HMAS Adelaide, the second of two Royal Australian Navy’s Canberra class amphibious ships and the largest ever built for the Royal Australian Navy has opened her doors to the Adelaide public for the first time.
Commissioned in December 2015, Adelaide, also known as a Landing Helicopter Dock, provides one of the most capable and sophisticated air-land-sea amphibious deployment systems in the world.
Commanding Officer, Captain Paul Mandziy said the arrival of his ship into her namesake city for was a proud moment for the ship’s company.
At 230 metres long, and more than 30 metres high, the 27,000-tonne warship can land a force of over 1,000 personnel by helicopter and water craft, along with weapons, ammunition, vehicles and stores. The ship is widely considered to be a game-changer in the Australian Defence Force, marking a shift to expeditionary warfare.
The ship is also well equipped for large-scale humanitarian and disaster relief missions featuring two operating theatres, an eight-bed critical care unit, resuscitation, pathology, radiology, x-ray, pharmacy and dental facilities.
HMAS Adelaide’s visit also included being granted Freedom of Entry to the city, where the ship’s company were welcomed by the Lord Mayor of Adelaide, The Right Honourable Mr Mayor Martin Haese.