HMAS Canberra (III)

The Canberra-class Landing Helicopter Docks (LHD) represent the largest vessels ever operated by the Royal Australian Navy, providing a quantum leap in the nation’s amphibious and power-projection capabilities. Derived from Navantia’s Strategic Projection Ship (Juan Carlos I) design for the Spanish Navy, the two ships—HMAS Canberra and HMAS Adelaide—feature a distinctive "ski jump" ramp and a massive flight deck. These sophisticated platforms are designed to transport and deploy over 1,000 embarked troops, along with their vehicles and equipment, via landing craft or heavy-lift helicopters. Beyond their primary role in amphibious warfare, their integrated hospital facilities and vast internal cargo space make them the cornerstone of Australia’s regional disaster relief and humanitarian response strategy.