The Australian military's first amphibious warfare ships were the three Landing Ships Infantry (LSI): HMAS Kanimbla, HMAS Manoora, and HMAS Westralia. These three ships had been built as civilian motor vessels and were converted to armed merchant cruisers at the outbreak of war in 1939. They were converted again to LSIs in 1943 and took part in United States and Australian amphibious assaults in the South West Pacific Area.[1] The ships had a capacity of about 1,200 troops, which were landed from boats carried by the LSIs. Following the war, the three LSIs remained in service as transports until 1949 when they were returned to their owners.
The RAN borrowed six Landing Ships Tank (LSTs) from the Royal Navy between 1946 and 1955.[1] The LSTs were used as general purpose vessels and did not specialise in amphibious operations.
Australia was left without any amphibious combat ships after the LSTs were destroyed.. To rectify this situation the Army purchased four LSM-1-classLanding Ships Medium (LSMs) from the United States Navy (USN) in 1959. These ships were operated by the 32nd Small Ship Squadron, Royal Australian Engineers and supported Army exercises and operations. All four of the ships saw active service during the Vietnam War where they carried supplies between Australia and South Vietnam and between South Vietnamese ports. All four ships were decommissioned in September 1971 when the 32nd Small Ship Squadron was disbanded.[2]
Current shipsEdit
This article's factual accuracy may be compromised due to out-of-date information. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(December 2012)
HMAS Manoora in 2006LCVP landing craft operating from HMAS Tobruk
The LSMs were replaced by eight Balikpapan-class landing craft heavy which began to enter service in 1971. The first ship in the class, HMAS Balikpapan was briefly operated by the Army's Water Transport force but was later transferred to the Navy and all subsequent ships in the class were transferred to the Navy while they were under construction.[3] Two ships, HMAS Buna and HMAS Salamaua, were transferred to the Papua New Guinea Defence Force in 1974. Three of the remaining craft have or will be decommissioned in December 2012, with the remainder to leave service during 2014.[4] These ships have proven to be very successful and have supported Australian Army exercises and operations throughout South East Asia.
The Australian Defence Force's (ADF's) amphibious warfare capabilities were significantly expanded in 1982 when the landing ship heavy HMAS Tobruk was commissioned. This ship was the first amphibious vessel purpose built for the RAN and was based on the British Round Table-class landing ship logistics design. She has supported ADF operations around the world.[5]
In addition to the seagoing ships, the RAN and Army also currently operate a number of smaller amphibious craft which are carried by Tobruk and the Kanimbla-class ships. The RAN has four Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel (LCVP) which can carry a Land Rover sized vehicle or 36 personnel. The Army operates a small fleet of LCM-8 mechanised landing craft and LARC-V amphibious cargo vehicles.[7]
Future shipsEdit
HMAS Tobruk and one of the LPAs were replaced by two Canberra-class landing helicopter docks (LHDs) between 2012 and 2014. These ships are the largest warships ever operated by the Royal Australian Navy,[8] and each is able to carry an infantry battalion and up to 24 Army and Navy helicopters.[9] It is planned to replace the other LPA with a sealift ship.[10] Both LPAs were taken out of service in September 2010 due to concerns about their seaworthiness.[11] On 1 February 2011 the Minister for Defence announced that repairing Manoora would not be cost effective given that the ship was scheduled to retired at the end of 2012 and that she would instead be decommissioned. He also stated that Kanimbla would be repaired but was not expected to return to operational service until mid-2012.[12] In December 2010 a team from the RAN traveled to Britain to inspect the Bay-class landing ship dockRFA Largs Bay, which was scheduled to be placed in reserve in April 2011, and Australian Defence Minister Stephen Smith stated in January 2011 that Australia was considering purchasing the ship.[13] On 6 April 2011 Smith announced that Australia would buy Largs Bay and that the ship was expected to enter service with the RAN in 2012.[14] In May 2011 the Australian Government chartered the civilian icebreaker Aurora Australis for two months to provide an amphibious capability while Tobruk was undergoing maintenance.[15]
In December 2011 the government announced that it would purchase a commercial vessel to provide the RAN with a third ship for humanitarian and disaster relief tasks alongside Choules and Tobruk.[16] A project is also underway to replace the LCHs and the Army and Navy's small amphibious craft. These new craft will be capable of operating from the well decks in the Canberra-class ships.[17]
^"HMAS Wewak decommissioned". Department of Defence. 11 December 2012. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
^Royal Australian Navy. . Royal Australian Navy – Official Site. Commonwealth of Australia. Archived from the original on 26 July 2008. Retrieved 23 January 2008.
^White, Hugh (13 July 2004). "Our defence chiefs are thinking big – too big". Opinion. The Age. from the original on 25 December 2007. Retrieved 12 January 2008.
^Kerr, Julian (15 October 2010). "Operational tempo and neglect spell problems for ageing Australian amphibs". Jane's Navy International. Jane's Information Group.
^. Media release. Stephen Smith MP Minister for Defence. 1 February 2011. Archived from the original on 19 February 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
^Oakes, Dan (21 January 2011). "Navy eyes redundant UK vessel". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 22 January 2011.
^Stephen Smith MP Minister for Defence. . Press release. Archived from the original on 6 April 2011. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
^. Media release. The Hon. Jason Clare MP Minister for Defence Materiel. Archived from the original on 26 May 2011. Retrieved 11 May 2011.
^. Media release. Minister for Defence and Minister for Defence Materiel. Archived from the original on 27 February 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2011.
^. Defence Materiel Organisation website. Archived from the original on 23 November 2008. Retrieved 12 February 2008.
ReferencesEdit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Amphibious warfare ships of Australia.
Gillett, Ross. "Australia's Medium Landing Ships. The Galloping Green Ghosts". Australian Warship Review (9/2001): 42–46.
Gillis, Kim (2007). "Interview. Landing Helicopter Dock Project – Canberra Class". DefenceToday. 6 (3): 28–29. ISSN 1447-0446.
Pelvin, Richard; Darby, Robert (1999). (PDF). Wartime (8): 61–67. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 April 2008. Retrieved 9 January 2008.
Seapower Centre – Australia (2005). . Canberra: Royal Australian Navy. ISBN0-642-29615-4. Archived from the original on 26 September 2008.
Seapower Centre – Australia (2007). . Seapower Centre – Australia. Archived from the original on 11 January 2009.
Stevens, David, ed. (2006) [2001]. The Royal Australian Navy. A History. Melbourne: Oxford University Press. ISBN0-19-555542-2.
August 29, 2023
amphibious, warfare, ships, australia, royal, australian, navy, australian, army, have, operated, amphibious, warfare, ships, these, ships, have, been, used, transport, army, units, supplies, during, exercises, operational, deployments, australian, soldiers, d. The Royal Australian Navy and Australian Army have operated 24 amphibious warfare ships These ships have been used to transport Army units and supplies during exercises and operational deployments Australian and US soldiers disembark from HMAS Wewak during an exercise in 2001 Contents 1 World War II and Cold War ships 2 Current ships 3 Future ships 4 Notes 5 ReferencesWorld War II and Cold War ships Edit HMAS Westralia in 1944The Australian military s first amphibious warfare ships were the three Landing Ships Infantry LSI HMAS Kanimbla HMAS Manoora and HMAS Westralia These three ships had been built as civilian motor vessels and were converted to armed merchant cruisers at the outbreak of war in 1939 They were converted again to LSIs in 1943 and took part in United States and Australian amphibious assaults in the South West Pacific Area 1 The ships had a capacity of about 1 200 troops which were landed from boats carried by the LSIs Following the war the three LSIs remained in service as transports until 1949 when they were returned to their owners The RAN borrowed six Landing Ships Tank LSTs from the Royal Navy between 1946 and 1955 1 The LSTs were used as general purpose vessels and did not specialise in amphibious operations Australia was left without any amphibious combat ships after the LSTs were destroyed To rectify this situation the Army purchased four LSM 1 class Landing Ships Medium LSMs from the United States Navy USN in 1959 These ships were operated by the 32nd Small Ship Squadron Royal Australian Engineers and supported Army exercises and operations All four of the ships saw active service during the Vietnam War where they carried supplies between Australia and South Vietnam and between South Vietnamese ports All four ships were decommissioned in September 1971 when the 32nd Small Ship Squadron was disbanded 2 Current ships EditThis article s factual accuracy may be compromised due to out of date information Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information December 2012 HMAS Manoora in 2006 LCVP landing craft operating from HMAS TobrukSee also Current Royal Australian Navy ships The LSMs were replaced by eight Balikpapan class landing craft heavy which began to enter service in 1971 The first ship in the class HMAS Balikpapan was briefly operated by the Army s Water Transport force but was later transferred to the Navy and all subsequent ships in the class were transferred to the Navy while they were under construction 3 Two ships HMAS Buna and HMAS Salamaua were transferred to the Papua New Guinea Defence Force in 1974 Three of the remaining craft have or will be decommissioned in December 2012 with the remainder to leave service during 2014 4 These ships have proven to be very successful and have supported Australian Army exercises and operations throughout South East Asia The Australian Defence Force s ADF s amphibious warfare capabilities were significantly expanded in 1982 when the landing ship heavy HMAS Tobruk was commissioned This ship was the first amphibious vessel purpose built for the RAN and was based on the British Round Table class landing ship logistics design She has supported ADF operations around the world 5 The ADF s amphibious warfare capabilities were further expanded in 1994 when two Newport class tank landing ships were purchased from the USN These ships were greatly modified and finally entered service in the late 1990s as the Kanimbla class landing platform amphibious They have supported ADF operations in Afghanistan Iraq the Solomon Islands and East Timor 6 In addition to the seagoing ships the RAN and Army also currently operate a number of smaller amphibious craft which are carried by Tobruk and the Kanimbla class ships The RAN has four Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel LCVP which can carry a Land Rover sized vehicle or 36 personnel The Army operates a small fleet of LCM 8 mechanised landing craft and LARC V amphibious cargo vehicles 7 Future ships EditHMAS Tobruk and one of the LPAs were replaced by two Canberra class landing helicopter docks LHDs between 2012 and 2014 These ships are the largest warships ever operated by the Royal Australian Navy 8 and each is able to carry an infantry battalion and up to 24 Army and Navy helicopters 9 It is planned to replace the other LPA with a sealift ship 10 Both LPAs were taken out of service in September 2010 due to concerns about their seaworthiness 11 On 1 February 2011 the Minister for Defence announced that repairing Manoora would not be cost effective given that the ship was scheduled to retired at the end of 2012 and that she would instead be decommissioned He also stated that Kanimbla would be repaired but was not expected to return to operational service until mid 2012 12 In December 2010 a team from the RAN traveled to Britain to inspect the Bay class landing ship dock RFA Largs Bay which was scheduled to be placed in reserve in April 2011 and Australian Defence Minister Stephen Smith stated in January 2011 that Australia was considering purchasing the ship 13 On 6 April 2011 Smith announced that Australia would buy Largs Bay and that the ship was expected to enter service with the RAN in 2012 14 In May 2011 the Australian Government chartered the civilian icebreaker Aurora Australis for two months to provide an amphibious capability while Tobruk was undergoing maintenance 15 In December 2011 the government announced that it would purchase a commercial vessel to provide the RAN with a third ship for humanitarian and disaster relief tasks alongside Choules and Tobruk 16 A project is also underway to replace the LCHs and the Army and Navy s small amphibious craft These new craft will be capable of operating from the well decks in the Canberra class ships 17 Notes Edit a b Seapower Centre Australia 2005 Page 97 Gillet 2001 Pages 42 45 Seapower Centre Australia 2005 Page 98 HMAS Wewak decommissioned Department of Defence 11 December 2012 Retrieved 13 December 2012 Royal Australian Navy HMAS Tobruk Operational Deployments Royal Australian Navy Official Site Commonwealth of Australia Archived from the original on 26 July 2008 Retrieved 23 January 2008 Seapower Centre Australia 2007 Page 1 Seapower Centre Australia 2005 Page 104 White Hugh 13 July 2004 Our defence chiefs are thinking big too big Opinion The Age Archived from the original on 25 December 2007 Retrieved 12 January 2008 Gillis 2007 Page 28 Borgu 2004 Page 2 6 Kerr Julian 15 October 2010 Operational tempo and neglect spell problems for ageing Australian amphibs Jane s Navy International Jane s Information Group Transition plan to Landing Helicopter Dock Media release Stephen Smith MP Minister for Defence 1 February 2011 Archived from the original on 19 February 2011 Retrieved 1 February 2011 Oakes Dan 21 January 2011 Navy eyes redundant UK vessel The Sydney Morning Herald Retrieved 22 January 2011 Stephen Smith MP Minister for Defence Largs Bay acquisition Press release Archived from the original on 6 April 2011 Retrieved 7 April 2011 Amphibious Ship Update Media release The Hon Jason Clare MP Minister for Defence Materiel Archived from the original on 26 May 2011 Retrieved 11 May 2011 Additional ship to be purchased for humanitarian and disaster relief capability Media release Minister for Defence and Minister for Defence Materiel Archived from the original on 27 February 2012 Retrieved 15 December 2011 JP2048 Phase 3 Amphibious Watercraft Replacement Defence Materiel Organisation website Archived from the original on 23 November 2008 Retrieved 12 February 2008 References Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Amphibious warfare ships of Australia Borgu Aldo 2004 Capability of First Resort Australia s Future Amphibious Requirement Australian Strategic Policy Institute Archived from the original on 6 July 2011 Retrieved 17 December 2007 Gillett Ross Australia s Medium Landing Ships The Galloping Green Ghosts Australian Warship Review 9 2001 42 46 Gillis Kim 2007 Interview Landing Helicopter Dock Project Canberra Class DefenceToday 6 3 28 29 ISSN 1447 0446 Pelvin Richard Darby Robert 1999 Know your warships PDF Wartime 8 61 67 Archived from the original PDF on 10 April 2008 Retrieved 9 January 2008 Seapower Centre Australia 2005 The Navy Contribution to Australian Maritime Operations RAN Doctrine 2 2005 Canberra Royal Australian Navy ISBN 0 642 29615 4 Archived from the original on 26 September 2008 Seapower Centre Australia 2007 Amphibious Ships Seapower Centre Australia Archived from the original on 11 January 2009 Stevens David ed 2006 2001 The Royal Australian Navy A History Melbourne Oxford University Press ISBN 0 19 555542 2 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Amphibious warfare ships of Australia amp oldid 1149283308, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
