25 Juni 2015
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HMAS Tobruk sails into Sydney Harbour for the final time before decommissioning on 31 July 2015. (photo : Aus DoD)
HMAS Tobruk , the Royal Australian Navy's (RAN's ) only heavy landing ship, completed its final voyage to the Garden Island naval base in Sydney on 25 June prior to decommissioning on 31 July.
The 5,800-tonne vessel, based on the design of the Round Table class of the UK's Royal Fleet Auxiliary, was constructed in Newcastle, Australia, and commissioned in April 1981.
During its 34 years in service Tobruk was a mainstay of the RAN's heavy sealift capability, but in recent years became increasingly unreliable.
Notwithstanding Tobruk 's retirement, the RAN's sealift capability is approaching an all-time high with the commissioning in November 2014 of the 27,500 tonne helicopter landing dock HMAS Canberra , sea trials of sister ship Adelaide now underway, and the in-service availability of the 16,190 tonne dock landing ship HMAS Choules .
(Jane's)
HMAS Tobruk , the Royal Australian Navy's (RAN's ) only heavy landing ship, completed its final voyage to the Garden Island naval base in Sydney on 25 June prior to decommissioning on 31 July.
The 5,800-tonne vessel, based on the design of the Round Table class of the UK's Royal Fleet Auxiliary, was constructed in Newcastle, Australia, and commissioned in April 1981.
During its 34 years in service Tobruk was a mainstay of the RAN's heavy sealift capability, but in recent years became increasingly unreliable.
Notwithstanding Tobruk 's retirement, the RAN's sealift capability is approaching an all-time high with the commissioning in November 2014 of the 27,500 tonne helicopter landing dock HMAS Canberra , sea trials of sister ship Adelaide now underway, and the in-service availability of the 16,190 tonne dock landing ship HMAS Choules .
(Jane's)