Landing Ship Medium Mark II

Amphibious warfare ship

History
Status| Project cancelled before construction began
Notes| Data from Gillett (1988)[1]
General characteristics
Propulsion| Three engines
Speed|

* 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) (Army)
* 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) (Navy)

Aviation facilities| Helicopter deck and refuelling facilities

The Landing Ship Medium Mark II was an amphibious warfare ship developed for the Australian Army in the late 1960s. The Army and Royal Australian Navy (RAN) were unable to reach agreement on the ship's specifications and the project was cancelled in the early 1970s.

## History

[edit]

In the late 1960s, the Australian Army saw a need to replace its four World War II-era Landing Ship Medium (LSM) which had been purchased from the United States in 1959.[2] In response to this requirement, the firm Burness, Corlett and Partners, along with the Australian Shipbuilding Board, drew up plans for a larger ship that could carry more cargo, with three engines and a long, slim hull. Later versions of the plans included a helicopter pad. The ship would be capable of embarking tanks in an enclosed tank deck or on the upper deck with other cargo, and specialised storage areas would be included for refrigerated, explosive and flammable supplies.[1]

The Army and RAN disagreed on aspects of the Landing Ship Medium Mark II's design. Unlike other contemporary designs, it was planned that the ship would not carry smaller landing craft, but rather discharge her cargo via a ramp fitted to her bow. While the Army wanted the ship to have a bow door to enable her to be beached, the navy preferred a fully sealed bow so that she could make 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) and sail in convoys.[1] These differing views were not resolved, and the design team experienced problems meeting the Army's requirements.[2]

As a result of the difficulties with the project, the Landing Ship Medium Mark II was cancelled in the early 1970s. Instead, the Army ordered eight Balikpapan-class landing craft heavy to replace the LSMs.[1] Only the first of these ships actually served with the Army, however, as responsibility for seagoing ships was transferred to the RAN shortly after she entered service.[1][2]

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e Gillett (1988), p. 125
2. ^ a b c Alsop (1996), p. 65

## References

[edit]

* Alsop, Brian (1996). Australian Army Watercraft: Australia's Unknown Fleet. From the Second World War to the Present Day. Sydney: Topmill in conjunction with the Australian Water Transport Association. ISBN 1-876043-15-6.
* Gillett, Ross (1988). Australian & New Zealand Warships Since 1946. Sydney: Child & Associates. ISBN 0-86777-219-0.

* v
* t
* e

Australian amphibious warfare ships

Canberra-class landing helicopter dock|

* Canberra
* Adelaide

Bay-class landing ship|

* Choules

Round Table-class landing ship logistics|

* Tobruk

Kanimbla-class landing platform amphibious|

* Kanimbla
* Manoora

HSC catamaran|

* Jervis Bay

Balikpapan-class landing craft heavy|

* Balikpapan
* Brunei
* Labuan
* Tarakan
* Wewak
* Salamaua
* Buna
* Betano

LSM-1-class landing ship medium|

* Harry Chauvel
* Brudenell White
* Vernon Sturdee
* Clive Steele

Landing Ship Tank (Mark 3)|

* Labuan
* Lae
* Tarakan
* LST 3008
* LST 3014
* LST 3022

Landing ship, infantry|

* Kanimbla
* Manoora
* Westralia

RORO ship|

* Jervis Bay

Australian Army amphibious craft|

* Crusader
* ALC 50
* Landing Ship Medium Mark II
* LARC-V
* LCM-8
* LCM2000 class

Royal Australian Navy amphibious craft|

* LCVP
* LLC
* Mexeflote

List of major warship classes of the Royal Australian Navy
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