Ship to shore: Australia's amphibious capabilities evolve

摘要

Although the amphibious history of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) dates back to the First World War, the creation of a genuine amphibious capability delivering a joint effect has evolved from developments pursued only over the past decade. Rear Admiral Jonathan Mead, Commander Australian Fleet, acknowledges that earlier assumptions of amphibiosity were unfounded. "Ignorance is bliss, and we thought we had a true amphibious effect," he told Jane's. "But what we had in the '80s, '90s, and even later, was really a superficial image of amphibious capability that could never really deliver the effect that we wanted." The turnaround for the RAN has centred on the capability provided by its two 27,500-tonne Canberra-class landing helicopter docks (LHDs), each of which can embark, transport, and deploy a force of more than 1,000 troops by helicopter and landing craft, together with their weapons, ammunition, vehicles, and stores. Fully loaded, the 230 m ships have the ability to sustain at sea for 42 days.