These vessels are not cheap to buy, operate and maintain and are designed to operate on fixed routes (in the commercial world) with a maximum sea state that is less than a similar length slower speed vessel and carry a lot less cargo.
What is the fixation with speed for HADR noting if the weather is poor that option will not be available to you. Add to this a 100m multipurpose cargo ship is going to be able to carry around 10 times the cargo uplift as the HSV and will do this in one trip using a fraction of the fuel. On the odd occasions where high speed transport might be required then chartering in is a better option.
For moving men quickly lets fact it the C17 is you go to platform noting the HSV is n to designed for opposed operations.
It is instructive that HMAS Jervis Bay (the INCAT version) was handed back PDQ after its operations in Timor.
If you have the money to use the way the USMC do it works but that is for a specific task with relatively short distances. This is not a platform you could operate to Fiji or Vanuatu (as they are not equipped for this and in commercial use the PAX version have to be 4 hours from a safe haven) and would really only have a place directly to the North. We do not have that luxuary
Oh definitely. But if we ever did need a fast ship specifically,would it be more likely to be a HSV type than a LCS type? I don't see Australia building a large fleet of 40kt+ LCS type ships.
Arguably with the non-replacment of the LCH ships, Australia is weaker in intra-theater lift than we were 3 years ago. The LCM's aren't going anywhere far from the LHD's, and we only have two of those and they are likely to belocated close to where they have disembarked a couple of thousand troops and supporting them, rather than roaming the islands.
If we were even to deploy a large force (multinational mission of the order of multiple regiments) in the region (PNG, Fiji etc), we would likely need some sort of fast ship logistics ship hauling small amounts of timely cargo, but to areas with no air field or large port facilities.
C17's and conventional cargo ships can haul into a airport or large shipping port. But beyond that, in our region logistics would be tough. We certainly don't have a large Chinook fleet to haul large distances and would be a waste if there were austere ports available. Most of the region has a fractured road network or archipelagos with distances which make rotary assets of limited use due to range. Even in a HDAR type situation, particularly for medical/tourist evacuation, medical supplies etc.
The ship that we would probably lease in such an scenario just got RPG'd. While highlighting how inappropriate it is to drive such a vessel into hot zones, it also highlights how critical it was that it leased to begin with and was targeted.
I'm not saying we should buy a bunch of them, but its more conceivable that Australia might lease that capability. More conceivable than buying a fleet of LCS. Which have simular operation and procurement costs, carry even less cargo and are even less flexible.
