Australian LHD pics.

nebnoswal · July 25, 2011, 04:29:13 AM

These pics are doing the rounds at work. Size comparsion of the new Australian LHD against the ANZAC FFH. Just not sure if there is enough room for the ANZAC to airborne of that flightdeck.

kitnut617 · July 25, 2011, 06:10:03 AM

What aircraft will operate off it Ben?

pyro-manic · July 25, 2011, 08:06:04 AM

Just helicopters AFAIK, though the Spanish version of the design carries Harriers and is supposed to have F-35s in the future.

Thorvic · July 25, 2011, 08:11:47 AM

Tiger, NH-90, SH-60 and possibly Chinook, basically any Rotorcraft in the ADF inventory.

Nothing fixed wing as yet, although the way some of the Aussie Defence related workers reacted to the UK switch from F-35B to F-35C would make it appear there could be a long term goal to complement the RAAF F-35A's with possibly a number F-35B's which would make sense given the capabilities of these ships and the retention of the Ski-jump.

GTX · July 25, 2011, 11:08:13 AM

Nice pics. Here are some others that I picked up in a briefing on the new Canberra class LHDs a while back - they give a good indication of the size of the new ships in comparison to the old HMAS Melbourne (drawing) and current Kanimbla class LPAs (smallest picture):

As you can see, these new ships will be the largest ever operated by the RAN.

Regards,

Greg

GTX · July 25, 2011, 11:11:26 AM

Quote from: Thorvic on July 25, 2011, 08:11:47 AM
Tiger, NH-90, SH-60 and possibly Chinook, basically any Rotorcraft in the ADF inventory.

Nothing fixed wing as yet, although the way some of the Aussie Defence related workers reacted to the UK switch from F-35B to F-35C would make it appear there could be a long term goal to complement the RAAF F-35A's with possibly a number F-35B's which would make sense given the capabilities of these ships and the retention of the Ski-jump.

True - the plan is simply for helicopters at the moment. The ski-jump allows for Allied Harriers to also use the ships if need be. There is a possibility of some F-35Bs though that is still a whiff at the moment. Once both the RAAF F-35As and the LHDs are in service though, I expect the calls for F-35Bs will grow louder.

Regards,

Greg

RotorheadTX · July 25, 2011, 03:53:49 PM

Good grief that thing has a lot of freeboard! From abeam it must have the radar signature of a barn full of proverbial barn doors!!

pyro-manic · July 25, 2011, 04:35:44 PM

I wouldn't think it'd be any worse than that of any comparable ship (USS Wasp, HMS Ocean/HMS Bulwark, Mistral etc) - they're all very slab-sided. It is relatively clutter-free, so that would go some way to reducing the signature.

raafif · July 25, 2011, 05:48:58 PM

LHD ? -- so is it really left-hand-drive or will they do a right-hand-drive version for us Aussies ?

Taiidantomcat · July 25, 2011, 07:31:42 PM

I know more than a few US Marines who can't wait to get aboard this thing

Had a friend tell me the plans for this a few years ago, very excitedly. Hoping more F-35Bs come into service abroad once they get into service with the USMC, as well.

Thorvic · July 25, 2011, 10:14:13 PM

Quote from: RotorheadTX on July 25, 2011, 03:53:49 PM
Good grief that thing has a lot of freeboard! From abeam it must have the radar signature of a barn full of proverbial barn doors!!

Thats becuase like the USN Wasp & Tarwara class there is a floodable docking well a vehicle deck then a Hanger resulting in a very high hull, the USN have the length so look in proportion, the Juan Carlos looks slightly odd due to the clean sides and ski jump but is still in proportion. The ugly one is the French Mistral as they shortend the design so its the same height as the others but over a much shorter length.

Thorvic · July 25, 2011, 10:16:11 PM

Just a note the Orange Hobby 1/700 kit of the Juan Carlos I is available from today and the kit comes complete with NH-90s and Harriers. Shold be handy for the RAN Canberra and Adelaide

rickshaw · July 26, 2011, 12:42:31 AM

Quote from: Thorvic on July 25, 2011, 10:14:13 PM
Quote from: RotorheadTX on July 25, 2011, 03:53:49 PM
Good grief that thing has a lot of freeboard! From abeam it must have the radar signature of a barn full of proverbial barn doors!!

Thats becuase like the USN Wasp & Tarwara class there is a floodable docking well a vehicle deck then a Hanger resulting in a very high hull, the USN have the length so look in proportion, the Juan Carlos looks slightly odd due to the clean sides and ski jump but is still in proportion. The ugly one is the French Mistral as they shortend the design so its the same height as the others but over a much shorter length.

Looks rather narrow to me with that high freeboard. Needs to be about a 1/8 wider again. I know the idea that the longer and thinner it is the less drag it suffers but it just looks really narrow from front on.

nebnoswal · October 17, 2012, 03:05:52 AM

The hull for the new LHD, has arrived down under. The photos are courtsey of work, but I'm heading down there over the weekend for a look

wuzak · October 18, 2012, 02:54:32 AM

Quote from: GTX on July 25, 2011, 11:11:26 AM
Quote from: Thorvic on July 25, 2011, 08:11:47 AM
Nothing fixed wing as yet, although the way some of the Aussie Defence related workers reacted to the UK switch from F-35B to F-35C would make it appear there could be a long term goal to complement the RAAF F-35A's with possibly a number F-35B's which would make sense given the capabilities of these ships and the retention of the Ski-jump.

True - the plan is simply for helicopters at the moment. The ski-jump allows for Allied Harriers to also use the ships if need be. There is a possibility of some F-35Bs though that is still a whiff at the moment. Once both the RAAF F-35As and the LHDs are in service though, I expect the calls for F-35Bs will grow louder.

Please, God, no!

I wonder about something like the Su-33. Looks like it can takeoff on the ski-jump without a catapult - just the matter of arresting their landings.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qa2E6X-xnnw