Bridging the gap between ship and shore

Imagine being anchored off a beautiful Pacific island without wharf access, needing to transport hundreds of people, equipment and stores, including 51 musicians and their instruments.

CAPTION: Able Seaman Clint Selwood handles lines on HMAS Choules’ embarked light landing craft in Suva, Fiji, as part of a south-west Pacific regional presence deployment. Story by Lieutenant Marie Davies. Photos by Leading Seaman Matthew Lyall.

That’s where light landing craft, or ‘LLC’, come in.

For HMAS Choules, it was a case of no wharf, no gangway, no worries, thanks to the 23m LLC embarked for its recent south-west Pacific regional presence deployment.

Boatswain’s Mate Able Seaman Clint Selwood, who’s been part of Navy’s Amphibious Watercraft Squadron for two-and-a-half years, said the four-man LLC crew were kept busy during key port visits, making them a vital capability during the deployment.

“We had such an important job to do because without the landing craft it would have been very difficult for the ship’s company to do anything ashore,” Able Seaman Selwood said.

“Choules wasn’t able to tie up alongside the wharf in Tonga, so the landing craft was the main transport on and off the ship, not just for personnel but also for pallets of supplies.”

The deployment was not without its challenges and required meticulous planning and preparation from the LLC crew.

“Plans were constantly changing due to ship access to ports and also navigating the 56-tonne landing craft in unfamiliar waters,” Able Seaman Selwood said.

“At one point we had over 50 Navy band members from Australia and Fiji, including all their equipment on board. Because we were unable to use the boat’s ramp to disembark equipment in Tonga, the instruments and PA system had to be carried off individually.

“It was a huge undertaking with many hands helping, including the embarked Australian Army personnel.”

Describing his job, Able Seaman Selwood said it was ‘very different’, stressing how flexibility, initiative and vigilance were key.

“You’re often another set of eyes for the coxswain when navigating into a port, as well as an extra pair of ears to ensure the landing craft is working properly and efficiently,” he said.

Navy has 12 LLC based at HMAS Waterhen in Sydney as part of its amphibious capability.

They deploy throughout the amphibious fleet, embarking in HMA Ships Choules, Adelaide and Canberra.

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