Vessels for Army’s MOLE
European shipbuilders offer LHDs

Models of the Landing Helicopter Dock ships the ADF is considering to replace HMAS Tobruk next year. Photo by Maj John Liston, HQTC-A

By Maj John Liston

NEW amphibious vessels to support future ADF operations will be selected in the first half of next year to replace HMAS Tobruk and an LPA.

Prior to that decision, two major European shipbuilding groups will participate in a funded risk reduction and design study, the Defence Minister Robert Hill announced August 9.

The two shipbuilding companies offer LHD (landing helicopter dock) designs, which will provide the ADF with the capabilities it needs to defend Australia’s vulnerable northern coastline and contribute to the security of our immediate neighbourhood.

Amaris is building two Mistral class ships for the French Navy while IZAR has designed a strategic protection ship for the Spanish Navy.
Although both vessel-types are only 20-50 metres longer than the Kanimbla class LPAs and have similar crew sizes, they will provide the ADF with far more capability.

Each will be able to launch simultaneously six utility helicopters from their helo deck and disgorge landing craft from a stern well-dock.

The ADF’s requirement is for two LHD-type vessels. Such capabilities are vital for the Army’s MOLE (manoeuvre operations in the littoral environment) concept, which is a key part of the Future Land Operational Concept, which is guiding land warfare capability development.
The littoral are complex war fighting regions that can come under the influence of seaborne or land-based forces and include territory in excess of 100 kilometres inwards from the sea.

With its combination of population and commerce, littoral regions are likely battlegrounds for future conflict and therefore become a driver in the development of the land force combat capabilities.

“The study will assist Defence to further assess the suitability of the companies’ amphibious ship designs for the ADF’s capability requirements,” Senator Hill said.

Consistent with the Army’s requirement to fight in balanced combined arms teams, the vessels will be large enough to embark and deploy a combined arms battlegroup without requiring port facilities and sustain it without the need to base vulnerable helicopter and logistical assets ashore.

These versatile vessels will also provide the ADF with significant crisis response options including regional disaster relief, delivering humanitarian aid, support for peace operations, and assistance to policing or military operations.