LHD 02 named as HMAS Canberra

The first of two new Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) ships was officially named Canberra in a traditional Navy ceremony at Williamstown, on February 15.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Minister for Defence Stephen Smith attended the naming ceremony. They were joined by the Chief of the Defence Force, General David Hurley, and the Chief of Navy, Rear Admiral Ray Griggs, for the occasion.

The Spanish Minister for Defence, Mr Pedro Morenés Eulate, was also in attendance.

The new LHD was named by Mrs Vickie Coates, wife of the late Rear Admiral Nigel Coates AM, RAN, who served a distinguished career in the Navy and sadly passed away in June 2010.

This is the third Australian Navy ship to bear the proud name Canberra.

Canberra (I) was a County Class heavy cruiser which served with distinction until she was heavily damaged and sunk during the Battle of Savo Island in August 1942.

In 1943 the United States Navy (USN) named a Baltimore class heavy cruiser the USS Canberra in recognition of the valour displayed by the HMAS Canberra during the Battle of Savo Island, the United States President Franklin Roosevelt wished to commemorate the Australian ship's loss by naming a US ship in her honour.

The USS Canberra is the only USN warship named for a foreign warship or a foreign capital city.

Canberra (II) was a Guided Missile Frigate and participated in numerous operations, the most recent being Operation Slipper as part of the international coalition against terrorism. Canberra (II) was decommissioned in 2009.

The new HMAS Canberra is due to be accepted by the Navy in the first quarter of 2014. The second LHD is due to be named this time next year for accepting into Navy service in 2016.