HMAS Tobruk (L 50)
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HMAS Tobruk beaching during an exercise in 2006 |
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Career (Australia) | |
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Laid down: | 7 February 1978 |
Launched: | 1 March 1980 |
Commissioned: | 23 April 1981 |
Homeport: | Fleet Base East |
Motto: | "Faithful and Strong" |
Fate: | Active |
Badge: | |
General characteristics | |
Displacement: | 5,800 tons |
Length: | 126 m |
Beam: | 10 m |
Draught: | 4.9 m |
Propulsion: | 2 x Mirrlees Blackstone KDMR8 diesel engines providing 9,600 hp (7.2 mW) |
Speed: | 16 knots (30 km/h) |
Range: | 8,000 nautical miles (15,000 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h) |
Boats and landing craft carried: |
2 x LCM-8, 2 x LCVPs |
Capacity: | up to eighteen Leopard 1 MBTs and 40 APCs, 300 to 520 soldiers |
Complement: | 145 |
Armament: | 2 x 12.7 mm MG, 2 x Bofors 40/60 bow mounted guns |
Aircraft carried: | 2 Helo spots on main cargo deck: 1 helo spot on rear flight deck; rated up to Chinook |
HMAS Tobruk (L 50) is a Landing Ship Heavy (LSH) of the Royal Australian Navy, based on the design of the "Sir" class of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. Tobruk was the first purpose built amphibious vessel in the RAN, and is designed as a multi-purpose, roll-on/roll-off heavy lift and transport vessel - the ship can be loaded via ramps at both the bow and stern, and can be purposely beached. Tobruk can carry up to eighteen Leopard 1 MBTs (currently being replaced by the M1A1 Abrams) and 40 APCs. A pair of LCM-8 landing craft can be carried in specially designed cradles on the ship's vehicle deck, while a pair of LCVPs are mounted either side of the superstructure. The ship also has two landing platforms, one behind the superstructure and one in the well deck, which are rated for helicopters up to and including the size of the Chinook. Tobruk has a standard capacity of 300 troops, with an overload capacity of 520.