HMAS Tobruk (L 50) facts for kids
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HMAS Tobruk at Fleet Base East in 2013
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 Australia |
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| Namesake | The Siege of Tobruk |
| Ordered | 3 November 1977 (construction contract signed) |
| Builder | Carrington Slipways, Tomago |
| Cost | $59 million |
| Laid down | 7 February 1978 |
| Launched | 1 March 1980 |
| Commissioned | 23 April 1981 |
| Decommissioned | 31 July 2015 |
| Motto | "Faithful and Strong" |
| Honours and awards |
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| Fate | Scuttled 29 June 2018 |
| Status | Dive wreck |
| Badge |  |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Modified Round Table-class Landing Ship Heavy |
| Displacement |
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| Length | 127 m (417 ft) |
| Beam | 18.3 m (60 ft) |
| Draught | 4.9 m (16 ft) |
| Propulsion | 2 × Mirrlees Blackstone KDMR8 diesel engines, 9,600 horsepower (7,200 kW), 2 shafts |
| Speed | 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) |
| Range | 8,000 nautical miles (15,000 km; 9,200 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) |
| Boats & landing craft carried |
2 × LCM-8, 2 × LCVP, 2 x NLE pontoons |
| Capacity |
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| Complement | 148, including 13 officers (as of 2012) |
| Sensors and processing systems |
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| Armament |
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| Aviation facilities |
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HMAS Tobruk (L 50) was a special ship in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). It was a Landing Ship Heavy (LSH), designed to carry a lot of cargo. Its design was based on the British Round Table-class ships. The ship was built to help the Australian Army move soldiers and equipment by sea.
Tobruk was built in 1979, launched in 1980, and joined the Navy in 1981. It was a very versatile ship. It could carry soldiers, armored vehicles, and even tanks. It could deliver them to shore using smaller landing boats or by driving right onto the beach.
Early in its career, Tobruk had some engine problems. There were also issues with its sewage system that needed fixing. Despite these challenges, the ship became a true workhorse for the Navy. It delivered supplies, helped with evacuations, and supported peacekeeping missions around the world.
In the 1990s, there were talks about replacing Tobruk. However, other ships couldn't fully do what Tobruk could. So, the Navy decided to keep it. The ship played a big part in peacekeeping efforts in places like Somalia and East Timor. It also helped during the Bougainville Civil War.
In the 2000s, Tobruk continued its important work. It helped during civil unrest in the Solomon Islands. It also transported equipment for Australian forces in the Middle East. The ship was part of a special group of ships that responded to a crisis in East Timor in 2006. This was the first time such a group had been formed since World War II.
Tobruk continued to serve until 2015. It helped with disaster relief after a tsunami in Samoa and a typhoon in the Philippines. It also assisted after Cyclone Pam in Vanuatu. After 34 years of service, Tobruk was decommissioned in July 2015. It was later sunk on purpose in June 2018 to become a dive wreck for people to explore.
Contents
Building a Special Ship: HMAS Tobruk
In the late 1970s, Australia's Army needed a way to move large amounts of equipment by sea. They decided to build a special cargo ship for this job. The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) would operate it. Even though the Army didn't require the ship to drive onto beaches, the Navy insisted on it. This made the ship much more flexible for different missions.
Choosing the Design
The Navy looked at two different designs for Tobruk. They chose a modified version of the British Round Table-class ships. Tobruk's design was based on a ship called RFA Sir Bedivere. This ship had been improved after lessons learned from the first ship of its class. Tobruk was designed to be a multi-purpose ship that could load and unload cargo easily.
The Australian changes to the design were kept simple. The main improvements were to help the ship handle large helicopters better. It also got a special crane that could lift 70 tonnes. Most other changes were to make the living conditions better for the crew. Like other ships of its class, Tobruk was built to commercial standards, not military ones. This meant it couldn't take as much damage as a warship.
Ship's Size and Power
Tobruk weighed 3,353 tons when empty and 5,791 tons when fully loaded. It was 127 meters (about 417 feet) long. It had a width of 18.3 meters (about 60 feet) and went 4.9 meters (about 16 feet) deep in the water. The ship was powered by two diesel engines. These engines gave it 9,600 horsepower, allowing it to reach a top speed of 18 knots (about 33 km/h or 21 mph). It could travel 8,000 nautical miles (about 14,800 km or 9,200 miles) at 15 knots without needing to refuel.
Weapons and Crew
When first built, Tobruk had two 40mm Bofors guns and two 12.7mm machine guns. Later, the Bofors guns were removed. They were replaced with two Mini Typhoon 12.7mm guns, which could be added when needed. The number of standard 12.7mm machine guns increased to six. In 2012, the ship had a crew of 148 people, including 13 officers.
Carrying Capacity
Tobruk could carry between 300 and 520 soldiers, depending on how long they were staying on board. It could also carry 1,300 tons of cargo or enough vehicles to fill 330 lane meters. This is like carrying 18 main battle tanks plus 40 armored personnel carriers!
Vehicles could drive on and off the ship using ramps at the front or back. The main deck was strong enough for tanks. The ship also had a large crane for heavy cargo and two smaller cranes. It could carry two large landing craft (LCM-8) and two smaller ones (LCVP) to help get cargo ashore.
Tobruk had two helicopter landing spots. One was at the back, and the main deck could also be used for larger helicopters like the Chinook. Both spots could refuel helicopters.
Building and Commissioning
Tobruk was built by Carrington Slipways in Tomago, New South Wales. Construction started on February 7, 1978. The ship was launched on March 1, 1980. Its construction was delayed by some issues, and it cost more than expected.
The ship was officially handed over to the Navy on April 11, 1981, and joined the fleet on April 23, 1981. The name Tobruk was chosen in 1976. It honors the Siege of Tobruk during World War II, where Australian forces were supplied by RAN ships. Tobruk was the first major ship built specifically for amphibious operations in the RAN.
HMAS Tobruk's Missions
Early Years: 1980s
After joining the Navy, Tobruk went through tests to make sure it met its design. There were still some issues with the engines and the sewage system. Despite this, the ship began its first missions.
In 1982, Tobruk transported helicopters for the Australian forces in the Sinai Peninsula. It was the first Australian warship to visit Israel. Later that year, it delivered cyclone relief supplies to Tonga. In 1983, it helped the Air Force move units from RAAF Base Butterworth in Malaysia.
In 1984, Tobruk took part in exercises in New Zealand. It then traveled to Tuvalu to support a meeting of leaders from the South Pacific Forum. In 1985, Tobruk's home port moved to Fleet Base East in Sydney.
In May 1987, Tobruk was part of an Australian military operation called Operation Morris Dance. This mission was to help evacuate Australian citizens from Fiji after a political crisis. Tobruk carried Army supplies and helicopters. The operation showed that Australia needed to improve how it deployed forces overseas.
After this, Tobruk went back to regular duties. It transported vehicles and supplies for the Army to the United States in 1989. It also took part in a joint exercise with navies from Australia, Britain, Canada, and the U.S.
Busy 1990s: Peacekeeping and Support
The 1990s started with Tobruk being ready to help evacuate Australians from Bougainville Island in Papua New Guinea in 1990. This mission was later cancelled. In March 1990, Tobruk sailed to Gallipoli, Turkey, with HMAS Sydney. They took part in ceremonies marking the 75th anniversary of the landing at Anzac Cove.
In late 1992, Tobruk was chosen for Operation Solace. This was Australia's part in an international peacekeeping mission in Somalia. The ship quickly prepared and sailed for Somalia in January 1993. It carried equipment and vehicles for Australian soldiers. Tobruk arrived in Mogadishu and unloaded its cargo. It stayed in Somali waters for several months, providing support and communications. For its excellent service, Tobruk was awarded the Gloucester Cup in 1993.
Around this time, the government considered replacing Tobruk. It was even offered for sale to the New Zealand and British navies, but neither deal happened. In 1997, the decision was made to keep Tobruk because other ships couldn't fully replace its ability to carry heavy equipment.
Tobruk played a key role in ending the Bougainville Civil War. It transported peacekeeping forces and peace monitoring groups to the island multiple times. In 1994, one of its helicopters was damaged by gunfire, which was the first damage to an RAN unit since the Vietnam War.
At the end of the 1990s, Tobruk was part of the international peacekeeping mission in East Timor. This mission was called INTERFET. Tobruk made many trips between Darwin and Dili, carrying troops and supplies. For its important work, Tobruk received the battle honor "East Timor 1999".
New Century, New Challenges: 2000–2015
In mid-2000, a civil war broke out in the Solomon Islands. Tobruk was sent to Honiara to evacuate Australian citizens. It picked up 486 civilians and took them to Cairns. Later, Tobruk returned to the Solomons and served as a neutral place for peace talks. A ceasefire agreement was even signed on board the ship.
From late 2001 to early 2002, Tobruk helped with border protection in northern Australia as part of Operation Relex. It transported people seeking refuge to Nauru and Christmas Island.
In 2005, Tobruk sailed to Kuwait to transport armored vehicles for Australian forces in Iraq. It made another trip to the Middle East in 2006 to deliver equipment for forces in Afghanistan.
In 2006, Tobruk was sent to East Timor again, along with two other Navy ships. This was in response to unrest in the country. This group of ships was the first Australian amphibious readiness group formed since World War II.
In 2008, Tobruk took part in a big international naval exercise called RIMPAC off Hawaii. It also helped transport equipment for the Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Program. In 2009, Tobruk was used for a Fall Out Boy concert! It also helped with disaster relief in Samoa after an earthquake and tsunami.
In 2010, Tobruk participated in the Pacific Partnership humanitarian mission in Papua New Guinea. In 2011, it needed major repairs to its propeller shaft. This meant it couldn't help immediately after Cyclone Yasi. Because of its heavy use and some maintenance delays, Tobruk was sometimes unavailable for service in the early 2010s.
In 2013, Tobruk again joined the Pacific Partnership mission in Papua New Guinea. Later that year, it sailed to the Philippines with disaster relief supplies after Typhoon Haiyan. In 2015, the ship helped with Australia's response to Cyclone Pam in Vanuatu.
Decommissioning and Final Resting Place
Tobruk was officially retired from service in Sydney on July 31, 2015. During its 34 years, Tobruk traveled over 947,000 nautical miles. It took part in 26 major operations, more than any other Australian Defence Force unit. This earned it the nickname "workhorse of the RAN".
After its decommissioning, many people wanted Tobruk to be sunk on purpose to create a dive wreck. This would allow divers to explore the ship and boost tourism. Different locations, including Hervey Bay and St Helens, Tasmania, expressed interest.
On December 2, 2016, it was announced that Tobruk would be sunk off the Fraser Coast, between Bundaberg and Hervey Bay. Before being sunk, the ship was located near the Australian Navy Cadet Base TS Bundaberg. It was used as a tourist attraction while being prepared.
Tobruk was finally sunk on June 29, 2018. However, instead of landing upright as planned, the ship rolled onto its side. This position limits some diving opportunities, but it remains a unique underwater site.
See also
In Spanish: HMAS Tobruk (L-50) para niños
