HMAS Choules (L100)

HMAS Choules (L100)
Ship name	HMAS Choules (L100)
Ship country	Australia
Ship namesake	Sir William Choules
Ship builder	Bergen Group Fosen
Ship launched	2006
Ship in service	2011 (Royal Australian Navy)
Ship type	Landing Ship Dock
Ship displacement	16,160 tonnes (full load)
Ship length	160 m
Ship beam	25 m
Ship speed	17 knots
Ship crew	RAN complement with embarked troops

HMAS Choules (L100) is a Landing Ship Dock commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy in 2011 after acquisition from the United Kingdom's Royal Fleet Auxiliary. Formerly built for and operated as RFA Largs Bay, Choules provides amphibious sealift, humanitarian assistance, and logistics support. The ship links Australian amphibious capability to regional operations in the Indo-Pacific and has participated in disaster relief, joint exercises, and maritime security missions.

Design and specifications

Choules was designed as a Bay-class landing ship for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary with a well deck capable of operating landing craft including LCU and LCVP, vehicle stowage, and a large cargo deck compatible with Armoured personnel carriers and Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles. The ship measures approximately 160 metres and displaces around 16,000 tonnes full load, with a beam of about 25 metres and a draught designed for littoral operations in the Persian Gulf and South China Sea regions. Propulsion is diesel-electric, driving twin shafts and enabling a top speed near 17 knots, sustained for long-range deployments between Fleet Base East and regional ports like Suva and Dili. Aviation facilities include a flight deck suitable for Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk-class and NHIndustries NH90 helicopters, with hangar space for embarked aviation detachments drawn from No. 808 Squadron RAN or Australian Army Aviation elements. Habitability and support systems were configured to embark a ship’s company alongside several hundred embarked troops for amphibious assault or humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations.

Construction and Royal Fleet Auxiliary service

Constructed by Bergen Group Fosen at Rissa, Norway, the vessel was launched in 2006 as RFA Largs Bay for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, part of Her Majesty's Naval Service. The Bay-class design followed earlier British amphibious logistics ships and incorporated lessons from Falklands War logistics and expeditionary operations. During RFA service Largs Bay supported Operation Telic, Operation Herrick, and other United Kingdom expeditionary commitments, carrying vehicles and stores between Aden and Helmand Province and supporting Royal Marines amphibious training. The ship underwent maintenance periods at Devonport Dockyard and was laid up prior to sale as MoD force structure priorities shifted toward Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier support and littoral task group concepts.

Acquisition by the Royal Australian Navy

In 2010 the Australian Government sought to augment Royal Australian Navy sealift after the decommissioning of HMAS Kanimbla and delays in Landing Helicopter Dock procurement. Australia negotiated purchase from the United Kingdom, acquiring the vessel in 2011 and commissioning her as HMAS Choules, named for Sir William Choules, a First World War veteran. The acquisition involved transfer of ownership through Defence Materiel Organisation arrangements and crew transition including training with Fleet Logistic Support units. The transfer reflected strategic imperatives in the Defence White Paper and supported Australian Defence Force expeditionary and HADR priorities across the South Pacific.

Operational history in Australian service

Following arrival at HMAS Stirling and transit to Fleet Base East at Garden Island, Sydney, Choules entered operational service conducting sealift, amphibious training, and regional engagement. She has been tasked to move vehicles and stores between mainland depots and forward operating bases, and to deliver supplies to locations such as Bougainville, Vanuatu, and Solomon Islands during contingency responses. Crewing has combined Royal Australian Navy sailors and embarked Australian Army personnel; operations have interfaced with Australian Border Force and civilian logistics partners for HADR missions. Choules has also been a platform for interoperability with allied navies including United States Navy, Royal New Zealand Navy, and Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force during combined amphibious exercises.

Upgrades and modifications

Upon transfer the ship underwent modifications at Australian shipyards including systems integration, communications upgrades to Link 11/Link 16-equivalent suites for RAN operations, and habitability changes to meet Australian Defence Force standards. Upgrades addressed aviation refuelling compatibility for MRH-90 Taipan and CH-47 Chinook operations, installation of Australian-standard damage control systems, and interoperability improvements for embarked command-and-control using Australian tactical data links and secure voice systems. Periodic maintenance has occurred at facilities such as Garden Island Naval Precinct and involved industrial partners including Babcock Australia and ASC Pty Ltd.

Notable deployments and exercises

Choules has been central to several high-profile HADR responses, including deliveries after Cyclone Pam and support to Operation Fiji Assist and Pacific Partnership-style missions. The ship has participated in multinational exercises such as Talisman Sabre, Pacific Partnership, RIMPAC-adjacent activities, and bilateral amphibious exercises with the United States Marine Corps and Royal Marines. Choules has also contributed to maritime security patrols and disaster preparedness initiatives with partners including the Pacific Islands Forum and regional coast guard organizations, demonstrating platform utility across contingency, training, and diplomatic lift roles.

Legacy and disposition

HMAS Choules represents a pragmatic augmentation of Australian amphibious lift bridging capability gaps ahead of larger Landing Helicopter Dock integration. The ship’s service has informed Australian amphibious doctrine, logistics planning, and HADR response models used by Australian Defence Force planners and regional partners. As of the 2020s, Choules remains a key sealift asset pending future capability decisions and potential replacement aligned with strategic reviews and shipbuilding programs under the Australian Naval Shipbuilding Plan. The vessel’s disposition will reflect evolving requirements including integration with new amphibious platforms, ongoing regional engagement, and maritime logistics modernization.

Category:Royal Australian Navy ships Category:Amphibious warfare vessels of Australia