Understanding the heightened prioritisation of littoral operations within the Defence Strategic Review (DSR), the Australian Maritime Alliance (AMA) has reviewed all aspects of the Oboe solution.
This review looked at the design, build, and commissioning and service introduction plans, ensuring that the Australian-wide industry team and Henderson-based infrastructure are ready in all respects to deliver the Littoral Manoeuvre Vessel-Medium (LMV-M) program in line with Army requirements.
Serco Defence Managing Director Clint Thomas AM, CSC, said the AMA’s ongoing review process has reinforced the view that the ‘Oboe’ design presents as the mission-ready platform for Army. “Drawing on a parent offshore design that has been operating in the Gulf of Mexico for more than 20 years, the AMA is confident that the sea keeping performance, speed and range of Oboe will prove itself a transformational capability to enable Army optimises for littoral manoeuvre operations,” Thomas said.
Oboe’s class-leading 200m2 vehicle deck, dual ramp configuration and proven hull form are ready now to lift all of the Army’s current and planned future combat vehicle fleet, including LAND 8113 HIMARS and LAND 19 Phase 7B SHORAD Battery Vehicles.
Oboe’s through-deck design, generous crew accommodations, organic cranage, and simple but robust bridge and propulsion systems mean the vessel is self-deployable and self-sustaining in the many different ports and operating areas across Australia’s north and throughout the Southwest Pacific.
Oboe’s capacity for self-repair and supporting extended duration deployments aligns with the emerging Sea Denial concept to deploy deterrent Joint Fires force packages around the region.
“From an industry perspective, the AMA’s ability to support the DSR’s recommendation to accelerate and expand the Land 8710 program, including Phase 2 – Littoral Manoeuvre Vessel (Heavy), remains unrivalled,” Thomas said. “With Civmec’s unmatched Henderson facility and workforce offering an immediate infrastructure pathway with enormous capacity, their proven capabilities enable the AMA to bring a unique surge capability to assist the Army in synchronising the delivery of LAND 8710, alongside its sister programs LAND 8113 Long Range Fires and LAND 400 Phase 3 Infantry Fighting Vehicles.
“We have continued to engage with our numerous Australian industry partners, who together offer the Commonwealth a wholistic solution to deliver a superior vessel, a comprehensive training solution, detailed Integrated Logistics Support, as well as a thorough program of test and trials to ensure Oboe is fit for the rigours of operational and combat employment.”
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Which ever craft they chose ( the BIRDONS LMV-M is the one I favour) it will be handy to transport all the IFV we aren’t getting and hopefully won’t be obsolete by the time we get all the HIMARS.
How many of these things is the Army planning on buying?
And is there going to be a weapons fit out or even allowance for fitted for but not with. Ie Spike missiles, or M2 50 cal mounts etc?
About 10 – and from memory they will have 2 x .50cal RWS. There might well be space & weight for a Spike launcher but I’m not sure if that’s part of the plan.