The Australian-designed stern landing vessel Matilda 1 completed a successful stern-first beach landing and rapid powered withdrawal at Dundee Beach near Darwin on July 8, 2026, ahead of entering a three-year logistics lease with the U.S. Marine Corps. The tactical evaluation demonstrated the vessel's ability to lower its 12.7-meter-wide stern ramp, maintain positioning on the shoreline, and return to deeper water in less than 60 seconds without tug assistance. This test campaign directly supports the U.S. Marine Littoral Regiments by verifying a logistical transport solution capable of moving heavy vehicles and containerized supplies between dispersed coastal sites without relying on deep-water ports. Read full defense news at this link
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| The stern landing arrangement addresses the hydrodynamic disadvantages of conventional bow-ramp craft, which normally combine a shallow draft, broad bow, and flat bottom to maximize beach access. (Picture source: Seatransport) |