Naval ship HMAS Choules docks in Cairns after Exercise Talisman Sabre

There’s an imposing temporary addition to the skyline at Cairns Wharf after a Royal Australian Navy landing ship docked in the city.

A NAVAL landing ship docked in Cairns on Wednesday, following the completion of a joint training exercise with US military personnel in north Queensland.

The HMAS Choules arrived in Cairns wharf, coming off the back of Exercise Talisman Sabre.

Exercise Talisman Sabre was Australia’s largest bilateral exercise with the US, commencing on July 14 and concluding on August 1, with operations taking place around Cairns, Innisfail and the Tablelands, as well as Townsville and parts of the Northern Territory and New South Wales.

The 16,000 tonne, 176 metre long amphibious landing ship HMAS Choules has docked at the Cairns Wharf impressing people with its sheer size. City resident Nick Kisgyano skates past the large Australian navy vessel. Picture: Brendan Radke

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It brought 1800 military personnel from countries including the US, Canada, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand and the UK, with observing personnel from France, India and Indonesia.

The ship is a Bay Class landing ship, 176 metres long and weighing more than 16,000 tonnes.

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It carries a crew complement of 158 officers and ship personnel, and can carry up to 700 troops, as well as tanks, light trucks and other military vehicles.

A Department of Defence spokeswoman said the ship arrived in Cairns on Wednesday morning and would remain there for several days for resupply before processing with her next tasking.

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Originally published as Naval ship HMAS Choules docks in Cairns after Exercise Talisman Sabre