First RAN LHD hull arrives in Melbourne
 

http://media.smh.com.au/selections/b...s-3723241.html

Not sure what we will use on the ramped deck as we've no STOL aircraft that are carrier capable. But with two of these logistical operations will be much easier than our current ageing capabilities.

Nice to see new additions. I question the ski-jump too - it's an LHD, the H being helicopter - unless you're just covering all angles for the future. Maybe our mothballed aircraft? :hmmm:

Yours for a fiver.

Didn't you sell them to Americans already? :hmmm:

Reminds me of our last carriers without any superstructures.

Hope they give good service.

Those were just the SHARs....we'll have a load of Tonkas and Tiffies to give away when the next stage of cuts comes around.

Or maybe we could sell them some way over priced F-35's for them!?!:D

Which weekdays RAN would be using that F-35? I assum RAAF wants monday to friday for themself... :shifty:

Selling a couple of F-35's to any country would put a serious dent in their defense budget!

It's been mentioned in another thread or two, but I'd rather have multiple other aircraft than one of these, I don't care how good it is in the real world. And still nobody knows the real costs, as nations pull out or hold back on orders the price rises for the others. :/\\!!

Quoted for truth :yep:

And don't we know it. :/\\!! I doubt the RAAF will be too keen landing them on a tiny rolling deck either. Don't know if there are any jet qualified aviators left in the RAN as they were paid off back when HMAS Melbourne was decommissioned in the 80's.

In terms of the ships though at least we wil have someone that provides heavy lift capability when it comes to assisting with regional disasters like cyclones, earthwuakes and tidal waves.

Or whaling fleets!:hmm2:

Would definitely come in handy for interim storage of the illegal boat people :)

LOL we've got Nauru and Christmas Is for that. :03: