Spain-based shipbuilding company Navantia has launched the final fast landing craft (LLC) that is being constructed for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).
The launch of the vessel is part of a contract awarded to Navantia in 2011 for the supply of 12 LLCs to the RAN.
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The design of the vessels is based on the fast landing crafts built by Navantia for the Spanish Navy between 2006 and 2008.
The 23.30m-long and 6.40m-width ships are being built by the company at the Bay of Cádiz in Spain.
The LLC is operated by two 809 kW diesel engines and fitted with two waterjets propellers, which provide the ship with a cruising speed of more than 20k.
The vessel features a flexible loading capacity, which is capable of accommodating an Abrams vehicle, several army vehicles, fusiliers’ company, or a 20ft container truck.
The crafts will operate with two new Canberra-class landing helicopter dock (LHD) amphibious assault vessels, HMAS Canberra and HMAS Adelaide.
Adelaide, the second of two Canberra LHDs is expected to commence operations by 2016.
The first batch of four LLCs was delivered in March 2014. The ninth LLC was launched in November 2014.
Image: The LLC fast landing craft has a speed of more than 20k and features two 809kW diesel engines and two waterjets propellers. Photo: courtesy of Navantia.
