Back in the big time: Australia's LHDs sail into view

摘要

In June 1982 the aircraft carrier HMAS Mel-bourne was decommissioned from the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) after almost 27 years' service. The ship then languished at Athol Bight in Sydney harbour for nearly three years before departing under tow in April 19 8 5 for breakers in China. For much of the period after Melbourne's demise public discussion of a new 'flat-top' was frowned upon in defence circles. While many fully accepted the desirability of fixed-wing carrier aviation, they also recognised there were difficult judgements to make on the balance of investment across both the RAN and the Australian Defence Force (ADF) as a whole.