Canberra Class Landing Helicopter Dock - Design and Capabilities

Design and Capabilities

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). 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. 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. Unlike the Spanish vessel, the Australian ships are built to meet Lloyd's Naval Rules.

Propulsion is provided by two 11-megawatt azimuth thrusters with onboard electric motors. 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. 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).

Each ship is fitted with a Saab 9LV Mark 4 combat management system. The sensor suite includes a Sea Giraffe 3D surveillance radar, and a Vampir NG infrared search and track system. 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. Defence against aircraft and larger targets is to be provided by escort vessels and air support from the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The ships' companies will consist of 358 personnel; 293 RAN, 62 Australian Army, and 3 RAAF.

The LHDs will transport 1,046 soldiers and their equipment. They are to be capable deploying a reinforced company of up to 220 soldiers at a time by airlift. As of mid-2010, 4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment was being retrained for the commando and amphibious warfare roles. Canberra and Adelaide each have a vehicle capacity of 830 lane metres (equivalent to 3,290 square metres (35,400 sq ft) of space). 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. The well deck is capable of launching and recovering landing craft in conditions up to Sea State 4. The ships will each carry four LCM-1E landing craft, with other configurations of landing craft possible.

The hangar deck is 990 square metres (10,700 sq ft) in area. 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. Although too large for the helicopter deck, helicopters as large as the Boeing CH-47 Chinook can be operated from the flight deck. Flight operations can be conducted up to Sea State 5. The ski-jump ramp of Juan Carlos I has been retained for the RAN ships. Because of this, there have been multiple recommendations that the Canberras be used for carrier-like flight operations (primarily with a flight group of F-35B Lightning II STOVL aircraft). Although cross-decking with other nations' aircraft may occur, the RAN maintains that embarking Australian-operated, fixed-wing aircraft is not under consideration.