The Australian Navy has acquired Largs Bay, the UK’s Bay Class amphibious ship, Defence Minister Stephen Smith and Defence Materiel Minister Jason Clare have said.

Largs Bay is a landing ship dock (LSD) which was commissioned into UK Navy service in 2006, but was scrapped under the UK Government’s 2010 Defence Strategic Review.

The 176m-long and 16,000t ship can accommodate two large helicopters, around 150 light trucks and 350 troops.

The ship, acquired for £65m ($100m), is expected to be operational in early 2012 and will provide the Australian Navy with amphibious heavy lift capability.

Teekay Shipping Australia has inspected the ship and found it in good condition from a technical point of view with no major defects.

The navy will conduct sea trials to confirm the material state of the ship before acquisition.

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