HMAS Choules Walkthrough with ABET Esther Melvin

HMAS Choules returned from a three month Pacific deployment last week and Able Seaman Electronics Technician Esther Melvin volunteered to show us around the ship.
HMAS Choules is a highly operational 16,000 tonne ship, 176 metres long, 24 metres wide, and capable of carrying over 300 troops, 23 Abrams tanks, 150 light Trucks, LCVP, Landing Craft Mechanised (LCM8) and is also capable of operating Navy helicopters including the MRH-90 Taipan and Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk and the Australian Army’s S-70A Black Hawk. Choules is an amphibious Landing Ship Dock which originally served with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. She was commissioned by the Royal Australian Navy in December 2011.

[@PeninsulaDroneography2024]

BZ Choules - great little clip.

[@Buddy89538]

Take us to the SE bin, spent some time kipping down there at action stations…

[@DisVietVetUSA]

Sign me up for a cruise

[@Jeneral28]

Once a RFA LSD.

[@andrewsmall6834]

That's alot of cartons to be payed out.

[@mahmoodshuvo2787]

YES 🥰

[@mikemccartney9184]

Too fast. Slow it down.

[@signature1990]

Esther what a honey (yes she is cute)... respect to all the Navy personnel working for the country. Well done.

[@hunteradventure2675]

Hello sir hope you are well and good. Sir i want to joint Australian royal navy. Because i want to safe a world. Hope you understand my opinion. Im waiting for your answer. Thank you very much

[@andrewsmall6834]

You don't need anyone to answer you, just apply online or over the phone. But you won't get in until you work on your English.

[@texgranger8650]

@@andrewsmall6834 lmfao

[@loyalist5736]

Combats on-board ship ...Noooooo man . Losing your Royal navy roots and being influenced by the US Navy

[@davidhuett3579]

Whilst I appreciate naval crew and the job they do ... I've always had concerns about the state of the vessels. It seems to me that taxpayers spend an absolute fortune on these Navy vessels and nearly every one I see is rusting or covered in rust stains. They look like they've been recovered from a scrap metal heap. Does the Navy supply a product known as 'paint' .. or is that beyond their budgeting?

[@regregan5755]

Because paint stops rust right?

[@rileymorton2883]

they are boats, what do you expect? cotton candy? its the sea wind and mist, of course the ships get painted but if they are on deployment where they gonna get a clean and a paint? no matter what you do there is always gonna be rust!

[@goodshipkaraboudjan]

If you think fresh paint over rust is a solution then you're a used car dealers dream. It's surface corrosion, it's on every ship. A lick of paint over it makes things worse.

[@davidhuett3579]

@@goodshipkaraboudjan I'm not suggesting a lick of paint ... I'm suggesting cleaning it off before it gets a chance to take hold.

[@goodshipkaraboudjan]

@@davidhuett3579 It hasn't "taken hold" it's just surface corrosion, unavoidable after a deployment.