HMAS Canberra (L02) is the lead ship of the Canberra-class landing helicopter docks (LHD) and the Fleet Flagship of the Royal Australian Navy. Construction of the ship started in Spain in 2008, with the hull launched by Navantia in 2011. The hull was then transported to Australia in late 2012 for completion by BAE Systems Australia. Canberra was commissioned on 28 November 2014.
Design
The Canberra class design is based on the warship , built by Navantia for the Spanish Navy.Brown, Spanish designs are Australia's choice for warship programmes The contract was awarded to Navantia and Australian company Tenix Defence following a request for tender which ran from February 2004 to June 2007, beating the enlarged design offered by French company Direction des Constructions Navales.Borgu, Capability of First Resort?, pp. 5–6Fish, First Australian LHD takes shape Canberra has the same physical dimensions as Juan Carlos I, but differs in the design of the island superstructure and the internal layout, in order to meet Australian conditions and requirements.Fish, Amphibious assault ships Unlike the Spanish vessel, the Australian ships are built to meet Lloyd's Naval Rules.
The Canberra-class vessels are long overall, with a maximum beam of , and a maximum draught of .Royal Australian Navy, Amphibious Assault Ship (LHD) At full load, Canberra will displace . Propulsion is provided by two Siemens azimuth thrusters, each with an onboard electric motor, driving two diameter propellers.Amphibious Ships, in Semaphore, p. 2 The electricity is provided by a Combined Diesel-electric and Gas (CODAG) system, with a single General Electric LM2500 gas turbine producing , supported by two MAN 16V32/40 diesel generators, each providing . Maximum speed is over , with a maximum sustainable full-load speed of , and an economical cruising speed of . Economical range is .
Each ship is fitted with a Saab 9LV Mark 4 combat management system. The sensor suite includes a Sea Giraffe 3D surveillance radar, and a Vampir NG infrared search and track system. For self-defence, the LHDs will be fitted with four Rafael Typhoon 25 mm remote weapons systems (one in each corner of the flight deck),Defense Industry Daily, Australia's Canberra class LHDs six 12.7 mm machine guns, an AN/SLQ-25 Nixie towed torpedo decoy, and a Nulka missile decoy. Defence against aircraft and larger targets is to be provided by escort vessels and air support from the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The ships' companies will consist of 358 personnel; 293 RAN, 62 Australian Army, and 3 RAAF.Kerr, Amphibious Ambitions
The LHDs will transport 1,046 soldiers and their equipment. Canberra will be capable of deploying a reinforced company of up to 220 soldiers at a time by airlift. Two vehicle decks (one for light vehicles, the other for heavy vehicles and tanks) have areas of and respectively, and between them can accommodate up to 110 vehicles. The well deck will carry up to four LHD Landing Craft (LLC), which can be launched and recovered in conditions up to Sea State 4. The flight deck can operate six MRH-90-size helicopters or four Chinook-size helicopters simultaneously, in conditions up to Sea State 5. A mix of MRH-90 transport helicopters and Sikorsky S-70B Seahawk anti-submarine helicopters will be carried: up to eight can be stored in the hangar deck, and the light vehicle deck can be repurposed to fit another ten.Gillis, Interview. Landing Helicopter Dock Project – Canberra Class, pp. 28–9 The ski-jump ramp of Juan Carlos I has been retained for the RAN ships, although fixed-wing flight operations are not planned for the ships.Borgu, Capability of First Resort?, p. 11
Construction Construction of Canberra began in September 2008, when the first steel was cut. The first three of 104 hull 'blocks' were laid down by Navantia at Ferrol in northern Spain on 23 September 2010. The hull was launched on 17 February 2011 by Vicki Coates, the widow of Rear Admiral Nigel Coates, a former commanding officer of the previous HMAS Canberra.Department of Defence, LHD launch paves the way for amphibious transformationCavas, Australia's Largest Ship Launched
After the completion of the hull up to the level of the flight deck, Canberra was transported to Williamstown Dockyard. Canberras hull was floated onto the heavy-lift ship on 4 August 2012, with Blue Marlin departing on 17 August.Navantia efectúa con éxito el ´encaje´ del ´Canberra´, in LaopinióncoruñaEl "Blue Marlin", abandonando el puerto exterior de A Coruña, in La voz de Galicia The heavy lift ship sailed via the Cape of Good Hope to avoid the risk of the ship and her cargo being hijacked by Somali pirates.Stewart, Warship's 12,000-mile detour gives high-seas pirates a wide berth The decision to avoid the shorter route via the Suez Canal and Horn of Africa was made because other options to protect Blue Marlin and Canberra were unworkable: the frigate could not be diverted from anti-piracy duties in the region to provide a dedicated escort, and Dutch authorities objected to the presence of armed military or security personnel aboard the Dutch-flagged heavy lift ship. Canberra and Blue Marlin arrived in Port Phillip on 17 October.Huge Navy ship hull arrives in Victoria, in ABC News At Williamstown, the installation of Canberras island superstructure and the internal fitout of the hull was completed by BAE Systems Australia (which acquired Tenix in mid 2008).
The ship was officially christened on 15 February 2013.Lillebuen & AAP, Navy gets new helicopter landing dock ship BAE continued to build the vessel at Williamstown Dockyard integrating C3 and sensors to the ship's superstructures.Perrett, Australia's Biggest-Ever Warships Still On Track Canberra commenced sea trials on 3 March 2014, sailing under power for the first time.Kennedy, Canberra's size and power tested at sea trialsAussie carriers at sea Ships Monthly March 2014 page 15 The trials program included a visit to Fleet Base East in Sydney for drydocking tests, before returning to Williamstown for communications and weapons testing. The first phase of the trials resulted in vibration damage to decking when the thruster pods were run independently at high speed (instead of in tandem, as designed), and a melted circuit breaker board when primary and emergency power systems were activated simultaneously, along with the discovery of a crack in the hull from the delivery voyage, and excessively corroded propeller nuts.McPhedran, A brand new 27,000 tonne Australian Navy ship was damaged during maiden sea trials The second phase of contractor-run sea trials began in July, after repairs were made, and had concluded by early September.Kennedy, Canberra sea trials a success
Canberra was handed over by BAE Systems to the Defence Materiel Organisation on 9 October 2014.Kennedy, First Landing Helicopter Dock accepted by Defence Materiel Organisation The ship was commissioned on 28 November 2014 at Fleet Base East.ABC News, HMAS Canberra enters commission into Australian Navy at Sydney ceremonyCapital ship commissioned Ships Monthly February 2015 page 14Australian News Sea Breezes February 2015 page 15 Although identified as "LHD01" during construction, Canberra received the pennant number "L02" on commissioning; the pennant number corresponding to that used by the frigate of the same name.On the way to Australia, in Navy NewsFish, Steel cut for second Australian LHD
Operational history
Canberra was the centrepiece of Australia Day celebrations in Sydney on 26 January 2015.ABC News, Australia Day 2015: Whip cracking, lamington eating, thong throwing and barbies feature as Australians celebrate around the country In March 2015, the ship was designated the flagship of the RAN.
In February 2016, the ship was deployed from Fleet Base East initially to Brisbane in Queensland where it loaded a Royal Australian Army Engineer squadron and equipment including beach landing capabilities, water purification equipment and other essential engineering stores and then it sailed to Fiji on its first humanitarian mission after a tropical cyclone hit the country on February 20. The LHD was carrying 50 tonnes of humanitarian supplies including food, water, and medical equipment as well as more than 850 personnel from the Australian Defence Force. Embarked with the ship were three MRH-90 helicopters to support Australian operations. The Canberra joined other ADF assets to help with relief efforts.
Canberra formed part of the Australian force which participated in the RIMPAC 2016 exercise off Hawaii during mid-2016. During this deployment she successfully completed flight trials with United States military Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion and Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey aircraft.
In May 2017, issues with the vessel's azimuth thrusters were detected. Interim repairs were made.
In August 2020, three missing Micronesian sailors were found alive and well on Pikelot Island in Micronesia. Canberra dispatched a helicopter to provide food and water and check the men for injuries.
Canberra participated in RIMPAC 2022.
On 21-23 July 2023, Canberra participated in the commissioning of USS Canberra (LCS-30): 21 July - both ships enter Sydney Harbour and Fleet Base East 22 July - Commissioning of USS Canberra 23 July - Freedom of Entry to Canberra, Australian Capital Territory (see image gallery)
On 4 June 2025, Canberra was travelling along New Zealand's coast on approach to Wellington when its navigation radar caused insurmountable interference with wireless and radio signals over a large area spanning Taranaki in the North Island to the Marlborough District in the South Island, blocking Internet service and radio broadcasts. When made aware, Canberra's crew changed her systems to non-interfering frequencies.
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