Kanimbla-class landing platform amphibious

In the early 1990s, the RAN initiated a procurement project to replace {{HMAS|Jervis Bay|GT 203|6}} with a dedicated training and helicopter support ship.{{cite book |last=Spurling |first=Kathryn |editor=Stevens, David |title=The Royal Australian Navy |series=The Australian Centenary History of Defence |volume=III |year=2001 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=South Melbourne, VIC |isbn=0-19-554116-2 |oclc=50418095 |chapter=The Era of Forward Defence |page=275}} Meeting the vague specifications of the project required a purpose-built vessel at an approximate cost of A$500 million. The high cost of the project led to its cancellation by the Minister for Defence in 1993, with the instructions to find a cheaper alternative. At around the same time, the United States Navy (USN) began plans to decommission fifteen of their twenty {{sclass|Newport|tank landing ship|1}}s, offering them for purchase by various countries.

In 1994, the RAN elected to purchase two Newport-class ships, with {{USS|Saginaw|LST-1188|2}} and {{USS|Fairfax County|LST-1193|2}} selected and procured for the combined price of A$61 million (US$40 million), with the intention of converting each into a combined pocket helicopter carrier and amphibious warfare transport.{{cite news |first=Ron |last=Scherer |title=Senate hampers sale of Navy ships to eager nations |work=The Christian Science Monitor |page=7 |date=1994-07-18}}{{cite news |title=Contract puts Forgacs part of naval history |work=Newcastle Herald |publisher=Fairfax Media |page=8 |date=1998-05-13}} Saginaw was to decommission in the US and be immediately recommissioned into the RAN as {{HMAS|Kanimbla|L 51|6}}, and be sailed to Australia by a RAN crew, while Fairfax County was to travel to Australia with a USN crew before decommissioning and recommissioning as {{HMAS|Manoora|L 52|6}}.{{cite journal |date=Spring 1994 |title=Put in our place |journal=Australia and World Affairs |volume=22 |issue=Spring |pages=43–45 |issn=1033-6192}} Prior to Saginaw{{'}}s decommissioning, a RAN crew was sent to Norfolk, Virginia for training aboard the vessel.

Saginaw was decommissioned on 28 June 1994, but instead of being immediately recommissioned as HMAS Kanimbla, it was announced at the decommissioning ceremony that the United States Congress had decided not to release the ships into foreign service.Put in our place (1994). pp. 43–44 This last-minute move was part of a sale blockage for the fifteen surplus Newports to nine nations, and was caused by the United States Senate Committee on Armed Services in an attempt to pressure US President Bill Clinton on the perceived running-down of the USN's amphibious warfare capability, as well as the concerns of one Senator over human rights in Morocco (one of the other nations slated to acquire a ship).Put in our place (1994). pg. 44 The sale to Australia was not approved until the start of August and Saginaw commissioned as HMAS Kanimbla on 29 August 1994.{{cite news |title=US OKs sale of 2 ships |work=Sun Herald |page=26 |date=1994-08-07}}{{cite web |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/hmas-kanimbla-ii |title=HMAS Kanimbla (II) |publisher=Royal Australian Navy |access-date=12 September 2014}}

After transferring into the RAN and arriving in Australia, Kanimbla and Manoora spent two years docked at Fleet Base East before they were moved to Forgacs Dockyard at Newcastle, New South Wales in June 1996, where they underwent conversion from tank landing ships to amphibious warfare transports.{{cite news |first=Natalie |last=Williams |title=$280m rust buckets – the true cost of Navy's $61m bargain buy |work=Daily Telegraph |publisher=News Corporation |page=17 |date=1998-09-11}} The conversion required the main features of the Newport class, the bow doors, derrick, and tank ramp, to be removed.{{cite news |first=Richard |last=Macey |title=Navy in $70M Copter Carrier deal |work=Sydney Morning Herald |page=6 |date=1994-06-27}} A hangar for three Sea King or four Blackhawk helicopters was added, while the aft helicopter deck was reinforced.{{cite book |editor=Sharpe, Richard |title=Jane's Fighting Ships |edition=110th edition (1997–1998) |series=Jane's Fighting Ships |year=1997 |publisher=Jane's Information Group |location=Surrey, UK |isbn=0-7106-1546-9 |page=30}} Chinook helicopters were able to land and take off from the aft deck, but could not be carried for prolonged periods. The deck forward of the superstructure was converted to carry two LCM-8 landing craft, which were launched and recovered by a single 70-ton crane. When the LCM-8s were not aboard, the area functioned as a third helicopter landing spot. Accommodation was provided for up to 450 soldiers, while improved medical facilities and an upgraded galley were also installed.Kathryn Spurling (2001). The Royal Australian Navy, p. 276 Each ship had {{convert|955|m2}} of deck space for vehicles and cargo.

{{multiple image

| align = left

| image1 = USS Fairfax County (LST-1193) stbd bow view.jpg

| width1 = 150

| alt1 =

| caption1 =

| image2 = HMAS Manoora 2006.jpg

| width2 = 150

| alt2 =

| caption2 =

| footer = Starboard bow views of Manoora, in both her pre-conversion (left, as Fairfax County in 1993) and post-conversion (right, 2006) configurations.

}}

Following the conversions, the ships had a displacement of 8,534 tons, a length of {{convert|159.2|m}}, a beam of {{convert|21.2|m}}, and a draught of {{convert|5.3|m}}. Propulsion was provided by ALCO V16 diesel engines creating {{Convert|2750|hp|kW|lk=in}} each, with each of the two propeller shafts connected to three engines. Maximum speed was {{convert|22|kn|lk=in}}, and each ship had a range of {{convert|14000|nmi|lk=in}} at {{convert|14|kn}}. Shipboard weapons consisted of a 20 mm Phalanx Mk 15 close–in weapon system, supplemented by six 12.7 mm machine guns. Each ship's company consisted of 23 officers and 197 sailors, plus a permanently embarked army detachment of 2 officers and 18 soldiers.

The refit was planned to last from 1995 to 1996, with Manoora upgraded first. However, extensive corrosion was discovered in both ships. The refit cost for the two ships increased to A$400 million, with half of the funding taken from repair and refit allocations for other ships. The two ships did not enter service until the end of the decade.{{cite book|last1=Dennis|first1=Peter|last2=Grey|first2=Jeffrey|last3=Morris|first3=Ewan|last4=Prior|first4=Robin|last5=Bou|first5=Jean|title=The Oxford Companion to Australian Military History|publisher=Oxford University Press|location=Melbourne|year=2008|edition=Second|isbn= 978-0195517842|page=297}}

The two ships were based at Fleet Base East. The Kanimblas operated primarily in South East Asian regions, and were usually the first asset deployed by the Australian government during regional emergencies.{{cite news |url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/the-rust-never-sleeps-on-pride-of-navy-fleet/story-e6frf7l6-1225940364277 |title=The rust never sleeps on pride of navy fleet |last=McPhedran |first=Ian |author-link=Ian McPhedran|date=18 October 2010 |newspaper=The Herald Sun |publisher=News Corp Australia|access-date=23 October 2010}} Both ships deployed to the Solomon Islands in 2000–01 in support of operations there, while Kanimbla took part in disaster relief operations in Vanuatu in 2001. They have since participated in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, the Australian response to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, and the Australian deployment to East Timor following the 2006 political crisis, among other deployments. Two helicopters have crashed while operating from Kanimbla; a Sea King which crashed off the island of Nias in Indonesia on 2 April 2005 killing nine personnel, and an S-70A Blackhawk helicopter which crashed in international waters off Fiji on 29 November 2006 during Operation Quickstep, killing the pilot and a trooper from the Special Air Service Regiment.{{cite web|url=http://www.defence.gov.au/media/DepartmentalTpl.cfm?CurrentId=7976 |title=Report of the Board of Inquiry into the Crash of Black Hawk 221 Released|work=Media Release|publisher=Department of Defence|date=15 July 2008|access-date=1 January 2013}}

In late September 2010, both ships were brought to Fleet Base East for an 'operational pause' after several problems were identified with the ships.{{cite journal |last=Kerr |first=Julian |date=15 October 2010 |title=Operational tempo and neglect spell problems for ageing Australian amphibs |journal=Jane's Navy International |publisher=Jane's Information Group}} These included large quantities of corrosion, faults with the deck crane and alarm system, the need to overhaul propulsion machinery, power generators, and air conditioning, and an outdated communication suite. The problems have been attributed to the ship's high operational tempo, delays in maintenance, and the age of the ships. On 1 November it was reported that the two vessels might never put to sea again due to their poor condition,{{cite news|last=McPhedran |first=Ian|author-link=Ian McPhedran|title=Warships ordered to go slower|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/warships-ordered-to-go-slower/story-e6freuy9-1225945817189|access-date=1 November 2010|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=1 November 2010}} but a Navy spokesman was quoted the next day as saying that they would both be repaired by early 2011.{{cite news|last=Dodd|first=Mark|title=Rusting warships HMAS Kanimbla and HMAS Manoora will sail again after refit: navy|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/defence/rusting-warships-hmas-kanimbla-and-hmas-manoora-will-sail-again-after-refit-navy/story-e6frg8yo-1225946570592|access-date=9 November 2010|newspaper=The Australian|date=2 November 2010}}

On 1 February 2011 the Minister for Defence announced that repairing Manoora would not be cost effective given that the ship was scheduled to retired at the end of 2012 and that she would instead be decommissioned.{{cite web|title=Transition plan to Landing Helicopter Dock |url=http://www.minister.defence.gov.au/Smithtpl.cfm?CurrentId=11344 |work=Media release |publisher=Stephen Smith MP Minister for Defence |access-date=1 February 2011 |date=1 February 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110219144125/http://www.minister.defence.gov.au/Smithtpl.cfm?CurrentId=11344 |archive-date=19 February 2011 }} Manoora was decommissioned at Fleet Base East on 27 May 2011.{{cite news |url=http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/rusting-hmas-manoora-decommissioned-20110527-1f7u2.html |title=Rusting HMAS Manoora decommissioned |last=Australian Associated Press |date=27 May 2011 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald (smh.com.au)|access-date=27 May 2011}} At the time of the February 2010 announcement, the intention was to repair Kanimbla return her to active service by mid-2012, and let her continue operating until her original 2014 decommissioning date. However, the predicted time frame and cost of the repairs (18 months and over $35 million), and the successful acquisition of the British landing ship dock {{Ship|RFA|Largs Bay|L3006|6}} (which entered RAN service at the end of 2011 as HMAS Choules) prompted the Australian government to announce plans on 18 August 2011 to decommission Kanimbla at earliest opportunity.{{cite web |title=Decommissioning of HMAS Kanimbla |url=http://www.minister.defence.gov.au/2011/08/18/minister-for-defence-materiel-jason-clare-and-minister-for-defence-stephen-smith-decommissioning-of-hmas-kanimbla/ |publisher=Minister for Defence Materiel and Minister for Defence |access-date=18 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111229092640/http://www.minister.defence.gov.au/2011/08/18/minister-for-defence-materiel-jason-clare-and-minister-for-defence-stephen-smith-decommissioning-of-hmas-kanimbla/ |archive-date=29 December 2011 }} Kanimbla was decommissioned on 25 November 2011.{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120924101739/http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Kanimbla_farewelled |archive-date=24 September 2012 |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Kanimbla_farewelled |title=HMAS Kanimbla farewelled |date=25 November 2012 |access-date=21 December 2013 |publisher=Royal Australian Navy}}

In 2008, the intention was to retire the two ships in the mid-2010s: one would be replaced by one of the {{sclass|Canberra|landing helicopter dock|1}} ships by 2015, the other by a strategic sealift ship sometime between 2016 and 2018.{{cite journal |last=Kerr |first=Julian |date=10 September 2008 |title=Sea support: southern hemisphere amphibious ambitions on the rise |journal=International Defence Review |publisher=Jane's Information Group}} The early decommissioning of the two vessels in 2011 diminished the RAN's amphibious and transport capability, with Choules and the support vessel {{Ship|ADV|Ocean Shield}} purchased to cover the gap until the Canberras enter service.{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-12-13/hmas-choules-to-be-commissioned/3727686 |title=HMAS Choules commissioned in honour of veteran |work=ABC News |date=13 December 2011 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=13 December 2011}}{{cite press release |title=Ocean Shield the Navy's newest humanitarian and disaster relief vessel |publisher=Offices of the Minister for Defence and Minister for Defence Materiel |date=3 June 2012 |url=http://www.minister.defence.gov.au/2012/06/03/minister-for-defence-stephen-smith-and-minister-for-defence-materiel-jason-clare-joint-media-release-ocean-shield-the-navys-newest-humanitarian-and-disaster-relief-vessel/ |access-date=3 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151102212348/http://www.minister.defence.gov.au/2012/06/03/minister-for-defence-stephen-smith-and-minister-for-defence-materiel-jason-clare-joint-media-release-ocean-shield-the-navys-newest-humanitarian-and-disaster-relief-vessel/ |archive-date=2 November 2015 }}

In June 2012, the federal government offered Kanimbla and Manoora to the Queensland state government for scuttling as dive wrecks off the Queensland coast.{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2012/06/25/3532187.htm |title=Naval ships offered as dive sites for coast |last=Marshall |first=Candice |date=25 June 2012 |work=ABC Gold Coast |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=26 June 2012}} However, the government chose not to go ahead with this, as it would cost $4 million each to prepare them for scuttling, and could provoke similar reactions to the contested sinking of the frigate {{HMAS|Adelaide|FFG 01|6}}. Instead, it was announced in January 2013 that the two ships would be broken up, with an estimated scrap metal value of $2.5 million each.{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/navy-workhorses-hmas-manoora-and-hmas-kanimbla-to-end-careers-as-scrap/story-fncynkc6-1226546722433 |title=Navy workhorses HMAS Manoora and HMAS Kanimbla to end careers as scrap |last=McPhedran |first=Ian|author-link=Ian McPhedran |date=3 January 2013 |publisher=News Corp Australia|newspaper=Herald Sun |access-date=4 January 2013}} Because the two vessels were originally owned by the United States of America and were sold to Australia, their disposal had to receive US government approval and comply with International Traffic in Arms Regulations.Australian Defence Magazine, Sale of decommissioned ships Manoora and Kanimbla Tendering for the disposal of the vessels began in June 2012, with the contract awarded to Southern Recycling LLC on 20 May 2013. The two vessels were towed in tandem to Gulfport, Mississippi, arriving on 3 October. The ships were then towed to Southern Recycling's facilities in New Orleans for scrapping.

{{reflist}}

{{commons category|Kanimbla class landing platform amphibious ships}}

{{Portal bar|Australia|Royal Australian Navy|Engineering}}

{{Royal Australian Navy}}

{{RAN amphibious warfare ships}}

Category:Amphibious warfare vessel classes