HMAS Adelaide during Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2018, the second iteration of the exercise and part of ongoing efforts to re-affirm Australia’s positive relationships with other militaries through joint practical activities. HMAS Adelaide, a Canberra-Class Landing Helicopter Dock, is the centrepiece of the task group, able to project embarked personnel, vehicles and aircraft ashore in support of joint exercises. HMAS Adelaide is joined in the Joint Task Group by HMA Ships Melbourne, Success and Toowoomba.
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By John Blaxland*
The notion that the Royal Australian Navy’s two new Landing Helicopter Dock ships (LHDs), HMAS Canberra andAdelaide, presented a capability which would be a game changer in the Pacific has been around for several years.[i]In the short time since being commissioned, they have lived up to expectation. This article explores what purpose they serve, the risks they face and the opportunities they present.
There is wide recognition that when Australia felt compelled to intervene in the East Timor crisis in 1999 it was poorly served with amphibious capabilities which would enable the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to project force offshore, let alone to some of the more remote parts of its own shores. The subsequent decision to purchase two LHDs generated controversy, as Australia had abandoned the idea of flat top ships (aircraft carriers) with the decision in 1983 not to replace the decommissioned HMAS Melbourne.
