Australian Army Discussions and Updates

The LCM8 was employed for decades both as a ships connector on the Kanimbla Class and also Tobruk. It also had some modifications to aid the vessel for some extended operations.
A small craft at some 22m, I’m wondering if anyone on DT has had some experience with the vessel and its employment.

Cheers S

Never went OS in an LCM8 but plenty of coastal passages. Sydney to Jervis Bay used to be about 12 hours, not fun in a southerly.
In the scheme of things we havent made a lot progress - 22m LCM-8 fitted one Leopard tank, now we require a 55m to fit one tank (yes I know the Abrams M1A2 is 67t + and a lot beter protected).
Oh and I would expect everything on the new LCM would be nicer though the fuel tank in the lazerette did keep you warm in winter.

old faithful said:

Even 3 LPDs would have been a better choice.
8 of these things.....riiggghhhht.....split up, no doubt, which would be thereasoning behind the numbers, a company lift per ship, lift two Bn groups for littoral deployments.....or a company group to gaurd a FIRES unit, which would be vulnerable to SF ops. Im not convinced that these two classes of ships, aee what is really needed for the ADF.

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Someone very senior got very excited because they worked out that 4x LCHs = 1x LSD in lift

Until we pointed out that:
a - LSD has better C2 facilities
b - LSD has helo capabilities
c - LSD has medical capabilities
d - LSD can transport additional ship-to-shore connectors
e - LSD can go further and be refulled at sea
f - LSD can tackle heavier seas
g - LSD has less crew

I mean, other than all that - sure!

I guess that’s a demonstration of the system working.
The immediately apparent being nuanced by the specialist perspectives of the team.
- It’s encouraging.

Takao said:

Someone very senior got very excited because they worked out that 4x LCHs = 1x LSD in lift

Until we pointed out that:
a - LSD has better C2 facilities
b - LSD has helo capabilities
c - LSD has medical capabilities
d - LSD can transport additional ship-to-shore connectors
e - LSD can go further and be refulled at sea
f - LSD can tackle heavier seas
g - LSD has less crew

I mean, other than all that - sure!

Click to expand...

I think you could certainly add to your list of LSD attributes in the comparison.

Cheers S

Takao said:

Someone very senior got very excited because they worked out that 4x LCHs = 1x LSD in lift

Until we pointed out that:
a - LSD has better C2 facilities
b - LSD has helo capabilities
c - LSD has medical capabilities
d - LSD can transport additional ship-to-shore connectors
e - LSD can go further and be refulled at sea
f - LSD can tackle heavier seas
g - LSD has less crew

I mean, other than all that - sure!

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Not to mention it’s better armed than half the RAN fleet…

No one has done it but an LSD has space weight and stability for a high end air defence system including a deep VLS and ABM capability. It would also be the main target for all sorts of nasties trying to kill the personnel and equipment being transported.

Volkodav said:

No one has done it but an LSD has space weight and stability for a high end air defence system including a deep VLS and ABM capability. It would also be the main target for all sorts of nasties trying to kill the personnel and equipment being transported.

Click to expand...

No one has done it?
https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2026/june/qatars-air-defense-lpd-hybrid-al-fulk

As well as her own capabilities, she's designed to work with Qatar's Al Zubarah-class "corvettes", which have can carry 16 Aster 30 missiles.