06-09-2022, 02:37 AM
Sadly, there is another example of poor defence procurement.
Australia has two Canberra Class Amphibious Assault Ships, also known as Landing Helicopter Docks (LHDs). On paper, the two LHDs provide the ADF with one of the most capable and sophisticated air-land-sea amphibious deployment systems in the world. The 27,000 tonne LHDs are the largest ships in the RAN and are able to land a force of over 1,000 personnel by helicopter and water craft, along with all their weapons, ammunition, vehicles and stores.
The first issue with our LHDs is that, although they are capable of embarking Short Take Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) aircraft, they are only equipped with rotary wing aircraft. This means that any opposed landing would have to be carried out without air cover. Our LHDs were designed in Spain and Spain is currently the only other operator of this class of ship. Spain's Amphibious Assault Ship, Jaun Carlos, is equipped with the AV-8B Harrier II attack aircraft and/or the F-35B Lightning II fighter aircraft making it a far more potent defence asset.
The second issue came to light when HMAS Adelaide lost power while on a humanitarian mission to Tonga. The Canberra class vessels have azimuth propulsion pod systems that are more commonly used on passenger vessels. It seems that the seawater cooling system became blocked by volcanic ash and the diesel generators overheated and shut down. That doesn't bode well for operations in a hostile environment.
Australia has two Canberra Class Amphibious Assault Ships, also known as Landing Helicopter Docks (LHDs). On paper, the two LHDs provide the ADF with one of the most capable and sophisticated air-land-sea amphibious deployment systems in the world. The 27,000 tonne LHDs are the largest ships in the RAN and are able to land a force of over 1,000 personnel by helicopter and water craft, along with all their weapons, ammunition, vehicles and stores.
The first issue with our LHDs is that, although they are capable of embarking Short Take Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) aircraft, they are only equipped with rotary wing aircraft. This means that any opposed landing would have to be carried out without air cover. Our LHDs were designed in Spain and Spain is currently the only other operator of this class of ship. Spain's Amphibious Assault Ship, Jaun Carlos, is equipped with the AV-8B Harrier II attack aircraft and/or the F-35B Lightning II fighter aircraft making it a far more potent defence asset.
The second issue came to light when HMAS Adelaide lost power while on a humanitarian mission to Tonga. The Canberra class vessels have azimuth propulsion pod systems that are more commonly used on passenger vessels. It seems that the seawater cooling system became blocked by volcanic ash and the diesel generators overheated and shut down. That doesn't bode well for operations in a hostile environment.
“Why don’t you knock it off with them negative waves? Why don’t you dig how beautiful it is out here? Why don’t you say something righteous and hopeful for a change?” Oddball