Fleet Air Arm
Association of Australia
New Amphibious Ships
26 February 2004
| Artist's impression of a heavy amphibious ship (see story below) - picture by courtesy of Spanish company IZAR. |  |
The Government intends that the major ship construction and upgrade programs announced last November will provide a boost to the Australian ship-building industry.
The Defence Minister, Senator Hill, said on February 24 that Defence had settled in principle the capability requirements for the new amphibious support ships.
The two ships would replace replace HMAS Tobruk and one of the LPAs.
They would need to be able to embark, sustain and transport by sea an amphibious combined arms battle group together with its equipment and supplies.
The force needed to be able to train and rest while en route to operations.
The ships would need the capability to carry and tactically deploy several hundred vehicles, including armour, plus trailors.
They would also need the ability to airlift simultaneously an air mobile combat team from 12 helicopter launch spots between the two ships.
They would each have hangar space for at least 12 helicopters and at least four conventional landing craft that were capable of carrying Australia's new tanks.
The ships must also be capable of providing the necessary command, control and communications to direct the battle group’s amphibious landing and follow-on forces.
Given the prospect of Australian and US forces continuing to work closely in the future, the ships would need to be inter-operable with these partners.
Defence has issued a request for information to two international ship builders – the Spanish company IZAR and the French conglomerate Armaris – concerning their respective new LHD designs.
While the Australian ship would be based on an overseas design, the translation of that design into a ship tailored to suit Australia’s environment is expected to require a good deal of local knowledge and experience.
Many of the ship’s system components would be derived from local industries to ensure whole-of-life support for this capability.
Four Australian ship building companies - ADI, Tenix, ASC and Forgacs have been asked to assist the Government with its design evaluation.
.
See:
Earlier Report