According to information published by the Australian DoD on July 22, 2023, the Australian-built USS Canberra will be officially integrated into the US Navy, marking the first time a US ship has been commissioned on Australian soil.
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Independence-class Littoral Combat Ship USS Canberra. (Picture source: Austal)
This ceremony will take place at the HMAS Kuttabul, attended by US naval representatives, in what is a joyous occasion for Australia.
As an Independence-class littoral combat ship, the USS Canberra carries Australian pride, being the fruit of Fremantle-based Austal Limited's labor. This commissioning signals more than a naval event; it symbolizes the enduring relationship and mutual respect for rule-based governance shared between the US and Australia.
In naval tradition, a commissioning signifies a ship's active service initiation, a ritual upheld since 1775. The USS Canberra, a successor to the first vessel of the same name—a Baltimore-class heavy cruiser, pays tribute to the courage exhibited by the Australian ship HMAS Canberra during the 1942 Battle of Savo Island. This ship bore the brunt of 24 shellfires in under two minutes, losing 84 brave crew members while defending US Marines' landing at Guadalcanal.
To celebrate and strengthen these enduring ties, members of the ship's company will be bestowed with the Freedom of Entry on July 23, 2023, in Canberra. This honour, the city's highest accolade, underscores the tight-knit bond between Australia and the US.
The Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Richard Marles MP, reflects on the commissioning as an opportunity to appreciate the historic collaboration and friendship between Australia and the US.
He further emphasized that Australians could take pride in the USS Canberra, given its Australian design and the inaugural commissioning on Australian shores in the entire history of the US Navy.
Technical data
When light, she has a displacement of 2,307 metric tons, increasing to 3,104 metric tons when fully loaded. The vessel also has a deadweight of 797 metric tons. Measuring 127.4 meters (418 feet) in length and 31.6 meters (104 feet) in breadth, it has a draft of 14 feet (4.27 meters).
The propulsion system of the USS Canberra is a combination of 2 gas turbines, 2 diesel engines, 4 waterjets, a retractable Azimuth thruster, and 4 diesel generators.
This mix of power sources allows the ship to reach a cruising speed of over 40 knots (74 km/h; 46 mph), with the ability to sprint up to 47 knots (54 mph; 87 km/h).
With a capacity of 210 tonnes, the ship can cover a range of 4,300 nautical miles (8,000 km; 4,900 mi) at a cruising speed of 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph).
