Page 68 - Australian Defence Magazine May 2022

68 SEAPOWER LAND 8710
MAY 2022 | WWW.AUSTRALIANDEFENCE.COM.AU
SHIP TO SHORE CONNECTORS
The Request for Tender (RFT) for a new landing craft to replace the Army’s venerable LCM-8 closes in mid-June, and industry comments on what is being requested range from ‘very ambitious’ and ‘incredibly versatile’ to ‘unique’.
JULIAN KERR | SYDNEY
WHAT’S clear, having ascertained the broad detail of the Land 8710 Phase 1 RFT that was released on 19 December 2021 and closes on 14 June, is that all three assessments were spot-on.
The AusTender project description states the Littoral Manoeuvre Vessel – Medium (LMV-M) “will provide inde- pendent shore-to-shore and ship-to-shore capability, to en- able manoeuvre and sustainment of the amphibious Joint Force over extended ranges in restricted littoral and river- ine environments.
“The new LMV-M fleet will be capable of carrying the Joint Force’s current and planned armoured and protect- ed vehicles, as a combat-laden mission system in high sea states. Interoperability with the Royal Australian Navy Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) and Landing Ship Dock (LSD) is required. Initial Operating Capability (IOC) is scheduled for 2026.”
MEETING REQUIREMENTS
To achieve these requirements the new vessel will clearly be larger, faster and better protected than the 59-tonne LCM-8s which entered service with the ADF in the 1970s and were substantially upgraded in the mid-1990s. The number still in service is not known.
The RFT states the LMV-M capability will provide for fast mobilisation of a small amphibious force under Army command, requiring a high level of LMV-M availability over extended ranges and periods of time.
Up to 18 new landing craft are required, which will be
built at Henderson. These must be able to carry a single up- graded Abrams M1A2 main battle tank with a combat-ready weight of 67 tonnes, or a mixed payload of up to 80 tonnes.
A steel hull is mandatory. Other essential requirements include configuration for a crew of not less than 10 with overflow accommodation, if possible, for a further five per- sonnel; transport of all ADF vehicles and vehicle combina- tions, in combat load/fully laden condition, in sea condi- tions up to the top of Sea State 4 (waves of 2.4 to 4 metres).
For intra-theatre transit, when carrying a payload not less than 80 tonnes the LMV-M must have adequate sea- keeping to maintain way, maintaining control and remain undamaged in sea conditions up to the top of Sea State 4.
In survival transit, when carrying a payload not less than 80 tonnes, the LMV-M must be capable of maintain- ing way, maintaining control and remain undamaged in sea conditions up to and including the top of Sea State 6 (waves of 4 to 6 metres).
Further, the LMV-M must be capable of operating safely and effectively without restriction up to the top of Sea State 4 over a distance of at least 500 nautical miles without fuel resupply, at a speed not less than 15 knots while carrying vehicles and mixed cargo up to a combined maximum of 80 tonnes, and complete the transit with a burnable fuel reserve of at least 20 per cent.
The LMV- M must also be able to operate for at least 10 days without failure of mission critical systems in Austra- lia’s immediate region, in regional oceanic environmental and weather conditions, the RFT states.
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