HMAS Canberra ( LHD 02 ) HMAS " Canberra " ( LHD 02 ) is the first of two " Canberra " class landing helicopter dock ( LHD ) ships constructed for the Royal Australian Navy ( RAN ) . Construction of the ship started in Spain in 2008 , with the hull launched by Navantia in 2011 . The hull was then transported to Australia in late 2012 for completion by BAE Systems Australia . " Canberra " is predicted to commission into the RAN in 2014 , and will be the largest ship ever operated by the RAN . Design . The " Canberra " class design is based on the warship " Juan Carlos I " , built by Navantia for the Spanish Navy . The contract was awarded to Navantia and Australian company Tenix Defence following a request for tender which ran from February 2004 to June 2007 , beating the enlarged " Mistral " class design offered by the French company Direction des Constructions Navales . " Canberra " has the same physical dimensions as " Juan Carlos I " , but differs in the design of the island superstructure and the internal layout , in order to meet Australian conditions and requirements . Unlike the Spanish vessel , the Australian ships are built to meet Lloyd ' s Naval Rules . The " Canberra " class vessels are long overall , with a maximum beam of , and a maximum draught of . At full load , " Canberra " will displace , making her the largest vessel to serve in the RAN . Propulsion is provided by two Siemens azimuth thruster s , each with an onboard electric motor , driving two diameter propellers . The electricity is provided by a Combined diesel and gas system , with a single General Electric LM2500 turbine producing , supported by two MAN 16V32 / 40 diesel generators providing . Maximum speed is over , with a maximum sustainable full - load speed of , and an economical cruising speed of . Economical range is . Each ship is fitted with a Saab 9LV Mark 4 combat management system . The sensor suite includes a Sea Giraffe 3D surveillance radar , and a Vampir NG infrared search and track system . For self - defence , the LHDs will be fitted with four Rafael Typhoon 25 mm remote weapons systems ( one in each corner of the flight deck ) , six 12 . 7 mm machine guns , an AN / SLQ - 25 Nixie towed torpedo decoy , and a Nulka missile decoy . Defence against aircraft and larger targets is to be provided by escort vessels and air support from the Royal Australian Air Force ( RAAF ) . The ships ' companies will consist of 358 personnel ; 293 RAN , 62 Australian Army , and 3 RAAF . The LHDs will transport 1 , 046 soldiers and their equipment . " Canberra " will be capable of deploying a reinforced company of up to 220 soldiers at a time by airlift . Two vehicle decks ( one for light vehicles , the other for heavy vehicles and tanks ) have areas of and respectively , and between them can accommodate up to 110 vehicles . The well deck will carry up to four LCM - 1E landing craft , which can be launched and recovered in conditions up to Sea State 4 . The flight deck can operate six MRH - 90 - size helicopters or four Chinook - size helicopters simultaneously , in conditions up to Sea State 5 . A mix of MRH - 90 transport helicopters and S - 70B Seahawk anti - submarine helicopters will be carried : up to eight can be stored in the hangar deck , and the light vehicle deck can be repurposed to fit another ten . The ski - jump ramp of " Juan Carlos I " has been retained for the RAN ships , although fixed - wing flight operations are not planned for the ships . Construction . Construction of " Canberra " began in September 2008 , when the first steel was cut . The first three of 104 hull ' blocks ' were laid down by Navantia at Ferrol in northern Spain on 23 September 2010 . The hull was launched on 17 February 2011 by Vicki Coates , the widow of Rear Admiral Nigel Coates , a former commanding officer of the previous HMAS " Canberra " . After the completion of the hull up to the level of the flight deck , " Canberra " was transported to Williamstown , Victoria . " Canberra " s hull was floated onto the heavy lift ship on 4 August 2012 , with " Blue Marlin " departing on 17 August . The heavy lift ship sailed via the Cape of Good Hope to avoid the risk of the ship and her cargo being hijacked by Somali pirates . The decision to avoid the shorter route via the Suez Canal and Horn of Africa was made because other options to protect " Blue Marlin " and " Canberra " were unworkable : the frigate could not be diverted from anti - piracy duties in the region to provide a dedicated escort , and Dutch authorities objected to the presence of armed military or security personnel aboard the Dutch - flagged heavy lift ship . " Canberra " and " Blue Marlin " arrived in Port Phillip on 17 October . At Williamstown , the installation of " Canberra " s island superstructure and the internal fitout of the hull will be completed by BAE Systems Australia ( which acquired Tenix in mid 2008 ) . " Canberra " is expected to commission into the RAN in January 2014 . The ship was officially christened on 15 February 2013 . Although identified as " LHD01 " during construction , " Canberra " will receive the pennant number " LHD 02 " on commissioning ; the pennant number corresponding to that used by the frigate of the same name . BAE continues to build the vessel in Melbourne , integrating C3 and sensors to the ships superstructures .