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Naval Today said:

In preparation for delivery later this year, NUSHIP Adelaide will start her final period of sea trials today.

The second of the Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) ships being built for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) will leave the BAE Systems’ Williamstown shipyard and head up the eastern coast of NSW to the Jervis Bay area.

About 200 BAE Systems employees, equipment/system subcontractors, RAN crew members and representatives from the Department of Defence Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group will be on board to support the trials which are expected to last 10 days.

Pivotal to this period of sea trials will be testing of the ship’s combat and communications systems in a range of scenarios to validate the systems’ capabilities. Like her sister ship HMAS Canberra that was delivered by BAE Systems last October, HMAS Adelaide is the largest and most complex type of vessel that the RAN operates.

When she returns from sea trials, NUSHIP Adelaide will be prepared for delivery. The RAN will have the opportunity to perform various routine alongside exercises as it continues to build its capability for crewing the vessel while the ship compartments and systems are progressively handed over to the NUSHIP Adelaide crew.

The crew has already been trained for its role on the RAN’s second Landing Helicopter Dock ship.

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Here are both of Australia's new LHDs, Canberra (L02), and Adelaide (L01), recently docked together before Adelaide began her latest sea trials. Very nice looking vessels.

M-1A1, M-88


Tiger and S-70 now replaced by MRH-90

Have you heard yet?
Australia to Demonstrate Amphibious Skills

Australia’s newest military capability, the Amphibious Ready Element, is preparing to demonstrate its capacity in waters off the North Queensland coast.

Townsville-based 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment with MRH-90 helicopters from the 16th Aviation Brigade will combine with the Royal Australian Navy’s HMAS Canberra and Air Force assets to conduct a series of amphibious training activities from August through to October.

Conducted by the Deployable Joint Force Headquarters under the command of Major General Stuart Smith, the ‘Sea Series’ of exercises will enable the amphibious force to achieve an interim operational capability.

The Amphibious Ready Element includes a force of 900 ADF and other Government personnel, supported by four MRH-90 helicopters embarked in Canberra.

Commander of the Amphibious Task Force Captain Jay Bannister, RAN said the focus was on integration of the joint force with the ship and projecting land forces across the beach by air and landing craft.

The Sea Series of exercises will culminate in October when the force will be assessed for operational readiness.

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source:

FORBIN said:

Tiger and S-70 now replaced by MRH-90

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The MRH-90 has not replaced the Tiger ARH and S-70 Blackhawk with all three helicopters continuing to serve the ADF's requirements.

Thank you southern sky,
NH90 could conceivably replace S70 Blackhawks but Tiger is a attack helicopter and NH90 is not designed for and lacks the armaments for that mission.

A confusion, obviously Tiger is a Atk helo, different but on Wiki it is written MRH-90 replace S-70.
Already done for A Sqn/5th Rgt planned this year for B Sqn. 12 helos by Sqn.

So the Canberra is going to do Amphibious and air assault exercises from August through October. The will be using the Canberra, MHR-90s, and the embarked landing craft on Canberra.

I wonder what other ships will participate?

I expect at least one Adelaide class OHP FFG and one or more Anzac frigates. Perhaps one for their replenishment vessels (Success or Sirius).

Another question I have is whether the HMAS Choules (former RN BAy class) will also be involved too?

It will be nice to see some pictures of this when it happens.

Australian MHR-90




Australian LCC Landing Craft





This will involves Australia's Amphibious Ready Element consisting of a force of 900 Army personnel, supported by four MRH-90 helicopters which will embark aboard the Canberra. The force will be commanded by Major General Stuart Smith of the Australian Deployable Joint Force Headquarters.

The Army personnel will be from Townsville-based 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment. The MRH-90 helicopters will be from the 16th Aviation Brigade. They will be assisted (of course) by the Australian Navy and other Royal Australian Air Force assets.

The Canberra carries four LCCs (shown above) which will provide amphibious assault off of the Canberra.

Should the Choules participate, it can land helicopters, but also can support amphibious assault from its own well deck in the form of LCVPs.


HMAS Choules, L100

Should be exciting, and a great exercises for our brothers from donw under!

TerraN_EmpirE said:

Thank you southern sky,
NH90 could conceivably replace S70 Blackhawks but Tiger is a attack helicopter and NH90 is not designed for and lacks the armaments for that mission.

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FORBIN said:

A confusion, obviously Tiger is a Atk helo, different but on Wiki it is written MRH-90 replace S-70.
Already done for A Sqn/5th Rgt planned this year for B Sqn. 12 helos by Sqn.

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Correct. The MRH-90 is currently replacing S-70 Blackhawks across Army aviation but the Blackhawk continues to be flown with no announcement made yet on when they will be officially withdrawn from service.

Can be very interesting use on AA ships the CH-47 ( Army have 7 ) which carry up to 44 troops vs 20 for NH-90 a little difference ... Canberra and Choules can host the CH-47 on her flight deck* strong enough but Canberra can host CH-47 in her hangar ?

*

Flight deck can operate helicopters up to Chinook size

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)

Unfortunately I think that the rotor blades must be removed for that

Look at this picture of the spanish Juan Carlos I LHD