Australia's Landing Helicopter Dock Ship Completes Trials

Australia’s NUSHIP Adelaide, Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) ship, has completed the final sea trials in Port Phillip Bay.

The 27,800 tonne warship will return to BAE Systems’ Williamstown shipyard later today where she will then be prepared for delivery to the Department of Defence’s Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG) and the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

The main focus of the final sea trials was on testing the ship’s combat and communications systems. The ship had undertaken over a 10 day period throughout the ship’s journey from Williamstown to Jervis Bay, NSW and the return voyage. The areas were chosen to provide maximum flexibility and proximity to the Australian Defence Force assets being used.

The crew has already been trained for its role on the navy’s second LHD ship. BAE Systems Australia trained all 700 crew serving on NUSHIP Adelaide and HMAS Canberra at the Company’s training facility at Mascot, Sydney.

“Our LHD team is now focused on the final elements of work in preparing NUSHIP Adelaide for delivery. Some of the team members on the LHD build program will then transition to the support services group. Some have already made that transition since the time of delivery of HMAS Canberra.” Director of Maritime, BAE Systems Australia, Bill Saltzer said.