상륙정 호주가 건조할 경상륙정 (LCL; Landing Craft Light)

[위종민]

시드니에 본사를 둔 위스키 프로젝트 그룹이란 곳에서 8월부터 호주해군의 지원함인 ADV 릴라이언트에 탑재할 두 척의 경상륙정을 건조한다고 합니다. 

ADV 릴라이언트함은 브리즈번에 모항을 두고 정기적으로 남태평양 해역에 지원임무를 시행하는데, 그 동안은 예비역으로 돌려져 있던 두 척의 LCVP를 탑재하고 있었는데 이걸 LCL로 교체한다고 하네요. 

호주 해군은 2015년 퇴역한 상륙함 HMAS 토브룩에서 운용했던 4척의 LCVP를 보유중이고, 이 배들은 구 영국해군의 베이급 상륙함이자 2011년 12월부터 호주에서 운영하고 있는 HMAS 슐 (L100)에서도 운용됐었다고 하네요. 

LCL은 전장 15.4m(LCVP는 13.2m)이며 속도 또한 만재시 26노트로 LCVP보다 빠르고 시키핑 능력 또한 좋다고 합니다. 4.5톤의 화물이나 경차량, 컨테이너화된 화물, 30명의 인력을 수송 가능하다고 하네요. 

New Light Landing Craft for the Royal Australian Navy  - Naval News

New Light Landing Craft for the Royal Australian Navy  - Naval News

A computer-generated rendering of the Australian-designed Landing Craft Light to be built by The Whiskey Project Group for the Royal Australian Navy. Credit: The Whiskey Project Group

New Light Landing Craft For The Royal Australian Navy 

Sydney-based The Whiskey Project Group will build two new Light Landing Craft, known officially as Landing Craft Lights (LCL), for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). 

Ben Felton  28 Jul 2024

The two craft, which will start construction next month in Yamba, south of Brisbane, will equip the RAN’s Pacific Support Vessel ADV Reliant from next year.

Australian Defence Vessel Reliant approaches Betio Port, Kiribati. Credit: Commonwealth of Australia.

Reliant is formally based at HMAS Moreton in Brisbane, Queensland and regularly deploys to the South Pacific for regional presence, logistics support, and transport missions. In 2023, its combined crew of commercial seafarers from Teekay Shipping, as well as Australian Army and RAN personnel spent more than 200 days deployed to the region.

After acquiring it in 2022, the RAN quickly equipped ADV Reliant with two Landing Craft Vehicle and Personnel (LCVP) taken from reserve. These will be replaced by the two new Whiskey Project LCLs next year. 

In total, the RAN has four LCVPS which were originally built in the 1990s for operations from the Navy’s now-retired amphibious ship HMAS Tobruk (L 50). They’ve also seen service from HMAS Choules (L 100). 

While the order from The Whiskey Project Group won’t replace the remaining two LCVPs, the contractual way that they were ordered keeps the door open to that happening in the future. 

Naval News understands that the new vessels were ordered through the first contract of a new panel set up by Australia’s Department of Defence called the Defence Marine Support Services Assurance Program (DMAP) Panel. 

A panel is a group of companies selected by an Australian government entity, such as Defence, from which products or services can be acquired more directly and faster than through an open tender. 

The new LCLs will be 15.4 metres long compared to 13.2 metres for the legacy LCVP. The LCL also has improved seakeeping and is also significantly faster than the LCVP, being capable of 26 knots in a fully loaded configuration. It can carry 4.5 tonnes of cargo, including a light vehicle, containerised stores or up to 30 personnel. 

Members of the Kiribati Police Maritime Unit view the cargo deck as they walk past an LCVP during a training day on board Australian Defence Vessel Reliant, Betio, Kiribati. Credit: Commonwealth of Australia.

The LCL design is from The Whiskey Project Group’s proven ‘Pioneer’ family of multi-purpose utility craft which is in service with various Australian state government agencies. 

The order for LCLs is separate from the Army’s much larger Landing Craft Medium program. 

HMAS Choules - Wikipedia

HMAS Choules - Wikipedia