HMAS Kanimbla

HMAS Kanimbla was built for the United States Navy as USS Saginaw and was commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy in August 1994. She has under-gone extensive modifications for her new role as a helicopter capable amphibious transport ship.

Kanimbla's primary role is to transport, land and support a force of up to 450 personnel, their vehicles and equipment. Kanimbla is fitted with a helicopter hangar capable of supporting up to four Army Black Hawk or three Navy Sea King helicopters. Army landing craft can also be carried on the forward flight deck to provide ship-to-shore transport. Accessed through a stern door, storage space is available on the vehicle deck for Army vehicles and other large items of equipment.

The ship has operations and planning rooms and a comprehensive array of communications equipment to support joint operations. Kanimbla is fitted with the largest and most comprehensive medical facilities in the Fleet, with a 40-bed hospital incorporating full surgical and recovery facilities.

Kanimbla is the second RAN ship to carry the name. Kanimbla (I) was a fast cruiser requisitioned and converted to an armed merchant cruiser for the Royal Navy during World War II . In 1943, she was further converted to an infantry landing ship and commissioned into the RAN.

Pennant L 51
Class Landing Platform Amphibious
Based Sydney
Launched 7 February 1970
Commissioned 29 August 1994
Displacement 8534 tonnes8,534,000 kg
Length 159.2 metres
Beam 21.2 metres
Armament
* 1 x 20mm Phalanx Mk15 close-in weapon system
* 6 x 12.7mm Machine guns
Main Machinery
* 6 x ALCO V16 diesel engines, 2750 HP each, 3 engines per shaft
Cargo Capability
* 2 x LCM8 landing craft
* 4 x Black Hawk or
* 3 x Sea King helicopters
* 955 square metres of useable tank deck space
Speed 22 knots
Company 23 Naval Officers, 2 Army Officers, 197 sailors, 18 soldiers and 400 embarked forces

Source: Australian DoD