first reflecting the landings at Gallipoli, one of the first amphibious operations of the modern era, the second recognising the 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.[7]
| 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 | 2 LCM-8 |
A Request For Information was sent to two European shipbuilders, French company Direction des Constructions Navales (DCN) and Spanish company Navantia, in February 2004, inviting tenders.[9] American shipbuilders were not included, because amphibious warfare ships of the United States Navy were too large for Australian requirements, and were either too personnel-intensive, or could not operate the number of helicopters required.[10] 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.[11] 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.[11] 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 the end of 2008.[11] On 20 June 2007, Minister for Defence Brendan Nelson announced that A$3 billion contract to build the Canberra class was being awarded to Navantia and Tenix.[12][13] 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 Hobart class air warfare destroyers, under consideration at the same time, from the same company.[11]
The Canberra class vessels are 230.8 metres (757 ft) long overall, with a maximum beam of 32 metres (105 ft), and a maximum draught of 7.18 metres (23.6 ft).[14] At full load, each ship will displace 27,851 tonnes (27,411 long tons; 30,700 short tons), making them the largest vessels to serve in the RAN.[14][15] The Canberras have the same physical dimensions as Juan Carlos I, but differ in the design of the island superstructure and the internal layout, in order to meet Australian conditions and requirements.[3] Unlike the Spanish vessel, the Australian ships are built to meet Lloyd's Naval Rules.[3]
Propulsion is provided by two 11-megawatt azimuth thrusters with onboard electric motors.[14] The electricity is provided by a Combined diesel and gas system, with a single General Electric LM 2500 turbine (producing 17.4 megawatts) supported by two 7.2-megawatt diesels.[14] The vessels will have a maximum speed of 20.5 knots (38.0 km/h; 23.6 mph), with a range of 8,000 nautical miles (15,000 km; 9,200 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph), or 9,250 nautical miles (17,130 km; 10,640 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph).[14]
Each ship is fitted with a Saab 9LV Mark 4 combat management system.[3] The sensor suite includes a Sea Giraffe 3D surveillance radar, and a Vampir NG infrared search and track system.[3] For self-defence, the LHDs will be fitted with four RAFAEL Typhoon 25 mm remote weapons systems, one in each corner of the flight deck, for protection against asymmetric attacks.[16] Defence against aircraft and larger targets is to be provided by escort vessels and air support from the Royal Australian Air Force.[16] The ships' companies will consist of 243 core personnel, plus up to 36 additional personnel, from all three branches of the Australian Defence Force.[14][15]
The LHDs will transport 978 soldiers and their equipment, with overflow capacity for another 146.[14] They are to be capable deploying a reinforced company of up to 220 soldiers at a time by airlift.[3] As of mid-2010, 4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment was being retrained for the commando and amphibious warfare roles.[3] Canberra and Adelaide each have a vehicle capacity of 830 lane metres (equivalent to 3,290 square metres (35,400 sq ft) of space).[14] Two vehicle decks (one for light vehicles, the other for heavy vehicles and tanks) have areas of 1,889 square metres (20,330 sq ft) and 1,410 square metres (15,200 sq ft) respectively.[14] The well deck is capable of launching and recovering landing craft in conditions up to Sea State 4.[14]
The hangar deck is 990 square metres (10,700 sq ft) in area.[14] An air group of between 16 and 24 helicopters can be carried, a mix of MRH-90 transport helicopters and S-70B Seahawk anti-submarine helicopters.[17] Although too large for the helicopter deck, helicopters as large as the Boeing CH-47 Chinook can be operated from the flight deck.[3] The ski-jump ramp of Juan Carlos I has been retained for the RAN ships, but despite multiple recommendations that the Canberras could be used for carrier-like flight operations (primarily with a flight group of F-35B Lightning II STOVL aircraft), the RAN has indicated so far that the issue is not under consideration.[18][19][20]Flight operations can be conducted up to Sea State 5.[16]
Navantia is contracted to construct the hulls from 104 'blocks' or 'modules', which are fabricated individually at Navantia's facilities in Ferrol and Fene, then combined on the slipway at the Ferrol shipyard.[13][3][21] The Canberras will be built up to the flight deck, launched, then transported by heavy lift ship to Williamstown, Victoria, where the installation of the island superstructure and the internal fitout of the hull is to be completed by BAE Systems Australia (which acquired Tenix in mid-2008).[3][11]
Construction of Canberra began in September 2008, when the first steel was cut.[13] The first three blocks were laid down on 23 September 2010.[13] The hull was launched on 17 February 2011.[15][22] Delivery to Williamstown is expected by mid-2012, with the ship predicted to commission into the RAN during 2014.[3]
Work on Adelaide began during February 2010, when the first steel was cut.[3] The first hull blocks were laid down on 18 February 2011.[21] Launch is scheduled for the end of 2012, with delivery to BAE to occur during the first quarter of 2013.[21] Entry into RAN service was originally planned for mid-2015, but as of July 2011, this had been pushed back to sometime in 2016.[3][21]
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