CORRR! Look what's now parked in the driveway at Garden Island - HMAS Canberra

[mental4astro]

Look at what I found down at Garden Island today - HMAS Canberra!

Finally it's home.

And it is HUGE! You'll see HMAS Success docked bow to bow with the Canberra to give you a sense of scale. Success is one big tinny too.

Couldn't see any choppers, but you'll notice the waterline is close to totally obscured - Canberra must be close to full to the brim with fuel and gear.

Only thing I couldn't get to photograph is the enormous stern gate that opens to the sea that allows amphibious craft to be deployed from its stern. This is one of the most amazing and beautiful ships I've seen. At first it looked a bit awkward, but now its grown on me. I went onto the old HMAS Melbourne aircraft carrier when I was a boy. Canberra must dwarf it.

[Kunama]

She sure is a biggie, 230m (100 metres longer that the DDG class HMAS Brisbane !!!! )

[sn1987a]

Ahhh Success ... my first Wessex helicopter crash on Success and then another one.... 25 years ago, good times:D

[GeoffW1]

Wow,

That deserved a bit of Googleing for sure. Turns out it is the biggest ship the RAN will have ever had, longer than the old Melbourne. It certainly looks bulkier.

I wonder if a bit more fanfare and hoopla would have been in order for its arrival in Sydney? Maybe that was because it is not yet a commissioned ship of the line.

And there is a second one of the class on the way, the Adelaide! I'd have named them the HMAS Whitlam and the HMAS Keating.

Cheers

[speach]

My son worked on the fit out, in Williamtown dockyard

[wasyoungonce]

As a helio carrier and supply/troop carrier ship...I still do not get why it has a jump ship bow?

Am I missing something here?:shrug: Well don't answer that :D

Still looks impressive and can carry a major force projection.

[PeterEde]

Noticed the ski ramp on the bow Brendan. We don't have an airwing in the navy. Yet ;)
When the F35 arrives and has been proven successful we'll have a fleet of F35Bs.

But watch this space.

[AndrewJ]

Gday Brendan
The hull was made overseas, and to an existing design
Maybe it was going to cost too much to remove the ramp. :-)
Hang on, thats sensible!!!!!!!,cant be the reason then.

Andrew

[PeterEde]

Whitlam and Keating. Hoping their not failures

[julianh72]

It's an existing Spanish design, and it was going to cost a gazillion dollars to get the STVOL ski-jump taken off, so we kept it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMAS_Canberra_(LHD_02)

[mental4astro]

At last year's Navy open day, there was much talk about the Canberra. I asked about that ski-jump ramp - I was told if the Navy did end up with VTOL aircraft, the Canberra is set up ready for them. The Canberra was commissioned to be built this way. A bit of lost deck space though, for until when-ever... :rolleyes:

I just love that long overhanging bow wedge... beautiful... :love: Curious how the Success in front of it looks positively Dreadnaught by comparison, :lol:

[mental4astro]

Oh, anyone notice the three enormous doors just above the waterline on the starboard side? This is one extraordinary ship. I've never seen a vessel that pretty much opens all itself up.

[Exfso]

A bit of info from Wiki:

The Canberra class vessels are 230.82 metres (757.3 ft) long overall (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Length_overall), with a maximum beam (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beam_(ship)) of 32 metres (105 ft), and a maximum draught of 7.08 metres (23.2 ft).[5] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMAS_Canberra_(LHD_02)#cite_note-RANlhd-5) At full load, Canberra will displace (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Displacement_(ship)) 27,500 tonnes (27,100 long tons; 30,300 short tons), making her the largest vessel to serve in the RAN.[5] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMAS_Canberra_(LHD_02)#cite_note-RANlhd-5) Propulsion is provided by two Siemens 11-megawatt (15,000 hp) azimuth thrusters (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azimuth_thruster), each with an onboard electric motor, driving two 4.5-metre (15 ft) diameter propellers.[5] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMAS_Canberra_(LHD_02)#cite_note-RANlhd-5)[6] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMAS_Canberra_(LHD_02)#cite_note-Semaphore2-6) The electricity is provided by a Combined diesel and gas (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combined_diesel_and_gas) system, with a single General Electric LM2500 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Electric_LM2500) turbine producing 19,160 kilowatts (25,690 hp), supported by two MAN 16V32/40 diesel generators providing 7,448 kilowatts (9,988 hp).[5] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMAS_Canberra_(LHD_02)#cite_note-RANlhd-5) Maximum speed is over 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph), with a maximum sustainable full-load speed of 19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph), and an economical cruising speed of 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph).[5] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMAS_Canberra_(LHD_02)#cite_note-RANlhd-5) Economical range is 9,000 nautical miles (17,000 km; 10,000 mi).[ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMAS_Canberra_(LHD_02)#cite_note-RANlhd-5)

[PeterEde]

Yes there was discussion on removing the ramp. Why purchase a design with a ramp then?

Not saying we will have F35Bs in future but it's highly likely.

Navantia who built it is the same company that we bought the AWD from.

[wasyoungonce]

yes...I have a feeling the fleet air arm has been suffering way back since we decommissioned the Melbourne (and lost the purchase of the HMAS Invincible) and sold the Skyhawks to NZ then leased them back!

I suspect ...a limited number of F35b's ...lets say 5~8 wound be a good deterrent...costly no doubt. Also make it a target because of force projection ...and honestly how much max take off weight could one acft have on a deck like this...ahh found it 500ft take off MTOW (well within the deck length).

Sounds like a plan;)

[PeterEde]

Brendan I have it on good authority the flight deck can handle the weight of F35Bs.

I'd go to 10-12 aircraft

[wasyoungonce]

Ahhh a full SQN then....!

[MrB]

Oh THAT Garden Island... Thought you meant the other one ;)

[Baddad]

Very nice ski boat. 20 knots a bit slow.:P
Wonder how much to buy one?
Aaahh on second thoughts its
better suited for military purposes.;)
Good pix thanks for sharing.:)

I've been on a few war ships as a visitor. Many smaller and some bigger but not many bigger than HMAS Canberra.:eyepop:

One ship that stands out for me was in Brisbane in the late 80's. A light aircraft carrier. Loaded with Harriers and Sea Kings. I had my three young ones along and they got to sit at the controls of the aircraft. Later we watched six Harriers return from the Expo. Small fishing boats were advised or told to clear away from the stern of the ship. One boatie was stubborn but he panicked cut his anchor rope as the first Harrier made its approach over the top of the boatie. The jet blasts were angled right over him as the Jump Jet lowered toward the stern of the Carrier.
We saw it coming and laughed. I think that boatie will listen to police directions next time.:lol:

I wouldn't mind getting a visit on the Canberra. Thanks Alexander.:)

[hobbit]

Been looking at it every day out of my window at work. Yes it can handle the F-35 but the .gov has consistently refused to use the capability.