HMAS Melbourne (R21) was a Majestic-class light aircraft carrier of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Operating from 1955 until 1982, she was the third and final conventional aircraft carrier[a] to serve in the RAN. Melbourne was the only British Commonwealth naval vessel to sink two friendly warships in peacetime collisions.[1]I expect money (capital and/or operating cost) considerations put the kibosh on the possibility of a Wasp-class LHD (40,000 tons instead of 27,000).
Neither of the collisions were Melbourne's fault. Both had very similar causes (escort destroyers not keeping station as they should). Lessons were learned and the mission continues.
I expect money (capital and/or operating cost) considerations put the kibosh on the possibility of a Wasp-class LHD (40,000 tons instead of 27,000).
Size of the crew is the big killer. With a population only a little over 20 million, getting people into the Navy who stay in the Navy is a big problem (especially when the mining boom was meaning people with the skills Naval training gave them could earn a lot more money at the mines).
Canberra only needs 300. Wasp and similar, three times that.
I lived in Subic Bay as a naval dependent when the Melbourne cut the Frank Evans in half when she cut in front of her.
They towed the after section of the ship in and tied it up near a main road. I always thought she looked gruesome, kind of like a body that had been cut in two.
Unnatural looking, pieces of jagged pipes and metal, an empty hatch that looked like a black, empty eye socket.