The largest ship ever to be built for the Australian Navy took to the water for the first time Feb. 17 on the north coast of Spain.
The launch of the future HMAS Canberra took place at the Navantia dockyards in Ferrol, Spain. The 25,000-ton amphibious assault ship - a Landing Helicopter Dock or LHD in Navy parlance - will be towed to Williamstown, Australia, for completion at the Tenix shipyard, and is planned to enter service in 2014.
Vice Adm. Russ Crane, the chief of Navy, was on hand for the event, along with dozens of children of Australian diplomats waving Australian flags, according to an Australian Navy news release.
"We are well progressed in our planning for the LHD arrival," Crane said. "For now, this project is on time and on budget."
A second ship, the Adelaide, is also under construction at Ferrol, and is to be commissioned in 2015. Both ships will be based at Garden Island, Sydney, and be crewed from all three services.
A similar ship, the Juan Carlos I, was commissioned in September into the Spanish Navy.
The Canberra is the first of two 25,000-ton assault ships being built for Australia in Spain. (Royal Australian Navy)
Vice Adm. Russ Crane, the chief of Navy, was on hand for the event, along with dozens of children of Australian diplomats waving Australian flags, according to an Australian Navy news release.
"We are well progressed in our planning for the LHD arrival," Crane said. "For now, this project is on time and on budget."
A second ship, the Adelaide, is also under construction at Ferrol, and is to be commissioned in 2015. Both ships will be based at Garden Island, Sydney, and be crewed from all three services.
A similar ship, the Juan Carlos I, was commissioned in September into the Spanish Navy.
No comments:
Post a Comment