Praise for Army-navy team effort Refit passes test to put tanks ashore
Tess Ikonomou
TRIALS to transport an M1A1 Abrams and large vehicle loads ashore near Townsville have been successfully completed using one of HMAS Canberra’s landing craft.
The trials were conducted at the end of July with the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Cavalry Regiment and 3rd Combat Service Support Battalion.
The landing craft’s engine room had been modified to increase its carrying capacity from 38 tonnes to more than 60 tonnes, allowing the landing craft to carry the Army’s heavy tracked vehicles.
Amphibious System Program Office director Capt Brad Smith said the activity was a culmination of work by a dedicated and integrated team of people from Defence and industry.
“These groups combined to fully realise and unlock the capability of the landing helicopter dock landing craft,” Capt Smith said.
Work to enable the trial included the design and installation of an additional watertight bulkhead in the engine room.
Scale modelling and testing of the landing craft in various sea states was also carried out, he said.
This provided the quantitative evidence and confidence needed to progress to the sea phase trials.
The trial focused on landing and recovering both the M1A1 main battle tank and the M88A2 recovery vehicle from the landing craft to a beach.
Army’s 45M heavy recovery vehicle (42 tonne) and the HX77 heavy utility truck (33.5 tonne) were also tested.
Over two days, load trials were completed using all the vehicles, operating to and from the beach in ocean conditions up to sea state three.
Director RAN Test and Evaluation Authority Captain David Frost attributed the success of the trials to a team effort.
“The focus and professionalism of numerous people across Navy and Army has resulted in a significant capability enhancement for the ADF and we look forward to building on this capability as we mature the Maritime Warfare Centre,” Capt Frost said.