His Majesty’s Australian Ship (HMAS) Choules is in Samoan waters this week as part of its month-long Pacific deployment. 

Choules is docked at the Apia Harbour and will be completing a number of community engagements, according to the Australian High Commission to Samoa. 

The community activities include the Australian Defence work to support projects funded by the Australian High Commission's community grant; building and painting keyhole gardens in Vailele and helping build greenhouses in Tuanai.

In terms of sports, the Olympic team from the Samoa Weightlifting Federation will be onboard the HMAS Choules to train and have lunch. 

There will also be a free public concert at Friendship Park with the Royal Australian Navy Jazz Band and the Republic of Fiji Military Forces Rock Band.  

While in Samoa the ship will also be undertaking preparatory activities as part of Australia’s support for Samoa’s hosting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (C.H.O.G.M.) in October this year.

Before visiting Samoa, Choules delivered Fiji’s Military Forces’ 14 Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles, and celebrated His Majesty King Tupou VI’s 65th birthday and the 50th anniversary of Tonga Royal Navy in Tonga.

Choules was commissioned in December 2011 and is an amphibious Bay Class Landing Ship Dock (LSD) ship based on the Royal Schelde Enforcer design. 

According to Australian Navy, it is a 16,000 tonne ship and capable of carrying over 300 troops, 23 Abrams tanks, 150 light trucks, two landing crafts, and is also capable of operating Navy helicopters including the MH-60R Seahawk and the Australian Army’s S-70A Black Hawk.

The ship was formally handed to the Australian Defence Force in October 2011 following extensive sea trials to confirm the condition of the vessel. 

HMAS Choules underwent a major refit to make it suitable for RAN service.