Lower image - Largs Bay in the mist deploying to Haiti

Previous name:
Subsequent name:              ADFS Choules    

Official Number:                    9240756                                                       

Class:                                     BAY CLASS Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary)

Pennant No:                           L3006   L100

Laid down:                             1 October 2001
Builder:                                   Swan Hunter, Wallsend on Tyne.
Launched:                              18 July 2003
Into Service:                           17 December 2006
Out of service:
Fate:

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

Background Data:

In  April 2000 an Invitation to Tender was issued for the design and build of 2 Alternative Landing Ships Logistics to replace RFA’s SIR PERCIVALE and SIR GERAINT which were to enter service in 2004 and 2005. Options would be provided for up to a further 3 vessels to replace the remainder of the ageing LSL,s. 3 U.K. yards submitted bids - Appledore Shipbuilders Limited, BAE Systems and Swan Hunter (Tyneside) Ltd. On 26 October 2000 an official announcement was made that 4  new ships would be built in a £300 million deal and that subject to negotiation of satisfactory terms and conditions, Swan Hunter (Tyneside) Ltd would be selected as lead shipyard for the programme. Two ships would be built at Wallsend with the other two being built to the Swan Hunter design by BAE Systems Marine at Govan. The ships would be based on the very successful Dutch ROTTERDAM design, but enlarged to give greater payload carrying capacity

19 December 2000 ordered along with RFA LYME BAY

1 October 2001construction begun - being built in 15 x 12m sections

18 July 2003 floated out by Swan Hunter (Tyneside) Ltd, Wallsend as Yard Number 141

1 August 2003 Named LARGS BAY by Lady  Rosie West, wife of Admiral Sir Alan West, First Sea Lord. Named after Largs Bay on the Firth of Clyde in Ayrshire

November 2004 while being built suffered an unexpected incident when two engines filled with sea water at Swan Hunters

June 2005 crankshaft damaged and required replacement during engine trials at the shipyard

2 March 2006 to 11 March 2006 conducted builders’ sea trials

10 April 2006 sailed from the Tyne

20 April 2006 Captain (E) E M Quigley RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

25 April 2006 accepted by the RFA at Crombie

18 May 2006 arrived Portland

9 June 2006 arrived Portsmouth

18 June 2006 Captain Peter Farmer RFA appointed as Commanding Officer

5 August 2006 towed into Portland by the French tug ABEILLE LIBERTE after suffering a loss of  propulsion off Portland Bill

1 October 2006 Captain (E) E M Quigley RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

27 October 2006 alongside at Falmouth

14 November 2006 at Milford Haven

17 December 2006 service of Dedication was held at Portsmouth

22 January 2007 conducted Merlin trials in the Plymouth Exercise Areas

3 March 2007 suffered an engine room fire whilst bound for Devonport and lost power and steering and was drifting 5 miles west of Eddystone Light. The MCA emergency towing vessel ANGLIAN PRINCESS stood by her

6 March 2007 arrived Delta Buoy in Plymouth Sound with the assistance of the harbour tugs ADEPT, CAREFUL and FORCEFUL

11 September 2007 at Gibraltar

15 October 2007 Captain (E) E M Quigley RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

December 2007 seized 1.125 tons of cocaine £45 million worth of cocaine during her first drugs counter drugs patrol.The ship encountered the Venezuela-registered boat carrying the illicit cargo about 390 miles north-east of Barbados

24 May 2008 involved in a collision while secured alongside at Curacoa. Holed forward on port side under the bridge. No injuries.

4 June 2008 anchored off Georgetown, Grand Cayman and entertained local Government members to lunch onboard

20 June 2008 entered Falmouth docks for steel work repairs 

18 July 2008 hosted the presentation of the Queens Colour by the Commodore in Chief the Earl of Wessex on Her Majesty’s behalf. at Portsmouth

28 July 2008 sailed Portsmouth

5 June 2009 off Grand Cayman

6 June 2009 while visiting Cayman Brac, Cayman Islands the ship's crew played football against the Cayman Brac Football Club. The ship's team was beaten 6 - 2.

21 June 2009 involved with training with Jamaican Defence Force Coast Guard and Grand Caymen joint customs, Immigration and Police Units to intercept suspect vessels and carry out search and rescue exercises 20 miles north of Montego Bay, Jamaica.

4 July 2009 visited George Town, Grand Cayman for two days R & R

17 July 2009 alongside HMC Dockyard, Halifax, Nova Scotia

4 December 2009 alongside the Sea Mounting Centre at Marchwood Military Port

3 February 2010 deployed from Marchwood Military Port with humanitarian aid for the island of Haiti which suffered two serious earthquakes - Operation Panlake

18 February 2010 arrived at Haiti with a cargo which contained 5,700 sheets of corrugated iron sheets, 40 vehicles and 15 containers of general stores of humanitarian aid

29 March 2010 berthed at Marchwood Military Port, Southampton Water on return from the Haiti deployment

21 June 2010 reported in the RFA Cascade Brief that RFA Largs Bay has been awarded the RFA Centenary Wedgwood Bowl for Humanitarian Aid and International Relations in recognition of the ships significant and notable contribution to Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief in Haiti

21 June 2010 also reported in the RFA Cascade Brief that Med Tech Bob Beckwith of RFA Largs Bay has been awarded the Honourable Company of Master Mariners Award for exceptional performance, his outstanding and sustained contribution during the ships recent deployment to Haiti

27 August 2010 at Largs, Scotland

28 September 2010 at Oslofjorden Norway

29 September 2010 to 1 October 2010 at Horten and Moss Bastoy, Norway

5 October 2010 alongside at County Wharf, Falmouth 

19 October 2010 announced by the Defence Secretary that she was to be withdrawn from service in April 2011 as part of the Strategic Defence and Security Review along with RFA’s  BAYLEAF (3) and FORT GEORGE

10 November 2010 on 'C' Buoy, Plymouth Sound

2 December 2010 entered Portland Harbour

6 April 2011 announced by the Australian Defence Minister Stephen Smith that Largs Bay is to be purchased by the Royal Australian Navy and will enter the RAN service in 2012

21 April 2011 alongside at Falmouth

13 August 2011 the Australian Prime has announced to-day that on commissioning the ship will be renamed HMAS Choules after the last Great War veteran who died in May 2011 - Chief Petty Officer Claude Choules RAN

CPO Claude Choules RAN

It was further announced that her new pennant number will be L 100

19 October 2011 officially handed over to the RAN after her refit and upgrade at Falmouth and was temporarily renamed ADFS Choules until her arrival in Australia when she will formally be commissioned as HMAS Choules 

ADFS Choules

21 October 2011 arrived at Plymouth - her Commandering Officer is Commander John Cowan CSC RAN

19 November 2011 berthed at Cape Town

21 November 2011 sailed Cape Town 

6 December 2011 berthed at Fleet Base West, Australia - HMAS Stirling - overcast and raining

7 December 2011 Firmin Sword of Peace for 2010 awarded to RFA Largs Bay - the award was presented to the Commander in Chief Fleet at Portland

13 December 2011 commissioned as HMAS Coules at Fremantle

14 December 2011 sailed Fremantle for Sydney and Fleet Base East.

21 December 2011 berthed at Garden Island, Sydney, NSW - Fleet Base East

Notes: