HMAS Choules explained

HMAS Choules (L100) is a that served with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) from 2006 to 2011, before being purchased by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). The vessel was built as RFA Largs Bay by Swan Hunter in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear. She was named after Largs Bay in Ayrshire, Scotland, and entered service in November 2006. During her career with the RFA, Largs Bay served as the British ship assigned to patrol the Falkland Islands in 2008, and delivered relief supplies following the 2010 Haiti earthquake.

At the end of 2010, Largs Bay was marked as one of the vessels to be removed from service under the Strategic Defence and Security Review. She was offered for sale, with the RAN announced as the successful bidder in April 2011. After modifications to make her more suited for Australian operating conditions, the vessel was commissioned in December 2011 as HMAS Choules, named after Royal Navy and Royal Australian Navy Chief Petty Officer Claude Choules. A propulsion transformer failure kept the ship out of service between July 2012 and April 2013.

Design and construction

See main article: Bay-class landing ship dock. The Bay class was designed as a replacement for the logistics ships operated by the RFA. The new design was based on the Royal Schelde Enforcer design; a joint project between the Dutch and Spanish resulting in the and amphibious warfare ships. The main difference with the British ships is the lack of a helicopter hangar.[1] The ships were originally designated "auxiliary landing ship logistics" or ALSL, but this was changed in 2002 to "landing ship dock (auxiliary)" or LSD(A), better reflecting their operational role.[2] Four ships were ordered; two from Swan Hunter, and two from BAE Systems Naval Ships.

The Bay-class ships have a full load displacement of 16160t in RFA service; this increased slightly to 16190t after modifications for RAN service. Largs Bay/Choules is long, with a beam of, and a draught of . Propulsion power is provided by two Wärtsilä 8L26 generators, providing 6000hp, and two Wärtsilä 12V26 generators, providing 9000hp. These are used to drive two steerable propulsion pods, with a bow thruster supplementing. Maximum speed is, and the Bay-class ships can achieve a range of at . Largs Bay was fitted for but not with a Phalanx CIWS and a 30mm DS30B cannon when required for self defence.[3] The RAN's webpage for Choules does not specify any armament. In British service, the everyday ship's company consisted of 60 to 70 RFA personnel, with this number supplemented by members of the British Armed Forces when Largs Bay was deployed operationally.[4] The RAN opted to maintain the ship at full operational crewing at all times, with a ship's company of 158, including 22 Army and 6 RAAF personnel.

As a sealift ship, Largs Bay is capable of carrying up to 1,150 linear metres of vehicles; equivalent to 24 Challenger 2 tanks, 32 M1A1 Abrams tanks, or 150 light trucks.[5] The cargo capacity is equivalent of 200 tons of ammunition, or 24 twenty-foot equivalent unit containers. During normal conditions, a Bay-class ship can carry 356 soldiers, but this can be almost doubled to 700 in overload conditions. The ship does not have permanent hangar facilities. However, a temporary hangar may be fitted and in Australian service the twin-spot flight deck has been extensively utilized with the embarkation of Blackhawk, MRH-90 andSeahawk helicopters. In the period one year prior to April 2014 the ship had clocked up 1,000 deck landings.[6] The flight deck is capable of accommodating helicopters up to the size of a Chinook heavy-lift helicopter.[2] [7] The well dock can carry one LCU Mark 10, one LCM-8, or two LCVPs (either the Royal Marines version or the Royal Australian Navy version), and two Mexeflotes can be suspended from the ship's flanks.[2] [5] The LCM-1E landing craft being acquired by the RAN will not fit into the dock.[8] Two 30-ton cranes are fitted between the superstructure and the flight deck.

Largs Bay and sister ship were ordered from Swan Hunter on 18 December 2000. Largs Bay was laid down at Swan Hunter's shipyard at Wallsend, Tyne and Wear on 28 January 2002; the first ship of the class work started on.[9] The ship was launched on 18 July 2003.[9] The ship was completed and accepted by the Ministry of Defence in April 2006, over a year late. Largs Bay was dedicated on 28 November 2006, the second of the class to enter service with the RFA.[9] The Bay-class construction project saw major delays and cost overruns, particularly in the Swan Hunter half of the project.[10] Shortly after Largs Bay was handed over, Swan Hunter was stripped from the project, with BAE taking full responsibility for the class and Lyme Bay towed to BAE's shipyard in Govan for completion in June 2006.[10]

Operational history

United Kingdom

Four months after entering service, an engine room fire resulted in steering and propulsion issues, requiring Largs Bay to be towed to Plymouth for repairs.[11] In late November 2007, Largs Bay embarked 815 Naval Air Squadron 215 Flight and left home waters for the Caribbean to conduct counter-drug operations. She visited eleven islands including Barbados, Curaçao, Grand Turk, Martinique, Trinidad and also the USA. Three days after leaving Barbados Largs Bays patrolling helicopter spotted a small fishing vessel stopped in the water and detained her after a pursuit; of cocaine were recovered, with an estimated £20 million European street value. She participated in Navy Days while in port at Curaçao, where several hundred people toured her.[12]

In late 2008, it was reported that Largs Bay was to replace for duties in the Falkland Islands. Northumberland was to have left for the Islands in December 2008, but was instead sent for pirate patrol off Somalia.[13]

In early 2010, Largs Bay was deployed to the Arctic Circle.[14] Following the 2010 Haiti earthquake, the ship was pulled from exercises and sailed on 3 February to deliver a load of relief supplies to Haiti.[14] [15] On 18 February 2010, she arrived at Port-au-Prince and unloaded of supplies plus of rations, while engineers from the ship began work on restoring electricity ashore.[14] [16] On 30 March 2010, she returned home.[17] Largs Bays actions were recognised in December 2011 with the awarding of the Firmin Sword of Peace.[14]

In August 2010, the ship participated in the Bournemouth Air Festival.[18]

Decommissioning and transfer

In December 2010, it was announced that the ship would be decommissioned in April 2011 as part of the Strategic Defence and Security Review.[19] [20] Shortly after marking Largs Bay for disposal, the British Ministry of Defence contacted the Chilean government and suggested the vessel as a potential replacement for the landing ship tank vessel Valdivia, which was due to leave service.[21] In January 2011, the Australian Department of Defence announced that it was interested in purchasing the vessel for the RAN as a replacement for the heavy landing ship or one of the amphibious warfare ships.[20] [22] Interest in the ship was also shown by Brazil and India.[23]

On 17 March 2011, the Australian Department of Defence announced that the RAN would be bidding for Largs Bay; this was followed on 6 April by news that a £65 million (A$100 million) bid had been successful.[24] [25] Sea trials during April showed that the ship was in good condition, although she would have to be modified before entering Australian service, particularly to allow operation in tropical conditions.[26] During a 16-week docking at the A&P Group shipyard in Falmouth, the modifications were made, along with refit work to maintain the ship's Lloyds certification.[27] The RAN also acquired two Mexeflote landing rafts for use with the ship.[28]

On 13 August, it was announced that Largs Bay would be renamed HMAS Choules when commissioned into the RAN. The name comes from Chief Petty Officer Claude Choules, who served in both the Royal Navy and the RAN during his career, and was the last known living participant in World War I.[29] Choules is the second RAN vessel to be named after an enlisted sailor, following the submarine .[30] The ship was assigned the pennant number L100, reflecting the 100th anniversary of the RAN's origin in 2011.[31] Her motto is "Face Difficulty With Zeal".[32]

On 14 October, the vessel was handed over to the RAN.[33] She arrived in Fremantle, Western Australia on 10 December, and was commissioned into the RAN on 13 December.[34] [35] Choules entered full operational service in early 2012, and is based at Fleet Base East.[28] [32]

Australia

On 24 February 2012, Choules arrived in Townsville.[36] This was in preparation for a month of amphibious warfare training exercises with the Australian Army's 3rd Brigade.[36]

In June 2012, one of the two main electrical transformers involved in the ship's propulsion system failed, after an earlier engineers report highlighted "overheating of the propulsion motors and transformers".[11] [37] Inspection found that insulation failure had short-circuited the transformer, while other transformers aboard showed premature wear.[37] Unable to find an available spare, a new unit had to be ordered from the manufacturer.[11] In June, it was predicted that Choules would be out of service for four to five months, but by October, claims were made that the ship would be inoperable until at least January 2013, and if all of the wear-showing transformers were replaced, she would not return to service until April 2013.[11] [37] By December, the faulty transformer had been replaced, and the RAN had decided that although the other transformers (propulsion and others) had been shown to have acceptable levels of wear, all would be replaced before Choules was reactivated.[38] These repairs were completed in early 2013, and the ship was assessed as ready to re-enter service on 12 April.[39]

For a short time from July 2013, Choules was anchored offshore of the Manus Regional Processing Centre in Papua New Guinea to provide temporary accommodation for Department of Immigration and other personnel, due to a lack of accommodation at the centre.[40] In April 2015, the ship transported 46 Vietnamese asylum seekers back to Vũng Tàu, after their vessel was intercepted at sea on 20 March by Australian border protection units and their claims were rejected after interviews at sea lasting less than 40 minutes.[41] [42]

Choules operational role was reevaluated after the Canberra-class landing helicopter dock ships entered service in 2016, but will likely be kept on to fill the role of the strategic sealift ship envisioned by the 2009 Defence white paper.[8] [43]

In March 2017 Choules was sent to Queensland to support recovery after Cyclone Debbie.[44]

Choules was deployed to Vanuatu on 30 September 2017 to aid in the rescue of 11,000 people from a volcanic eruption of Monaro Voui.

In January 2020, Choules was deployed to the coastal town of Mallacoota in East Gippsland, Victoria, to evacuate thousands of people trapped by bushfires and to ferry them south to Hastings in Western Port Bay.[45] [46] [47]

On 14 February 2021, HMAS Choules left Australia for Papua New Guinea with 5 Isuzu fire trucks donated by Queensland Fire and Emergency Services.[48]

On 11 March 2021, Gippsland officially announced Mallacoota as the new ceremonial homeport for HMAS Choules.[49]

In May 2022 it was announced that Choules would be eventually replaced by one of two sought 'Joint Support Ships' under Project Sea 2200.[50]

In early 2024 it was revealed that Choules had been fitted with a new CEA Technologies radar.[51]

References

Books
Journal articles
News articles
Websites

Notes and References

  1. Kemp, New UK landing ship takes to the water
  2. Scott, The Royal Navy's Future Fleet
  3. Royal Navy, RFA Largs Bay
  4. Web site: RFA Largs Bay Haiti Diary . http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100406104724/http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/operations-and-support/royal-fleet-auxiliary/rfa-flotilla/bay-class-landing-ships/rfa-largs-bay/unit-diary/rfa-largs-bay-haiti-diary . 6 April 2010 . 4 February 2010 . Ian . Johnson . Royal Navy . 12 July 2012.
  5. Web site: Royal Australian Navy . HMAS Choules . www.navy.gov.au . 20 March 2022 . en.
  6. https://www.navy.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/datasheets/HMAS_Choules_datasheet.pdf
  7. Scott, Sweating the asset: versatility is the key to LSD(A) multi-tasking
  8. Gillett, Australia's Navy, Part 2, p. 22
  9. Saunders (ed.), Jane's Fighting Ships 2008–2009, p. 876
  10. Brown, UK strips Swan Hunter of LSD(A) role
  11. McPhedran, Missing spare part grounds Navy ship
  12. Royal Navy, 815 Naval Air Squadron in RFA Largs Bay
  13. UPI, Britain withdraws warship from Falklands
  14. Craig, Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship Largs Bay wins award
  15. BBC News, RFA Largs Bay leaves Southampton bound for Haiti
  16. Daily Express, Royal Navy aid ship reaches Haiti
  17. The News, RFA Largs Bay returns home after earthquake aid mission
  18. Bournemouth Echo, RFA Largs Bay sails in for Bournemouth Air Festival
  19. Defence News, Changes to Royal Navy's surface fleet announced
  20. 'Themistocles', The UK SDSR and JP 2048 Phase 4C – A Golden Opportunity
  21. Higueras, Chile eyes new amphibious transport ship
  22. Oakes, Navy eyes redundant UK vessel
  23. Kerr, Australia completes Largs Bay purchase
  24. Taylor, Australia to buy amphibious military transport ship, aircraft
  25. Australian Associated Press, Australia to buy used UK landing ship
  26. Flash Traffic: Purchase of Largs Bay, in The Navy
  27. Kerr, Amphibious ambitions
  28. Royal Australian Navy, HMAS Choules commissioned
  29. Moulton & Australian Associated Press, Naval ship named after WA war veteran Claude Choules
  30. Royal Australian Navy, HMAS Sheean
  31. Griggs, Naming of Ex RFA Largs Bay - HMAS Choules
  32. O'Callaghan, Choules on her way
  33. Dodd, Navy's borrowed ship costs us $82,000 a day
  34. Sea Waves, Port Visits December 2011
  35. Australian Broadcasting Corporation, HMAS Choules commissioned in honour of veteran
  36. Timms, Newest Navy warship heads north
  37. News: Navy unclear why $100m ship broke down . Australian Associated Press . 17 October 2012 . smh.com.au (The Sydney Morning Herald) . 17 October 2012.
  38. News: In Brief: Work on Choules . 6 December 2012 . Navy News . Directorate of Defence News . 6–7.
  39. Web site: West. Sarah. HMAS Choules returns to sea. Royal Australian Navy. 12 April 2013.
  40. Web site: Robert Cornall AO, Review into the events of 16-17 February 2014 at the Manus Regional Processing Centre, 23 May 2014 . 29 May 2014 . 29 May 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140529085121/http://www.immi.gov.au/about/dept-info/_files/review-robert-cornall.pdf . dead .
  41. News: Aston . Heath . Australian Navy to hand 50 asylum seekers back to Vietnam . The Canberra Times . 17 April 2015 . 28 May 2015.
  42. News: Úc bị chỉ trích vì từ chối cho 46 thuyền nhân Việt Nam tị nạn . 27 May 2015 . Nguoi Viet Daily News . 28 May 2015 . vi . https://web.archive.org/web/20150528074731/http://www.nguoi-viet.com/absolutenm2/templates/viewarticlesNVO.aspx?articleid=207892&zoneid=1#.VWaAcc9Vikp . 28 May 2015 . dead .
  43. Department of Defence, Defending Australia in the Asia Pacific Century, p. 73
  44. News: Andrew Greene. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 28 March 2017. 28 March 2017. Navy's largest ships unable to join Cyclone Debbie emergency response amid engine troubles.
  45. LindaReynoldsWA . 1211893717990133761 . 31 December 2019 . I've spoken with @ScottMorrisonMP & authorised #ADF to deploy extra assets to the Victorian fires: 3 helicopters & 1 aircraft will fly to East Sale; HMAS Choules & MV Sycamore will sail to East Gippsland. A Joint Task Force has been stood up with Army personnel & Liason Officers [sic].
  46. News: Thousands ferried out to HMAS Choules . Samantha . Donovan . 3 January 2020 . ABC Radio . 3 January 2020.
  47. News: 'Leave high risk areas now': Warning ahead of hot weekend. 2020-01-02. The Advertiser. en. 2020-01-02. Royall. Ian. Simonis. Aneeka. Travers. Brianna. McArthur. Grant.
  48. Web site: Untitled. https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/CLRJsR6pYBW . 24 December 2021 . registration.
  49. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Web site: HMAS Choules honoured as Mallacoota named ceremonial homeport . YouTube. 10 March 2021 .
  50. Web site: Indo Pacific 2022: BMT positions ELLIDA design for Australia's SEA 2200 programme . 2022-08-12 . Janes.com . 11 May 2022 . en.
  51. Web site: HMAS Choules fitted with CEAFAR radar - Australian Defence Magazine . 2024-03-15 . www.australiandefence.com.au . en.