Landing new watercraft
Delivery of six ships on track

HEAVY DUTY: One of the six new amphibious ships, due for delivery in April 05. The six new crafts will replace the LCM8s carried by HMA Ships Manoora and Kanimbla.

By Graham Davis

The first of six new watercraft for use on the RAN’s amphibious ships, is expected to be delivered to Defence next month (April).

The remaining five should be delivered by October.

ADI Limited won the $32m contract to supply the craft. They were built, or are being built, at ADI’s Newcastle facility.

The aluminium landing craft will replace the LCM8s carried by HMAShips Manoora and Kanimbla.


The 70 tonne capacity cranes fitted to the ships are ample to lift the new vessels over the side and into the water. They will be operated by soldiers who make up the ship’s companies.

The new craft are an advancement on the LCM8s in that they can be loaded and unloaded more quickly. This is because they have ramps at both bow and stern allowing for drive-through capability.

Reversing of vehicles will no longer be required.

The first of the craft was put to the test late last year. The trials took place in Newcastle Harbour as well as offshore.

They were conducted with soldiers on board and saw the craft function as it would in a full scale operation.

Exercises included the watercraft being lifted on to and off HMAS Kanimbla and carrying out wharf and beach landings.

Heavy equipment including a 47 tonne Army bulldozer was used.’

Designed by ADI engineers, the watercraft have been designed to improve the time it takes the Navy’s amphibious ships to unload a battalion size group of soldiers, equipment and stores.

“We certainly proved these new craft will substantially enhance the Navy’s capability in this regard,” Roy Kendall, ADI’s test and trials manager for the project, said.

“Trials in the harbour and offshore, plus landing on beaches, amply demonstrated the watercraft is up to the task,” he said.

Most of the time saving achieved in the unloading process comes from the bow and stern ramps which provide a two lane drive-through capability for efficient vehicle deployment.

Other features include construction to full Classification Society standards, a very light vessel weight for its capability, outstanding water jet propulsion manoeuvrability and a cargo capacity of 65 tonnes.

ADI said armour protection has been enhanced and mountings installed for two 50 calibre machine guns.

Three watercraft have been launched and are under trials and the remaining three are under construction in Newcastle.

All six will be delivered by the mid- October 2005 contract date, ADI said.

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