Canberra Class Landing Helicopter Docks (LHDs), Australia*

The Canberra Class Landing Helicopter Docks (LHDs) will be the largest vessels ever constructed for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Navantia and BAE Systems Australia are constructing two 27,800t ships of the class under the Joint Project 2048 Phase 4A/4B.

BAE Systems Australia is the prime contractor for the $3bn project, while Navantia is responsible for the design and construction of the ships.

The two Canberra class LHDs, HMAS Canberra and HMAS Adelaide, are scheduled to be commissioned in January 2014 and June 2015 respectively. The ships will replace one of the Kanimbla Class landing platform amphibious ships and the Tobruk Landing Ship Heavy (LSH) vessel.

The Canberra Class LHD can transport over 1,100 troops, 100 armoured vehicles and 12 rotary wing aircraft.

Design features of the Canberra Class LHD

"The Canberra Class LHD can transport over 1,100 troops, 100 armoured vehicles and 12 rotary wing aircraft."

The Canberra class ships incorporate a conventional steel mono hull with the superstructure placed on the starboard side of the flight deck. The shallowest possible draft allows the LHD to operate in shallow waters that are common in the littoral regions.

The ship will comprise four main decks including Well Deck and Heavy Vehicle Deck, Main Accommodation Deck, Hangar and Light Vehicle Deck, and Flight Deck. The ramp at the stern of the ship provides access to the well dock. The heavy vehicle/cargo deck is accessed through two lateral ramp doors on the starboard side. A fixed ramp on the port side allows the vehicles to move between the heavy and light vehicle decks.

The well deck normally accommodates four LCM 1E amphibious landing craft. Four additional rigid hulled inflatable boats (RHIBs) can be carried during emergency situations. The well deck is also capable of housing landing craft utilities (LCUs), amphibious vehicles and landing craft air cushions (LCACs).

The LHD will have an overall length of 230.8m, moulded beam of 32m and a draft of 7.08m. The full load displacement will be 27,500t. The ship can complement a crew of 400 including the watercraft and flight deck crews. It will be jointly operated by crew from Navy, Army and the Air Force.

Construction of the LHDs for Royal Australian Navy

The Canberra class ships are being built using a modular construction approach. Each module is built and fitted out as a separate unit, before being assembled to form the complete ship. The process accelerates the construction as the modules are built at different sites across the shipyard before being brought together for final outfitting.

The construction of the body from the hull up to the flight deck is being carried out at Navantia's Ferrol-Fene shipyard in Spain. The hull will be transported to Williamstown dockyard in Australia for the installation of the island structure.

The construction of the first ship, HMAS Canberra, began in late 2008. Her keel was laid in September 2009 and the ship was launched in February 2011. The first steel was cut for the second ship, HMAS Adelaide, in February 2010. HMS Adelaide was launched in July 2012.

Canberra Class flight deck

The flight deck will be 202.3m long and 32m wide. It will allow the operation of the rotary wing aircraft of Australian Defence Forces (ADF), such as NRH-90, CH-47 Chinook, Blackhawk, Seahawk, ARH, and Future Navy Aviation Combat System. The deck will be provided with six spots on the port side to support the simultaneous operations of medium-sized helicopters. The flight deck will also allow the takeoff and landing of four CH-47 Chinooks simultaneously.

The aircraft elevator at the aft of the flight deck can carry large sized rotorcraft such as the CH 47. The medium-sized helicopters can be accommodated by the elevator at the forward of the island on the starboard side.

The hangar facility and the light vehicle deck will be co-located between the flight deck and the accommodation deck. It can accommodate up to eight medium sized helicopters. The storage capacity will expand up to 18 medium-sized helicopters when the light vehicle deck is also used.

Combat management and weapon systems of the Canberra class

The Canberra Class LHDs will be equipped with a Saab 9LV combat management system (CMS). The system performs threat evaluation, engagement planning and weapon-assignment missions. Elbit Systems was awarded a contract in October 2012 for supplying Battle Management Systems (BMS) to be integrated into landing craft aboard the LHDs.

Each Canberra class ship will be armed with four 20mm automated guns, six 12.7mm machine guns, anti-torpedo towed defence system, and Nulka active missile decoy system.

Sensors/radars of the landing helicopter docks

The sensor suite will consist of a Sea Giraffe 3D air search radar, helicopter control and surface radar, and navigation radar. Other systems include Sagem Infrared Search and Track (IRST) System, and Rafael Gun and Electro-Optical Sight (EOS) system.

Propulsion for the Canberra class LHDs

"The ship can accommodate up to 1,400 personnel including 400 ship's company and 1,000 embarked troops."

The Canberra Class LHD will be powered by a combined diesel and gas turbine (CODAG) propulsion system integrating LM 2500 gas turbine and two MAN 16V32/40 diesel generators. The ship will also be equipped with two Siemens azimuth thrusters and two bow thrusters.

The shipboard power will be supplied by a Progener-Mitsubishi S16MPTA 1,350kW emergency diesel generator. The propulsion system will provide a maximum speed of 20kt and a range of 6,000nm.

Accommodation onboard the Canberra class vessels

The ship can accommodate up to 1,400 personnel including 400 ship's company and 1,000 embarked troops.

The crew accommodation facilities will be located in the main accommodation deck, which will include crew cabins, messing, medical rooms, galley, office spaces and recreation facilities.

Article publicat a Naval Technology. La nova classe Canberra és tot un exemple de construcció parcial ( buc per Navantia i sistemes per BAE Australia, etc...), per prendre'n nota per les futures Forces Navals de Catalunya.

Russian Navy Med Sea Group to Split After Drills*

A combined-fleet group of Russian Navy ships in the Mediterranean Seawill split into two groups following completion of its duties, Russia's Defense Ministry said on Friday.

"On August 17, the combined fleet group of the Russian Navy, having successfully completed a range of duties in the central region of the Mediterranean, will arrive in the Alboran region of the sea [its most western part] where it plans to re-store," a Navy spokesman said.

The group consists of the large amphibious landing ships Alexander Ostrovsky, Georgy Pobedonosets, and Kondopoga, and also the Baltic Fleet frigates Yaroslav Mudry and Neustrashimy.

The navy said the three landing ships will then leave for the Atlantic, where they will take part in more exercises. The second group of frigates will remain in the Mediterranean and undertake exercises related to prevension of illegal arms trafficking and anti-terrorism.

* Notícia publicada a RIA Novosti. Com anem veient darrerament, els exercicis navals russos s'intensifiquen. No es tracta només d'ensenyar "múscul", sinó d'una capacitació seriosa de les dotacions augmentant el temps que passen embarcades.

France commissions third Mistral-class BPC Dixmude*

The French Navy has commissioned its third Mistral-class projection and command (BPC) ship Dixmude into active service following successful completion of operational readiness process, known as mise en condition operationnelle (MECO).

As part of an economic stimulus package, the French defence procurement agency (DGA) had ordered for the Dixmude in April 2009 and the vessel was developed at the STX France shipyard in Saint-Nazaire in cooperation with DCNS.

The keel was laid in January 2010 and launched later on that year, while the ship was handed over to the navy in January 2012.

Commenting on the ship's progress Dixmude's commanding officer captain William Goutay said: "Admission to active service is the final step in a long process that allows the Dixmude to be recognised as a fully operational maritime asset."

With a displacement capacity of 21,500t, the 199m-long BPC Dixmude can cruise at a speed of 19knots and can accommodate 450 troops and 16 heavy helicopters, including options for one or more landing craft and armoured vehicles.

Designed to replace the navy's Foudre landing craft transport vessel, the Dixmude Mistral-class ship successfully completed sea trials to validate its combat capability in July 2011 and was used as a training ship for the French Navy's Jeanne d'Arc mission in 2012.

The frigate, equipped with a high-performance communications suite, 3D surveillance radar and a Senit 9 combat management system (CMS), also supports large-scale humanitarian missions.

STX France constructed the hull and installed shipboard equipment, whereas DCNS integrated and tested the combat system, including communication and navigation elements.

The French Navy received the first two Mistral-class force projection and command vessels, BPC Mistral and BPC Tonnerre, in 2006 and 2007 respectively.

The Mistral and Tonnerre replaced the L9021 Ouragan and L9022 Orage, which were built at Brest Naval Dockyard and entered service in 1965 and 1968 respectively.

* Notícia publicada a Naval Technology. La entrada en servei de la tercera unitat del tipus Mistral consolida la capacitat de projecció de força de la Marine Nationale a l'exterior, juntament amb el portaavions CdG.

Botadura del LHA 6 America

La primera unitat de la nova classe America, LHA 6, va ser botada el passat dilluns dia 4 de juny. Us en pengem aquí unes imatges.

Russia Floats Out Large Landing Ship*

The Yantar shipyard in the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad floated out on Friday a new large landing ship for the Russian Navy.

The construction of the Ivan Gren landing ship started in 2004, but has been delayed due to the lack of financing and skilled workers.

The ship's completion is expected by 2013. Plans to build three more ships of the same class are under consideration.

The $160-million vessel has a displacement of about 6,000 tons and will be able to carry up to 13 main battle tanks or 36 armored personnel carriers or 300 naval infantry troops.

Along with Mistral-class amphibious ships being built in France, Ivan Gren class ships will form the core of the Russian Navy's landing forces.

* Notícia publicada a RIA Novosti. La renovació de les unitats amfíbies russes demostra la intenció de Moscou de no perdre capacitat de projecció de força i, a ser possible, millorar-la.

All-action exercise reaches its climax with Royal Marines invading Scottish shores*

Swooping low over the Firth of Clyde a Hawk jet banks as it approaches Ailsa Craig, preparing to make another pass of HMS Blyth.

 

It’s just one action-packed episode from the largest military exercise in Europe, now approaching its climax in and off Scotland. 

Whilst much of the media attention is focused on parachute drops and amphibious landings involving the big ships – flagship HMS Bulwark and helicopter assault ship HMS Illustrious are the UK’s largest participants – the Royal Navy’s smaller vessels have been pushed to the limit by Joint Warrior. 

With survey ship HMS Enterprise leading the way, Bangor joined fellow minehunter Atherstone, Brocklesby, Grimsby and Shoreham as they set out into the Firth of Forth to clear dummy mines. 

And immediately, the small task group came under attack from a bevy of fast inshore attack craft – jet skis and rigid inflatable boats – which can cause mayhem to slow moving vessels such as the minehunters.

The Sandown and Hunt-class vessels have 30mm main guns, Enterprise a pair of 20mm cannon, and all have Miniguns and machine-guns to fend off the foe. 

However, the big guns also waded in as the minehunter’s supporting escorts – frigates HMS St Albans and Monmouth, as well as the United States’ Arleigh Burke destroyer, USS Forrest Sherman – joined in.

The training – appropriately known as a ‘swarmex’ (swarm exercise) – saw the ships operating in close proximity and at high speed to defend themselves. 

The smaller ships of the task group were protected and safely escorted through a chokepoint off the west coast of Scotland, with air defence provided by Lynx and Merlins of the Fleet Air Arm. 

However, just when the task group and escorts had run the gauntlet of the fast attack craft the fearful sound of ‘Air raid warning red’ over the broadcast systems heralded a fresh wave of trouble: Hawk jets. 

Coming under attack from the agile jet trainers off Ailsa Craig, Blyth led from the front, acting as a guide for the other ships. With HMS St Albans and her Seawolf missiles providing covering firepower, the Hawks were unable to penetrate the group’s defences. 

“After recently completing Operational Sea Training, Joint Warrior has allowed us to operate as part of a task group in a realistic and challenging scenario,” said HMS Blyth’s Commanding Officer, Lt Cdr Tim Davey. 

“This training will ensure that we are ready for our NATO deployment in June any contingent tasking that may come our way.” 

Just shy of half the 8,000 personnel involved in Joint Warrior are drawn from the Royal Navy and Royal Marines. 

Fourteen Royal Navy warships and submarines, plus one RFA amphibious support ship are involved in proceedings, which conclude tomorrow on the ranges around West Freugh in Dumfries and Galloway.

In addition to seaborne power, helicopters from three Fleet Air Arm squadrons, dives, medics, the headquarters of 3 Commando Brigade and the steel sword of 45 Commando are committed to the two-week-long war games. 

More than 400 green berets from Arbroath-based 45 Commando are taking part in the exercise, which will be their ‘final validation’ before taking over as the principal Royal Marines unit ready to deploy anywhere in the world at immediate notice. The Arbroath commandos and their kit are spread across HMS Illustrious, Bulwark and RFA Mounts Bay. 

Having carried out ‘wader’ training – where the Commando practised helicopter and landing craft insertions – 45 stepped things up with company-sized raids on ‘enemy bases’ around western Scotland, culminating in a full-scale landing today and tomorrow involving the entire unit on the beaches of West Freugh (pronounced ‘froo’) south of Stranraer, supported by Apache, Sea King and Merlin helicopters and a variety of amphibious landing craft from Bulwark and Mounts Bay. 

“This exercise validates us as the UK’s Very High Readiness Group and allows us to train with the ships, helicopters and landing craft that make up the Maritime Response Force,” said Lt Col Mike Tanner RM, Commanding Officer of 45 Commando. “It has prepared us for operational contingency deployments anywhere.” 

* Notícia publicada al web de la Royal Navy. La reacció ràpida és una de les capacitats que més ha d'afinar qualsevol força moderna. 

Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit Deploy*

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Scott Youngblood, PHIBRON 8 Public Affairs NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- More than 4,000 Sailors and Marines from the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (IWO ARG) and 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (24 MEU) departed for deployment from Norfolk and Camp Lejeune, N.C., March 27. The team got underway as part of a regularly scheduled deployment to support Maritime Security Operations, provide crisis response capability, increase theater security cooperation and provide forward naval presence in the 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operation. The IWO JIMA ARG/24 MEU is comprised of Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 8, multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), amphibious transport dock USS New York (LPD 21), and amphibious dock landing ship USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44); Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment (BLT 1/2); Aviation Combat Element, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261 (Reinforced); Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 24. In preparation for deployment, the IWO JIMA ARG/24 MEU underwent a six-month work up cycle that included successful completion of an Amphibious Squadron/Marine expeditionary unit integration (PMINT), a composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX) and a certification exercise (CERTEX). "Due to around-the-clock training and an aggressive work up schedule, we have no doubt in our minds that we are ready and capable for the missions ahead," said Commander PHIBRON 8, Capt. Mark H. Scovill. The IWO ARG/24 MEU provides the combatant commander a versatile sea-based force that can be tailored to a variety of missions, including quick reaction crisis response options in maritime, littoral and inland environments in support of U.S. policy. "We are extremely proud of the seamless integration of Sailors and Marines and their above-and-beyond performance for the certifications preparing the ship for deployment," said Commanding Officer USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), Capt. Grady T. Banister. As the ARG/MEU team sails toward the eastern horizon, the blue-green unit focuses its sights on defending our Nation and prevailing in the face of adversity with strength, determination and dignity. "My expectation for the ARG/MEU team during deployment is to work together like we trained to complete any and all missions," said Deputy Commander PHIBRON 8, Capt. Arturo M. Garcia. For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy. For more news from Amphibious Ready Group, visit www.navy.mil/local/arg8/. Notícia publicada al web de la US Navy. Desitgem sort a l'IWO JIMA i la 24 Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Antilles : exercices amphibies avec le Dumont d’Urville

Le 30 janvier 2012, le bâtiment de transport léger (BATRAL) Dumont d’Urville a pris la mer vers la Guadeloupe, Saint-Martin, Saint-Barthélémy ainsi que les îles voisines pour une série d’exercices amphibies.

L’objectif était de valider un certain nombre de plages en vue de futurs exercices ou actions de coopération amphibies.

En à peine deux semaines, le Dumont D’Urville a reconnu six plages en coopération avec les autorités locales.

Un groupe du 33e Régiment d’Infanterie de Marine (RIMa) et leurs véhicules (P4 et TRM 2000) ont accompagnés les marins dans leur mission où l’équipage a enchainé les opérations de débarquement, les mouvements de chargements et de déchargements des véhicules à un rythme soutenu.

La France est un acteur régional important, notamment de la sécurité, du fait de la présence de ses forces armées de la zone. Des missions d'entraînement, d'instruction, des escales de bâtiments ainsi que des échanges sont régulièrement menés avec les pays de la région afin d'améliorer les capacités des Etats voisins.

La coopération régionale renforce la connaissance mutuelle et l'interopérabilité de nos forces. Elle permet en cas de crise ou de catastrophe naturelle de mettre en commun les moyens militaires nécessaire pour être réactif.

Sources : EMA
Droits : Ministère de la Défense et des anciens combattants