ARM Papaloapan in Amsterdam. (Photo: Rob van der Veen)
Thursday, June 16, 2011
ARM Papaloapan (P-411)
USS Newport was decommissioned on 30 September 1992, at her homeport of NAB Little Creek, Virginia. After several years in the Navy's mothball facility in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, she was sold to the Mexican Navy. Rechristened at Mexican Naval Shipyard Number 1 (ASTIMAR-1), Tampico, Tamaulipas Mexico, as Mexican Navy Ship (ARM in Spanish) Papaloapan (P-411). (Photo: SEMAR)
RFA Largs Bay (L3006)
RFA Largs Bay (L3006) is Bay Class Large Amphibious Landing Ships. The Bay Class are designed to operate over the horizon using helicopters and landing craft through a floodable stern dock to get men and equipment ashore. The ALSLs are to transport troops, stores, equipment and vehicles world-wide and deploy them into battle. The ships are capable of offloading at sea, 'over the horizon'. They operate with other ships of the amphibious task group, but are manned and operated by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. The ALSLs may operate autonomously as supply ships. (Photo: Australia DoD)
RFA Largs Bay (L3006)
RFA Largs Bay (L3006) was launched in July 2003 at Swan Hunter Wallsend and was delivered in April 2006. It entered service in December 2006. The large vehicle deck is directly accessible by the stern ramp and the side ramp. The vehicle deck can accommodate 24 Challenger 2 main battle tanks or more than 150 light jeeps. The vehicle capacity is 1,200 linear metres, three times larger than existing landing ship logistics (LSL) vessels. A floodable dock capable of operating one LCU mk10 utility landing craft is installed in the stern. A Mexeflote is secured to each side of the ship. The ship can also carry and operate two LCVP mk5 vehicle / personnel landing craft. (Photo: Australia DoD)
RFA Largs Bay (L3006)
RFA Largs Bay (L3006) was launched in July 2003 at Swan Hunter Wallsend and was delivered in April 2006. It entered service in December 2006. (Photo: Australia DoD)
RFA Largs Bay (L3006)
RFA Largs Bay (L3006) is Bay Class Bay Class Large Amphibious Landing Ships. Four Bay Class have been ordered with the LSD(A) construction programme well advanced. The new ships displace 16,100 tonnes and replace RFAs Sir Galahad and Sir Tristram. Compared to their predecessors they carry more than twice as many vehicles and embarked troops. Using their stern dock for landing craft and flight deck for helicopters, they are able to offload in rougher weather twice as quickly. The flight deck can accommodate two Merlin or Chinook helicopters, and a hanger could be fitted in future if required. The ships can carry an Embarked Military Force of 356 troops and large numbers of vehicles, although this can be increased to 500 using undesignated space. The ships are able to position themselves dynamically using a bow thruster and their steerable azimuth thrusters to discharge equipment without the need to anchor. The previous RFA Landing ships were designed to run up on a beach to discharge their cargo of men and vehicles. The Bay Class are designed to operate over the horizon using helicopters and landing craft through a floodable stern dock to get men and equipment ashore. (Photo: Australia DoD)
RFA Largs Bay (L3006)
RFA Largs Bay (L3006) was launched in July 2003 at Swan Hunter Wallsend and was delivered in April 2006. It entered service in December 2006. In April 2011, the Australian Navy acquired Largs Bay (L3006) for £65m. Largs Bay was removed from the service of the UK Navy as decided in the UK Government's 2010 Defence Strategic Review. It will enter the Australian Navy service in early 2012. (Photo: Australia DoD)
RFA Largs Bay (L3006)
RFA Largs Bay (L3006) was launched in July 2003 at Swan Hunter Wallsend and was delivered in April 2006. It entered service in December 2006. (Photo: RAN)