HMAS Canberra (L02)

2014 MODERN NAVY

• 1 HMAS Canberra (L02) History
• 2 HMAS Canberra (L02) Specification
  • 2.1 Basic
  • 2.2 Roles
  • 2.3 Dimensions
  • 2.4 Weight
  • 2.5 Performance
  • 2.6 Performance
  • 2.7 Armor
  • 2.8 Wing

HMAS Canberra (L02) History

In the mid-2000s, the Australian government opted for a Spanish-based Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) vessel design rather than a competing French vessel design. The Spanish product is identical to their Juan Carlos I LHD, which entered service in 2010 under flag number L61, while the French template follows the form and function of their Mistral-class amphibious assault ship.

Regardless, Australians have been looking for a vessel that can effectively and efficiently support any planned amphibious assault operations - and that means bringing people, machinery and supplies to the beach. The move to strengthen the Australian Navy's offshore capabilities also coincides with China's growing role in the Pacific.

The Juan Carlos I design was adopted by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) as the Canberra class, with major changes including an overhaul of the island layout and other components to better meet the requirements of the Australian Navy. The hull was built by Navantia in Spain, while Tenix Defense was responsible for the Australian contract.

On September 23, 2009, the keel was placed, and in 2012, it was transferred to the Australian site to complete the project. Since the acquisition of Tenix in 2008, BAe Systems Australi has been responsible for the final phase of construction.

As the capital ship of the Canberra class, the ship was named HMAS Canberra, and the flag was L02. A subsequent vessel named HMAS Adelaide will be followed by flag L01 in 2016, and despite a different numbering order, HMAS Canberra is still the leading vessel in its class.

The two were initially known as LHD02 (Adelaide) and LHD01 (Canberra) respectively during construction.

HMAS Canberra was officially launched on 17 February 2011 and officially commissioned on 28 November 2014. Her motto is "For Queen and Country" and has inherited about five combat honors from previous ships to bear the Canberra name - HMS Canberra (D-33) (a WWII veteran lost in 1942) and USS Canberra (FFG-02) (Cold Warship, War Missile Frigate). The homeport of the new HMAS Canberra is at the East Fleet base near Port Jackson in Sydney, Australia.

The ship is named after the country's capital.

Canberra is very different from the flat-deck aircraft carriers deployed in the United States, and their characteristics are more similar to helicopter carriers/amphibious assault ships from Europe, Japan and the United States Marine Corps (USMC). In the case of surface combatants, the role of LHDs is multi-purpose - they carry a fleet of aircraft (helicopters in this case), along with full-service hangars, large cargo bays for military vehicles, hundreds of soldiers and more to equip the landing craft - the latter had to bring the land parts to shore.

Additionally, onboard facilities (medical, dental, convalescent) allow the LHD to play a humanitarian role when needed.

HMAS Canberra's hangars are equipped to carry up to 18 combat helicopters, although a typical deployment involves around 8 rotorcraft. The cargo compartment can accommodate up to 110 light and heavy armoured vehicles and up to 1,046 combat-ready troops.

Four large mechanized landing craft (called LLCs) were carried on board to help wade the elements from the ship to shore. The typical combat force in Canberra consists of 358 personnel, comprising 293 Royal Australian Navy (RAN) personnel, 62 Army personnel and 3 Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) personnel.

The Canberra was designed from the outset as a conventionally powered vessel, which meant a conventional turbine configuration (rather than a nuclear reactor) was chosen to power the vessel. The propulsion machinery consists of a General Electric LM2500 series gas turbine connected to two MAN 16V32/40 series diesel generators in a combined diesel and natural gas (CODAG) arrangement.

CODAG allows operators to cruise on diesel power and rely on gas turbines for high-speed, short-term cruisinga more economical measure than traditional reliance on one power source over another. The HMS Canberra is also equipped with 2 Siemens azimuth thrusters to fine-tune maneuvers.

The propulsion system gives Canberra a top speed of over 20 knots in ideal conditions, and when going at 15 knots, her range is quoted as 10,000 miles.

Structurally, the HMS Canberra has the same deck layout as the Spanish Navy's Juan Carlos I, with a "jump ramp" in the bow, launch facilities in the stern, landing/launch deck area on the port side and island superstructure on the starboard side. Jumping platform Skiing helps get planes up to make up for the shorter runway area. Designed to operate with a support vessel, the ship is equipped with 4 x 25mm Raphael Typhoon Long Range Weapon Systems (RWS) and 6 x 12.7mm Heavy Machine Guns (HMG) for self-defense. Typhoon is an Israeli development that debuted in 1997. The ship is also equipped with a full suite of sensors and processing systems to enhance situational awareness and battlefield survivability, including AMB "Giraffe" radar, Saab 9LV combat system, AN/SLQ-25 "Nixie". "Towed torpedo decoys and Nurka missile decoys.

State-of-the-art equipment for bridge control and flight operations, including optimized color-coded displays and flat screens.

With a length of 757 feet, a beam of 105 feet and a draft of 23 feet, the HMAS Canberra is the largest ship ever commissioned by the Royal Australian Navy. As a new entry in RAN history, its services are yet to be written, and this article will be updated accordingly.

HMAS Canberra (L02) Specification

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Weight

Performance

Performance

Armor

Wing