Among the ongoing ramifications of the UK Defence Review, Australia is showing interest in the purchase or lease of a Bay class amphibious vessel (pictured). One of the Royal Navy's four Bay class ships is to be retired early as an economy measure.
The Bay class amphibious ship design is close to the Dutch Rotterdam class and meets most of the specifications for the additional sealift capability referred to in the 2009 Defence White Paper. Acquiring this capability so soon would bring forward the forecast in-service date considerably, and allow a graceful retirement for the venerable HMAS Tobruk. The Bay class may also answer Craig Hooper's call for Australia to 'retire the old stuff and experiment'.
Photo courtesy of the Royal Navy.
