HMAS Manoora

HMAS Manoora Statistics

Commanding Officer	Commander Stephen Dryden
Pennant	L 52
Class	Landing Platform Amphibious
Based	Sydney
Launched	19 December 1970
Commissioned	25 November 1994
Displacement	8534 tonnes8,534,000 kg 8.534e+9 g 18,814,244.148 lb 301,027,991.708 oz
Length	159.2 metres15,920 cm 0.159 km 0.0989 mi 522.31 ft 6,267.717 in
Beam	21.2 metres2,120 cm 0.0212 km 0.0132 mi 69.554 ft 834.646 in
Armament	1 x 20 mm Phalanx Mk 15 close-in weapon system
Main Machinery	6 x 16v ALCO 251C diesel engines, 1000 RPM, 3 engines per shaft
Cargo Capability	2 x LCM8 landing craft 4 x Black Hawk or 3 x Sea King helicopters 955 square metres of useable tank deck space
Speed	21 knots10.803 m/s 38.892 km/h 0.0108 km/s 2,126.641 ft/min 35.444 ft/s
Company	23 naval Officers, 2 army Officers, 197 sailors, 18 soldiers and 400 embarked forces

HMAS Manoora was built for the United States Navy as the USS FAIRFAX COUNTY and commissioned into the RAN in November 1994. She has undergone extensive modifications for her new role as a helicopter capable amphibious transport ship.

Manoora's primary role is to transport, lodge ashore and support an Army contingent of up to 450 troops, their vehicles and equipment. Manoora is fitted with a helicopter hangar capable of supporting up to four Army Black Hawk or three Navy Sea King helicopters. Army landing craft can also be carried on the forward flight deck to provide ship-to-shore transport. Accessed through a stern door, 810 square metres of storage space is available on the vehicle deck for Army vehicles and other large items of equipment.

The ship has operations and planning rooms and a comprehensive array of communications equipment to support joint amphibious operations. Manoora is fitted with the largest and most comprehensive medical facilities in the fleet, with a 40-bed hospital incorporating full surgical and recovery facilities.

Manoora is the second RAN ship to carry the name. The first was a former coastal passenger ship requisitioned during World War II . Manoora I was active throughout the Pacific Theatre seeing extensive action, including the landings at Morotai, Leyte Gulf, Lingayen Gulf, Tarakan, Brunei Bay and Balikpapan.